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Questions about Lasik eye surgery

Many people that wear glasses or contact lenses have listened to the claims of how Lasik can give them perfect vision.  They have also heard great Lasik success stories, as well as stories from people that were not sure they had given the decision enough thought.  This guide lists the most common questions asked by people who are considering Lasik vision correction, and answers given by reputable physicians.

The first and most important question asked about Lasik is, not surprisingly, “Is Lasik safe?”  The answer is that it is normally quite a safe procedure, with success rates above 95 percent for good, experienced Lasik surgeons, and 90 percent average over all physicians that perform the Lasik procedure.  This statistic about Lasik success assumes that the patient is a good candidate for Lasik surgery.  The requirements have some specific details and should be gone over with the physician that will perform the Lasik procedure.

It is a very good idea to ask the Lasik physician which patients he has declined to perform the Lasik procedure on, to make sure that the particular physician has and operates with good standards.  Any Lasik practitioner that tries to imply that everyone that comes in to his office is a good candidate for Lasik vision correction should be viewed with some skepticism.  In any case, it is wise to interview several different physicians that perform the Lasik procedure before deciding on one.

A second frequently asked question about Lasik is “What are the possible complications from Lasik surgery?”  Common side effects are starbursts or halos when looking at a light, sensitivity to light and difficulty with glare and night vision, and some sensation that a foreign body is in the eye.  Most of these effects will pass within a few days after the Lasik procedure.  Between 1 and 3 percent of patients will have a lasting side effect such as halos or some vision fluctuation.

It is a very good idea to discuss your particular situation with the Lasik physician to determine if you might be prone to any complications.  There are also variants of the standard Lasik procedure, one of which uses additional waveforms to map out an individual eye, or techniques that only use lasers rather than a scalpel and a laser.

One question we all hesitate to ask is “Will the Lasik procedure be painful?”  Since our eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies, it is comforting to know that having Lasik vision correction is usually nearly painless.  There is often some mild discomfort after the procedure, but this is effectively controlled with medication.

“Will I have 20/20 vision once the Lasik correction is done?”  Though many patients do get nearly perfect vision, not all patients have their vision totally corrected.  You can definitely expect to have improved vision and minimized dependency on any glasses or contacts.

“What is the cost and how do I pay?”  A typical Lasik surgeon charges between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the patient and the surgeon.  However, a Lasik physician should be selected on experience level and track record, not on the lowest price.  Insurance rarely covers the cost of Lasik, but many Lasik centers have a type of financing program offered to their clients.

Consider Lasik eye surgery as one way to significantly improve the quality of your life.

Lasik Eye Surgery or ICL?

A number of people who are considering the Lasik procedure to correct their nearsightedness or farsightedness have of some potential problems of Lasik, and are wondering if there are other options.  Though more than 95 percent of the Lasik patients have a very successful procedure without any major side effects, there are choices for people who wish to improve their vision.  Let’s compare two, and discuss these choices with a reputable ophthalmologist.

Traditional Lasik surgery uses a scalpel to create a small flap in the eye, and then a laser reshapes the eye in order to focus accurately.  There are two more recent forms of Lasik, one that entirely uses a laser and does away with the scalpel.  Another variation uses a three dimension waveform for people with unusual eye shapes, and both of these are worth discussing with your ophthalmologist.

Those people with very thin corneas or other issues that make Lasik not a good candidate for their particular case can consider implantable contact lens surgery.  This is known as ICL in the eye surgeon’s lingo, and is a good alternative to Lasik to permanently correct vision.  These lenses function in exactly the same way as removable lenses, except that they remain permanently in the eye.  Like Lasik, they reshape the eye in order for it to focus accurately.  The patient will not feel the lens once the operation has been performed.

Lasik and ICL are similar in several ways.  Lasik can improve vision affected by nearsightedness and astigmatism, and ICL can improve these vision deficiencies also.  Both Lasik and ICL also have some of the same risks, one of these being that the correction is not accurate after the first operation is done.  Lasik is a much more frequently performed procedure, and less than 3 percent (according to the FDA) of these patients need to undergo additional surgery to further correct vision after the first Lasik procedure is done.

Like any operation, there is a chance of infection in either a Lasik procedure or an ICL operation.  Good post-operative care by the patient will minimize this and regular checkups at the Lasik or eye care center will nearly always clear this up without further complication.  In a small percentage of the cases, either Lasik or ICL patients may not achieve perfect vision and may need to continue to wear corrective eyewear, though usually not at the same strength as the original eyewear.

One advantage of ICL over Lasik is that ICL is a reversible procedure, where the implanted lens can be removed later if that becomes necessary.  Lasik involves the reshaping of the cornea to bring objects accurately into focus, and is permanent.  However, for a typical, healthy patient either Lasik eye surgery or ICL will generally bring about the desired improvement in vision.

Lasik is generally a less invasive procedure, and this is reflected in the current cost of the operation.  The current price for a Lasik procedure is between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending on the type of procedure and the presiding physician.  A typical price for ICL is between $1500 and $3000 per eye.  Do some investigation into the options offered, and select the eye care procedure that is best for your personal case.

Solving a Lasik Post Op Problem

I had Lasik vision correction surgery two years ago, and am quite glad I did.  I think that my Lasik story might be helpful to some that consider that they might not be a perfect Lasik client, and are concerned about side effects after the Lasik procedure.  I did have a significant side effect after my Lasik operation, but have weathered it well, and still recommend the operation highly.

My operation went exactly as described, with no pain or real discomfort at all.  My Lasik physician was clear, stating each step that he completed so that I would know the Lasik procedure was proceeding as expected, and more quickly than I had imagined.  I know that all of the discussion I had earlier with the Lasik professionals stated the operation generally took less than twenty minutes, but I was still surprised.  

At the end of the operation, my Lasik doctor replaced the flap to its correct position in my eye and covered it with some kind of clear goop.  Even at that time I could notice a distinct improvement in my vision.  I was instructed to wear goggles over my eyes for five nights in order to prevent me rubbing my eyes while I was sleeping.  I guess they assumed that any good Lasik patient would not do that when awake.  

In addition, I followed all post-op Lasik procedure instruction to the letter.  I slept immediately after the Lasik procedure was done (after I made it home, of course), used the eye drops religiously, and did not try to strain my eyes by reading everything that I could.  I was amazed the immediate improvement in vision that Lasik makes, just as if there was a set of weightless contact lenses.  Very impressive.

My biggest problem in Lasik procedure recovery was a result of epithelial erosion.  The flap that is made in the eye during the Lasik procedure is made from epithelial cells.  Once the flap is replaced at the end of the Lasik procedure, these cells start to regenerate in order to fill in the line where the flap has been cut.  All of this is normal post-op Lasik healing.  However, in my case the cells would grow fine, but at night my eyes tended to dry out when I was asleep.  So, when I woke up, my eyelid would pull up some of the new cells from their place where they belonged, where if my eye was sufficiently moist they would have stayed in place.

I told this to my Lasik eye surgeon, who said this side effect just makes healing a little longer and it was not a serious side effect.  When I went for a checkup to the Lasik center (which I highly recommend any time a Lasik client has any post-op worries or questions) they decided that I needed a thicker, more jelly like version of the eye drops to use at night.  This worked well, and the rest of my post-Lasik recovery went well.  
I am a strong advocate of the Lasik vision correction procedure.  I also strongly suggest interviewing a number of positions, and do not put low cost as the highest priority.  Your eyes are very important, and a highly competent Lasik physician is the most important factor.

The Facts About Intra Lasik Eye Surgery

Now that Lasik vision correction surgery has been accepted for a number of years, there are several popular options for the procedure.  One of these is IntraLasik, or Intralase, or bladeless Lasik.  As the name implies, there is no cutting of the eye with a blade, instead the flap in the eye is made using a laser.  Since bladeless Lasik is a newer procedure, there are a number of opinions around about how well this procedure works.  Let’s look at several of these and determine which of these are true or false.

First, more Lasik clients get 20/20 vision or better using IntraLasik.  Any Lasik procedure cannot guarantee perfect vision for every client, though more than 90% get results to at least 20/40 vision.  However, it is true that the new techniques of IntraLasik do get even better statistics for giving clients clear vision.

Some are concerned that the laser that makes the corneal flap is standard, and cannot be tailored to each individual eye like can be done by the Lasik surgeon when using a blade.  This is not true.  The Lasik physician has control over the use of the laser for each individual in the same way that he can control the microkeratome blade.

IntraLasik can be used for both a standard and a custom Lasik procedure.  This is true.  Custom Lasik procedures using Wavefront technology (another somewhat recent advance in Lasik vision correction) can easily be used with a laser making the initial flap.  This custom Lasik procedure, though more costly, is of great benefit for people with unusual eye shapes or problems.

Some have heard that using the laser is less accurate than the standard Lasik procedure.  This is not true, since lasers can be controlled to micron level accuracy.  This gives the Lasik physician extreme control to create exactly the flap needed for this particular individual eye: the precise size, shape, and depth for successful completion of the Lasik procedure.  

Another common fallacy is that IntraLase has not been around long enough for trusted Lasik physicians to have confidence in it.  On the contrary, many of the most honored Lasik physicians strongly endorse IntraLase due to the track record of very good results from the Lasik procedures.  In addition, the quality of the machines and the precision that they give these Lasik physicians is very impressive.  Many of the top flight Lasik doctors recommend this as a procedure of choice, assuming cost is not a significant variable in the decision of which Lasik procedure to use.

Similar to the objection above, some people think that Intralase is not a sufficiently test Lasik procedure option.  On the contrary, more than one million of these procedures have been performed, and the impressive track record for this Lasik procedure has been discussed above.  More and more Lasik physicians are trained in this option, and we will see many more such Lasik procedures in the future.

We hope that this discussion of bladeless Lasik has given more accurate information to those considering this Lasik technique.  Please discuss this option with the professionals at your local Lasik center.

Eye care after lasik surgery

A person that is considering a Lasik procedure to improve their vision has two major responsibilities: selecting the best surgeon possible for their budget, and understanding and keeping up with eye care after the Lasik operation is done.  Most Lasik procedures go very smoothly, and more than 90% of the patients are happy with their improved vision and have no permanent side effects.  Part of this success is due to good care at home once the Lasik procedure is complete.

The first step in having the best care after a Lasik procedure is to understand exactly what is directed by the Lasik physician.  The prospective Lasik patient should be given a good understanding of the entire process when they first visit a Lasik center to interview the physician and the staff.  On the day of the procedure, a member of the staff should very carefully go over exactly what steps should be done to encourage optimal eye health and healing after the Lasik operation.

One thing that the patient should ask is what side effects are to be expected directly after the Lasik procedure, how long they should last, and which symptoms should be promptly told to the Lasik physician or member of the staff.  A number of symptoms, such as fluctuating vision or halos around lights, are to be expected and are not a cause of worry.  Ask the staff about any postoperative symptoms that are unclear, to make sure that they are thoroughly understood.

Each Lasik physician has their own recommended procedures for their patients, but here is a list of typical suggestions that most Lasik centers recommend.  First, get some sleep as soon as possible after the Lasik procedure is done.  This gives a great boost to the healing process.  Second, avoid any contact, bumping, or rubbing of the eyes for at least five days after the Lasik procedure.  Most Lasik eye surgery centers have some kind of eye guards to wear at night to prevent patients from rubbing their eyes in their sleep.  

Third, try to avoid eyestrain for some days after the Lasik procedure.  It is tempting to try to read all of the signs and words that were previously blurry, but avoid this temptation at least for the large part.  If any light sensitivity or glare is noticed, wear dark sunglasses for several days until this problem resolves itself.  Some common Lasik side effects are temporary halos around lights, especially when viewed at night, but this is not a problem to be concerned with.

It is very important to keep the eyes well lubricated in the days following a Lasik operation.  Every Lasik physician will give eye drops to help this, and patient should be especially aware of this before going to sleep.  A Lasik procedure may increase eye dryness temporarily, and during sleep this may make the eyelid stick slightly to the eye.  When the patient wakes up, opening the eyelid is equivalent to rubbing the eye.  The physician should be notified if this happens, for there are other varieties of eye drops that will solve this problem.

Taking these simple steps will give nearly all Lasik patients an easy postoperative experience without any problems.