'Laser Surgery' Category Archive

Posted on Jul 21st, 2007

With laser eye treatment, problems with your eyes and deficiencies in your vision can be all put behind you. The reason for most eye problems is that the eye lens cannot focus the light rays properly onto the retina. Though traditionally we have used contact lens and glasses, the laser eye operation is getting more and more favored as a permanent solution for virtually any eye problem. Laser eye treatment is a relatively affordable procedure for any adult with eye impairment. The surgical procedure can take as little as 15 minutes per eye.

During the laser eye operation routine, a laser scans your eyes to find out and probe as many different points on your cornea as achievable. In order to restore your vision, the eye doctor will use a computer software programme to determine where the irregularities are and which corrections are necessary. The cornea can then be reshaped in order to restore your vision back to 20/20.

In most of the procedures, there is no further requirement for another operation, since the vision restored after the surgery is then permanent. As for guarantees, many of the laser eye clinics give a lifetime guarantee which protects you in case of the need for any enhancements or even extra corrective treatment.

Laser eye treatment is a pain free and permanent procedure to repair your vision and free you from the requirement to wear contact lenses and glasses There are very few side effects. One possibility is the eye getting infected, but the probability of this happening is 1 out of every 5000. If you adhere to your doctor’s recommendation and you don’t maltreat or directly touch your eye inside a 24 hour period of the operation, you’ll have nothing to be concerned about. Within even three days of having laser eye treatment the patient can expect to return to work.

Studies and trials have been run in the US and also abroad to discover if having a laser eye operation actually produces a permanent outcome. It is quite normal that even though the results of laser eye treatment are permanent, you may still require additional treatment simply because you and therefore your eyes are getting older.

Lewis Colyn writes on health related issues. You can find out more about lasik surgery by going to my site at http://www.lasiksolutions.info

Posted on Jun 3rd, 2007

Laser eye treatment is a fairly safe procedure for correcting various eye impairments. The procedure has a 95% success rate. With the technological advances made in the last several years, laser eye treatment is now the recommended way of treating vision problems. In fact, laser eye treatment has become so popular that more and more people are deciding to undergo laser eye surgery so they can say goodbye to glasses and contact lenses for good.

However, like any other procedures, laser eye treatment does have some risks involved. About five percent of the cases experience any side effects of laser eye treatment.

A few of the common side effects or risks of laser eye treatment are:

Undercorrection or Overcorrection — Not all patients will respond to the laser eye treatment perfectly. Even after laser eye surgery, a doctor may still prescribe a patient to wear corrective lenses in order to have clear vision. A doctor may also recommend an enhanced laser eye surgical procedure to improve the initial procedure that resulted to undercorrection or overcorrection.

Eye Infection — Although the chances of the eye developing an infection from a laser eye treatment is very low, there is still risk of this happening. When an eye infection develops after laser eye treatment, the healing process may take slower.

Halo Effect — Caused by an optical effect when it is dim or dark, the halo effect may be experienced by a patient after laser eye surgery. A patient will see halos at night for about a week or two. The halo effect is caused by the untreated peripheral cornea. If you’ve undergone laser eye surgery and experience the halo effect for more than two weeks, let your doctor know immediately. You should also avoid driving for at least a week if you are experiencing the halo effect as a result of laser eye surgery.

Flap Loss — During laser eye surgery, a flap of tissue is created over the cornea. This flap of tissue may come off if a patient injures herself or directly touches her eye within 24 hours of the surgery. The flap of tissue needs to remain where it is for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the tissue will easily come off.

Dry Eye — Some patients who undergo laser eye surgery experience dry eye, a condition wherein the eye is not able to produce enough tears to keep the eye clean and moist. Patients who develop dry eye may have a burning sensation in or irregular blurring of the affected eye. Patients who develop this problem after surgery are usually prescribed with an intensive drop therapy.

The risks and side effects of laser eye treatment that were mentioned above are real, but they occur in less than five percent of patients. Each day, thousands of laser eye surgical procedures are performed successfully, with patients coming out of surgery with their visions restored.

For more LASIK and laser eye surgery risks visit Vision-Doctor.com located at http://www.vision-doctor.com where you will also find helpful information on eyeglasses, sunglasses and discount contact lenses.

Posted on May 27th, 2007

Because of the relatively new technology involved, most people are still unaware of the benefits, risks, and rewards of laser eye surgery. This article seeks to answer the more commonly asked questions about the process. If you are considering eye surgery to solve your ocular difficulties, then read on.

How painful is laser eye surgery?

Most people feel very little pain during the operation itself, mostly because the eye is anesthetized beforehand. When the medication wears off however, most individuals feel some discomfort and irritation. These irritations are usually minor and quickly disappear.

How long does laser eye surgery take?

The corrective surgery itself takes less than a minute. The recovery period needed is very minimal; most patients can be driven home after half an hour.

Are there any things I should not do after laser eye surgery?

Most doctors will tell you not to rub your eyes, as this may interfere with your eye’s recovery, as well as irritate the area. Most other activities are permissible though. If you have any doubts about whether or not you should be doing something, consult with your doctor.

When is an eye surgery patient able to return to work?

Many patients are capable of working a day after the operation. It really depends on you. If you feel that you can return to your normal activities without undue strain, then do so.

How long will it take for the surgery to take effect?

Most patients report dramatically improved vision three to five days after the operation.

Is the result permanent?

Clinical trials both in the U.S and abroad show that the results of laser eye treatment are relatively permanent and long-lasting. However, the need for re-treatment always remains a possibility, but usually only after many years.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of eye-care-hq.com. Visit Jeanette’s site to learn more about laser eye surgery.

Posted on May 25th, 2007

Several decades ago, laser eye surgery could only be imagined in a science fiction film or book. However, with today’s technology, laser eye surgery is now a reality. Instead of laser technology replacing sidearm weaponry, laser technology is now used to correct bad vision. While laser eye surgery may sound like it’s a complicated procedure, it is actually a pretty simple and straightforward one.

One type of laser eye surgery is lasek laser eye surgery. Lasek laser eye surgery, which is a variation of the traditional lasik laser eye surgery, is a procedure for correcting the vision of people with thin corneas. Lasik and lasek laser eye surgery both work by reshaping the patient’s cornea, thereby correcting his or her vision. After the laser eye surgery, the patient won’t need to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Laser eye surgery is a convenient procedure in that patients do not need to stay in the hospital overnight. Because laser eye surgery is an outpatient procedure, it makes it easy for those who lead a very busy life or are on a tight schedule. If you undergo laser eye surgery, you will be discharged from the doctor’s office or outpatient clinic on the same day. While there is a possibility that complications from the surgery may occur, they are rare. Laser eye surgery is a fairly safe procedure.

If laser eye surgery could be the solution to your vision problem or condition, set up consultation with an ophthalmologist. He or she will be able to give you advice as well as explain to you what a laser eye surgery procedure entails. If you have any concerns or questions, the eye doctor is the best person to reassure you or answer your questions.

For more important and helpful information on lasek laser eye surgery and LASIK eye surgery try visiting Vision-Doctor.com - A website that provides LASIK, eyeglasses and discount contact lenses information.

Posted on Apr 27th, 2007

The development of computer technology the recent years has had a huge impact on the medical science. Today this technology is used in every aspect of medical field. This is also true when it comes to eye surgery. Nowadays, there are many types of surgery available to correct a persons vision problems. Laser eye surgery is one of the most advanced, and is used especially for the correction of problems like myopia (near sightedness), hyperopia (far sightedness), and astigmatism (distorted vision).

Why is the reason such problems occur in the first place? The main cause of such problems is problems with focusing the image on the retina of the eye and the reason for that varies upon three different factors:

the distance from the back of the eye to the front of it,

the shape of the cornea which is the curved clear front surface of the human eye above the iris and the pupil. It provides approximately two thirds of the eye’s ability to focus.

the shape of the lens.

The shape of the cornea is changed using special devices during a laser eye surgery. One such device is called excimer laser. What this procedure does is producing a laser beam that vaporizes tissue around the eye. It actually removes targeted areas of the eye tissue without harming the surrounding area. Therefore It also goes under the name if "cold" laser.

Laser Surgery Procedures

The most common types of laser surgery procedures are

PRK (Photo-Refractive Keractomy), available since early nineties and

LASIK Eye Surgery (Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis), first introduced in mid nineties.

The PRK procedure take small amounts of eye tissue on the surface of the eye and vaporizes it using a beam of light in this type of surgery. This procedure removes enough tissue to reshape the cornea and correct vision. The recovery takes a week or less.

The LASIK surgery procedure involves a series of steps that are considered complicated.

Step one is to cut a flap of the cornea and lifted.

Step two: the surgeon removes precise amounts of the inside layers of the cornea using a laser guided by a computer.

Step three: the surgeon puts the flap back in its place and the eye heals fast by itself.

What are the benefits and the risks?

Highly skilled and well prepared medical specialists perform the Laser eye surgery. For majority of the patients, the results are very good and their lives are significantly improved. They can throw away their glasses or contact lenses after a successful surgery.

Keep in mind the importance of having realistic expectations about laser eye surgery. In some cases it might be necessary to wear glasses for reading if the patient is over 40 years of age. The eyes continue to change after the surgery and you may have to wear prescription glasses or lenses at some point in your life. A second laser eye surgery is normally not ruled out if the first one is not entirely successful.

One side effect of PRK laser eye surgery, is that the patient may have a blurry vision throughout the healing process. Fortunately, this generally clears up later.

Regression is another side effect from such surgery. What happens is that the eye returns back to its’ previous condition. This might happen within six months and if it happens you might need another surgery to correct it or you have to wear glasses or contact lenses.

The negative side effects are very less in a LASIK surgery. Even the healing of the eye is faster. Since a LASIK involves cutting of some tissues of the eye the complications and risks are a bit higher than the other eye surgery procedures we have mentioned.

Dean Brooks is an internet publisher who likes to publish eye surgery information. You can go to the website Eye Surgery101.net for more

Posted on Apr 12th, 2007

Did you know that there are several kinds of eye surgeries which improve vision? These types of surgeries on the eyes are called refractive surgery.

The most popular of these eye surgeries is LASIK, but is not the only one by any means. Before you consult with an eye care expert, you need to know your options. Keep in mind that both eyes are not done at once. You will have to have one eye corrected and, after it is healed and focusing, you can look into having your other eye corrected. Eye surgery options which you may want to consider are:

Excimer Laser Procedures are eye surgeries which utilize lasers in reshaping the cornea. This reshaping changes the way that light enters the eye and helps correct focus. The following procedures are Excimer Laser Procedures:

Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis, commonly referred to as LASEK (not to be confused with LASIK, which is different), can be used to treat astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness. This eye surgery is used if you have flattened or thinned corneas. People who will not get optimal results from LASIK eye surgery are often excellent candidates for LASEK eye surgery. However, it does take a little longer to heal from LASEK eye surgery.

Epi-LASIK eye surgery is done by an eye care professional and is much like LASEK eye surgery. In this eye care procedure, no blade or alcohol is used. Less pain seems to be experienced along with more rapid healing that LASEK eye surgery.

Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, commonly known as LASIK eye surgery, is also used to treat astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness. Lasers are used to reshape your eye in this eye surgery; scalpels and alcohol are used but the surgery is very quick, less than a minute per eye as a general rule.

All Laser LASIK is a LASIK surgery that does not use a scalpel. Like traditional LASIK eye surgery, lasers are used to reshape the eye. Both discomfort and healing time are reduced because surgery only utilizes lasers.

Photorefractive Keratectomy, commonly known as PRK, is used to treat astigmatism, nearsightedness, and mild farsightedness. In this eye surgery, surface tissue is removed from the cornea (reshaping the eye) using a laser. Like LASIK eye surgery, this surgery takes less than a minute per eye as a general rule.

Non-Excimer Laser Procedures are surgeries in which new lenses are actually places in the eye. The eye is then reshaped using radio waves, lasers, or scalpels. The main Non Eximer Laser Procedure is Astigmic Keratotomy, otherwise known as Limbal Relaxing Incisions. This eye surgery is used to help correct mild astigmatism. Scalpels are used to reshape the eye and the surgery is often used as an enhancement to another eye surgery.

If you are considering eye surgery, you need to know all of your options. This list is a general learning tool but it is recommended that you do further research on any surgery you are interested in or your eye care professional suggests. Keep in mind that each surgery is much like the others, but they are all different as well.

While on surgery may be fine for some peoples lifestyle, it may not be fine for yours. For instance, as a general rule, the older surgeries fit budgets better, but have longer healing times. You need to consider all aspects of eye surgery and how they will impact your life. When figuring healing times into the equation, it is best to plan on the longest healing time named for that surgery. Faster healing is just a bonus, while extended time could cause problems with other life events (such as work).

Louise Forrest has created the ultimate FREE Health & Beauty guide. Find out how you can gain access to FREE natural skin care articles, tips and techniques at http://www.NaturalElements.co.uk Learn more about various eye care treatments at http://www.NaturalElements.co.uk

Posted on Apr 9th, 2007

When the light rays focus well on the retinal surface, we see clearly. When they focus a little in front of the retina, or behind it, we notice blurriness (that’s nearsightedness and farsightedness, respectively).

The lens is flexible and in normal, clear vision, tiny muscles change the convexity/concavity of its shape, to allow us to focus well at all distances. It’s composed of water and protein arranged so as to keep it very translucent, allowing the light to pass through unimpeded to the retina. As We Age

The lens gradually changes with the years. The arrangement of protein and water changes so that some of the protein clumps up together, creating a slight blockage to the light rays. This is a cataract, and they start small, growing very slowly, and causing the light rays to scatter as they pass through it. This makes them unable to focus on the retina and we experience blurriness and over-brightness. If left untreated for long enough, the cataract can extend throughout the lens, causing loss of vision.

The earlier a cataract is diagnosed and treated, the better we can retain our vision. Three kinds of cataracts
· Nuclear cataracts – begin to form in the center of the lens, spreading outwards, caused by aging of the lens
· Cortical cataracts – begin to form at the edge of the lens and extends inwards, often caused by diabetes
· Subcapsular cataracts – begin to form at the back of the lens, and most often diagnosed in diabetics, people on high doses of steroids, those with retinitis pigmentosa, or with severe farsightedness.
Causes of cataracts
Research is ongoing as to causes. We don’t know yet why aging should cause a cataract to form, or what other factors might contribute.
· Some studies have pointed to ultraviolet light, so that some eye doctors suggest we wear sunglasses and a shady hat to protect our eyes
· Other studies suggest cosmic radiation as a contributing cause, as it seems that airline pilots more often develop cataracts
· People with diabetes experience eye changes caused by impaired blood circulation, which are better understood. But they also more often get cataracts, as do people on steroids, tranquilizers and diuretics, for various medical conditions. It’s unknown as yet whether the medical conditions or the drugs are contributing more to cataracts.
· Other studies have pointed to:
· Excess salt
· Heavy use of alcohol
· Smoking
· Lead
Symptoms of cataracts With all three types of cataracts, the symptoms are mild at first. You may notice them only in one eye.
· Blurriness or cloudiness
· Diminished brightness of color
· Glare from light sources, especially at night
The symptoms slowly increase over time. But deteriorating vision is need not be an accompaniment to aging. A good eye doctor will be able to determine which type of cataract you have and advise you about cataract surgery. Cataract surgery

This is the most often-performed surgery in the U.S. and almost all people who have it done achieve excellent vision. It’s an outpatient procedure.
· Your eye surgeon will examine your eyes to determine the right power for the intraocular lens (IOL) he’ll implant for you. The IOL is made of very lightweight plastic.
· A local anesthetic is given and a relaxing medication if you’d like one.
· Using a microscope, the surgeon makes a tiny incision.
· Ultrasound may be used to first break up the natural lens so it can be removed more easily, or sometimes it’s removed as is. The lens’s rear membrane (posterior capsule) is left intact.
· The IOL is gently inserted and the incision closed. Dissolvable stitches may be used.
· Afterwards, your surgeon will give you an eye shield and you can go home the same day.

In some cases, the posterior capsule becomes cloudy after cataract surgery. This makes your vision blurry again, but it can be treated with a laser. The eye surgeon makes a small opening in the capsule to allow light to reach the retina as it should. In very few cases are there any complications. Most people can see much more clearly, and are very pleased, although some may still need glasses.

Click here For more information about cataracts or cataract surgery, feel free to locate an ophthalmologist.

Posted on Apr 3rd, 2007

Cosmetic eye surgery is done on the upper and lower eyelids with the help of lasers. Certain age-related changes take place to the tissues around the eye. Elasticity of skin is decreased, causing changes in the tone of skin. Eyebrows start to droop and waste skin accumulates on the upper and lower eyelids. Fat may get collected in the form of small bags under the eyes. Tendons around the eye lose laxity. This loosens the support structure of the eyelids and may lead to faulty positioning of eyelids. These age-related changes may sometimes be found in young people with certain conditions such as disthyroid eye disease and facial nerve palsy.

Blepharoplasty is a surgical procedure done on the eyelids to enhance facial features and to reverse age-related changes to the eye. Ptosis is a surgical procedure done to correct droopy eyelids. Cases where the lower eyelid is turned inside or outside can also be repaired by surgery with the help of a laser beam.

In blepharoplasty, incisions are made using a laser beam. Waste skin and muscles in the eyelid are trimmed. Fatty deposits are removed from under the eye. Wrinkles from the lower eyelid are erased. Incisions are closed with the help of small sutures that are removed after four or five days. This is mostly done as an outpatient procedure, and patients can go home immediately after surgery.

Laser beams help to seal blood vessels quickly, giving the surgeon a better view of the organ. This makes it possible to perform surgeries with precision. Postoperative swelling after laser surgery is less compared to the swelling that occurs with conventional eye surgery. Swelling subsides in 24 to 48 hours with ice compresses. There is less of scarring, bruising, and discoloration with laser-assisted eyelid surgery.

Blepharoplasty will not remove crow?s feet at the corner of the eye. Dark shadows under the eyes cannot be eliminated with laser surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery provides detailed information on Laser Eye Surgery, Laser Eye Surgery Costs, Corrective Laser Eye Surgeries, Lasik Laser Eye Surgeries and more. Laser Eye Surgery is affiliated with Cosmetic Laser Surgery.

Posted on Apr 2nd, 2007

There are many laser eye surgery clinics all over the country. These clinics are usually private clinics with their own set of laser surgeons, eye doctors, and specialists. Clinics are involved with the patient before, during, and after the procedure. Before going through with the procedure, several tests are done on the eye that is to be operated on. These tests can either be done at the laser surgery clinic or with your personal eye doctor.

Clinics can work with your eye doctor for pre- and post-surgical care. If you do not have an eye doctor, clinics can provide one for your care. A thorough examination of the eyes is done to determine the condition of the eye, its suitability for surgery, presence of eye diseases, and what type of procedure needs to be done. Most clinics provide a detailed description of what is involved in the entire procedure. They give an account of how the operation is done. Some may show a video of the procedure.

With a wide range of clinics available, choosing a good clinic may prove to be difficult. Many clinics advertise through television and newspaper ads, which offer with lots of information and reduced pricing. One should not get carried away by discounts given by clinics and compromise quality. It is wise to first check out who are the surgeons associated with the clinic. Checking out the surgeon’s credentials will also provide an idea about how good the clinic is.

The next step is to find out if the surgeon is associated with a respected medical center. If he is associated with a center that is reputed for advanced technology, then he or she would be up to date on the latest developments in laser eye surgery. Another way to choose a good clinic would be to get recommendations from your regular eye doctor.

Information on good laser eye surgery clinics in your area can be obtained from reputed professional organizations such as Opticians Association of America (http://www.oaa.org), American Academy of Ophthalmology (http://www.aao.org/aao), and American Optometric Association (http://www.aoa.org).

Laser Eye Surgery provides detailed information on Laser Eye Surgery, Laser Eye Surgery Costs, Corrective Laser Eye Surgeries, Lasik Laser Eye Surgeries and more. Laser Eye Surgery is affiliated with Cosmetic Laser Surgery.

Posted on Apr 1st, 2007

Laser eye surgery refers to the surgical procedure performed to correct blurriness of vision.

What are the types of laser eye surgery?

Corrective laser eye surgery is one of two types: PRK and LASIK. In PRK, or photo refractive keratectomy, the skin layer over the cornea is manually scraped, resulting in corrected vision. This type of surgery involves a longer recovery time but is less risky. LASIK, or laser assisted sub-epithelial keratomileusis, is a method where the epithelium is removed and replaced. Healing is faster with LASIK.

How long does it take to get laser eye surgery done?

The actual procedure is just about one to one and a half minutes. Patients will need to be in the surgery room for about 15 minutes for pre- and post-surgical preparations.

What is the recovery time for laser eye surgery?

Patients experience immediate clarity with LASIK and can start normal activities after 24 hours. For patients who undergo PRK, recovery time is anywhere from a few days to even weeks.

How permanent is laser eye surgery?

Corrective eye surgery through laser techniques last for a lifetime. Changes made to the cornea remain because the cornea is a very stable tissue. Cases of regression of vision are rare and can be corrected with further surgery.

Can complications arise with laser eye surgery?

Yes. Complications and side effects can occur with both LASIK and PRK. Some of the side effects are dry eyes, under- or over-correction, halo around things under light, ghosts or double vision, growth under the epithelial flap, and light sensitivity. Fluctuation of vision is a complication that is seen even 6 months after surgery.

Are there any restrictions on activities after undergoing surgery?

Normal activities can usually be resumed after 24 to 48 hours after surgery. Certain activities that might put pressure on the eye like swimming, eye rubbing, eye makeup, and squeezing eyes should not be done.

Laser Eye Surgery provides detailed information on Laser Eye Surgery, Laser Eye Surgery Costs, Corrective Laser Eye Surgeries, Lasik Laser Eye Surgeries and more. Laser Eye Surgery is affiliated with Cosmetic Laser Surgery.

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