Archive for May, 2007

What is IntraLasik, Life Without the Blade.

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

Many people have not opted in for Lasik Surgery because of some of the risks associated with this type of surgeries such as Halo’s, blurred vision, starbursts, and permanent warping of the cornea. Also, since Lasik surgery involves holding a blade, some just do not feel comfortable getting this surgery. However, there is a bladeless Lasik that is swooping the nation because of this bladeless approach.

It can’t be without a name and the name is IntraLasik, not only is this a breakthrough for Lasik science. In the old method, a surgeon would make an incision in the flap above the cornea. With IntraLasik, the surgeon simply types in the exact position and depth needed. This makes this procedure not only safe but extremely accurate, thus reducing side effects and all around complaints of this procedure.

The laser utilized in IntraLasik uses small pulses of laser light, the software also used helps to create the precision needed to help create the incision. During surgery, the laser will move across and back and forth right above the surface of the patient’s eye, this creates a small layer of bubbles that rest right underneath the cornea.

Surgery sound interesting to you? It should because less side effects are associate with IntraLasik and the precision is 100 percent accurate. Could you be a candidate for Intralasik? If you have a thin cornea or a high prescription, then you might be a potential candidate for this bladeless surgery.

What are some of the risks associated with Intra Lasik? There are some risks associated with IntraLasik surgery. In 2001 the Interlase laser was approved for public use. Since then this laser has been responsible for operating on over 200,000 eyes. Because the incision is made with a laser, the time of surgery is increase almost 6 fold. The traditional bladed surgery runs about 3-4 seconds per eye while the bladeless surgery runs and average of 17 seconds per eye.

Pricing for this bladeless surgery is around 1900-4900.00 dollars per eye, although pricing can vary greatly from region to region and from doctor to doctor in the same city.
The reason this process is expensive is due to the InterLase laser used. However, most cost incurred also include postoperative care.

Before having this surgery performed it is best to speak with you surgeon and go over the positive effects of both Lasik and IntraLasik, find out if you’re a candidate today!

Need Lasik Surgery? Check out the Cost of Lasik Surgeryyou may be surprised.

William Twiner

Thinking About Lasik Eye Surgery?

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

If, like most of us, you wear glasses or contact lenses, the possibility of having good eyesight without them may seem remote. For years you have been stuck with only these two options–or a third, of not seeing very well.

Today, Lasik eye surgery is all you ever hear about and you probably know several people who have already been through the process. They just rave over how quick and easy the process was and that they do not have to be bothered wearing glasses or taking care of contact lenses. And, you are seriously considering doing the same thing. But, are you a good candidate for this surgery?

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to schedule an appointment with an eye surgeon and have an examination. There are certain standards that your eyes must meet in order to be considered for the surgery. They are:

* A correctly sized pupil,
* A cornea of the right thickness,
* A cornea that is structurally normal (not an unusual shape),
* Have a healthy pressure within the eye, and
* Have basically healthy eyes (with no diseases or injuries that might interfere with the surgery).

Okay, you are ready to go. You have received your eye examination and have been approved for the procedure by the eye surgeon. Now what? You schedule a date and show up at the appropriate time. You know that you will be awake for the procedure and everything has been carefully explained. Now, it is time to prep for the surgery.

You are finally in the laser suite where you will be positioned comfortable on your back under the excimer laser. Your surgeon will put anesthetic eye drops in your eyes to numb their surface. The eyelashes are taped out of the way and an eyelid speculum is placed between you eyelids to keep you from blinking.

Small reference marks are put on your cornea to serve as positional guides for replacing the corneal flap. A suction ring is placed on your eye to hold it is position and to maintain the pressure within. The corneal flap is now created and folded back. The next step is for the laser procedure to sculpture the cornea by vaporizing small amounts of tissue-this step can take anywhere from 20-90 seconds to complete. The eye is then flushed out to remove any debris and then the corneal flap is put back into its original position.

You will be asked to sit quietly with your eyes closed for about 30 minutes and then the eye surgeon will come back and check to make sure that everything is all right. You may have a sensation that there is something in your eye, but this will pass. When it is time to go home, you will be given antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, and lubricating eye drops along with a detailed set of instructions on what to do and when to do it. In addition, you will schedule several postoperative appointments to have your doctor check on your eyes.

Now, you know the basics. If you are considering lasik eye surgery, make sure that you do your research and find the best eye surgeon in the area. Once everything is completed, you will enjoy the freedom of not dealing with glasses and contact lenses.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik eye surgery.

Samantha Kay

Colorado Lasik Vision Correction - What Is The Cost?

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

The cost of Lasik surgery can vary wildly depending on where you have the procedure, and Colorado Lasik vision correction is subject to the same market forces as everywhere else. You’d think that a surgery like Lasik, one that’s done so often and on so many people, would run pretty much the same price no matter where you go. But there are a lot of variables - how expert the doctor is who’ll perform the procedure, for example, and what sort of a facility you go to for your Lasik procedure. The eye centers at hospitals use a different fee structure than a private practice doctor, for example, and private physicians have different levels of overhead costs, which drive the prices they charge patients. Feesd are also based on your prescription, too - the more work that the doctor needs to do to correct your vision, the more it may cost.

Taking a look at Colorado lasik vision correction, for instance, you’ll find that fees vary from a low of about $500 per eye to over $2,500. That’s huge range of fees, isn’t it? The good news is that the price usually includes all of your pre-surgery and post-surgery care, including office visits. Often, the cost of the procedure is driven by the amount of money that the individual doctor’s office has invested in the equipment to perform the surgery. New techniques like Wavefront Lasik creates a three-dimensional computerized “map” of the surface of your eye, and the procedure is far more precise than previous methods of laser corrective surgery.

This equipment is pricey - over $100,000 - and the physician also pays a fee of around $200 to the manufacturer each time they use the equipment, much like musicians pay a royalty fee when they use someone else’s songs. Whether the eye doctor is in Denver - where rents for office space are quite high compared to other cities in Colorado - or in a less metropolitan area, if you add in the cost of gowns, masks and other accoutrements plus overhead like rent on the office and utilities, insurance and salaries for staff, and you can not only see why the procedure is expensive, but why the price varies from eye doctor to eye doctor.

As with medical procedure, you should research different eye doctors and clinics for both their cost and their reputation, ask for referrals, and base your decision on a combination of factors. Don’t automatically go for the least expensive Lasik surgeon in the Colorado White Pages - these are your eyes, after all, and you don’t want to cut corners. But don’t assume that the most expensive eye clinic is the best, either. Look for a doctor with plenty of up-to-date training, excellent patient references, and a price that doesn’t break the bank for colorado lasik vision correction.

Dean Iggo is the webmaster of discount contact lenses where you can find reviews and information on colored contact lenses, lasik eye surgery and more..

Dean Iggo

Laser Eye Surgery Side Effects

Thursday, May 31st, 2007

For people with myopic or short-sighted, the prospect of having a perfect vision is certainly a dream come true. People with short sightedness problems would have probably at some time or other wondered about the benefits of having a lasik laser eye surgery to correct their vision.

Since the advent of lasik laser eye surgery, this dream is now a reality for millions of people all over the developed world. This article raises some dangers and side effects of this surgical procedure.

In the original version of the laser eye surgical procedure, the PRK, which is an acronym for photorefractive keratectomy, involves the complete removal of the cornea’s outer layer to operate underneath it and later let it to grow back on its own.

However, with the lasik surgical procedure or laser in situ keratomileusis, eye surgeons can now peel back the cornea surface to operate underneath it and then return the cornea to its original position.

Now, the bad news about the surgery is that there can be some side effects and complications just like in any other surgeries. Some people who have had lasik eye surgery done have found that not only did their vision had not improved, but are seriously damaged by the eye surgery.

The surgery permanently changes the physiology and optics of the eyes. Therefore potential eye surgery patients should always be aware of the risk-benefit ratio and whether is it worth to risk the dangers and side effects to the eyes. The benefits are that you can do away with glasses or contact lenses, probably permanently. However, the risk of permanent damage to your vision can be palpable and alarming.

In a ‘Review of Optometry’ report, up to one in six patients who undergo lasik laser eye surgery end up with complications and side effects. This ratio is indeed alarming.

Complications and side effects arising from the lasik eye surgery include distortion of vision, such as irregular astigmatism, which cannot be corrected by eye glasses. Others experienced deterioration in the quality of their vision or very bad dry-eye side effects. Some very unfortunate patients have reported having double vision or even triple vision arising from a lasik laser eye surgery.

For patients who do not suffer any side effects, it is certainly an undoubted positive life changing experience. For example, Richard Branson of the Virgin fame or notoriety, is a huge fan of lasik laser eye surgery as the surgery has transformed him from being ‘blind as a bat’ to having an almost perfect vision. Till this day, he is still gushing praises on lasik laser eye surgery.

However, on the other hand, Margaret Dolan from Ireland is a victim of the surgical procedure went wrong. After her surgery, her eyes developed a complication known as Post-Lasik Dry Eye.

Margaret Dolan needs to add artificial tears to her eyes many times a day and throughout the night just to keep the eyes moist. Patients who suffer from this dry eye syndrome usually have the symptoms for about two to three months after their surgeries and then the symptoms will disappear.

However, for some very unfortunate people, their conditions do not improve with time and they need to drop artificial tears on their eyes for the rest of their lives. This can be very frustrating and distressing for the unfortunate victims.

So if you are considering a lasik laser eye surgery, do discuss the possible risks and complications that may arise from of the surgical procedure thoroughly with your eye surgeon and get as much information as you can before you reach a decision.

Chris Chew was a lasik patient. Laser eye surgery lasik and
Organ transplant ethics

Chris Chew

Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK Laser Eye Surgery

Wednesday, May 30th, 2007

LASIK is a well-renowned refractive surgery procedure, and hence often takes center stage in a lot many discussions pertinent to refractive surgery. A technology so advanced as that wielded by LASIK often boggles the mind. Patients planning to undergo LASIK surgery will have several questions requiring elaborate answers. It is imperative that all lurking doubts be elucidated on prior to going in for surgery. Following is a brief list of frequently asked questions about LASIK.
How do I know if I am a viable candidate for LASIK? - The best way to determine your candidature is to have a comprehensive preoperative examination, which discovers any condition that might preclude LASIK. In general, you must be above 18, having healthy eyes with low to moderate refractive error (for best results), and should not be suffering from any eye ailments. Moreover, pregnant or nursing women are advised to postpone LASIK surgery until after there prescription stabilizes.
How long does the procedure last? - LASIK is a fairly expedited procedure. The whole process is over within half an hour or less.
Does LASIK hurt? - LASIK involves virtually no pain. The surgeon typically administers anesthetic eye drops and a mild sedative prior to the surgery.
Can I drive back home after the surgery? - No. It is advised that you arrange for someone to drive you back home, since your vision would be blurry immediately after the surgery.
Are the effects of LASIK eye surgery permanent? - Yes. LASIK is an irreversible procedure. It might take around 3 to 6 months for the complications, if any, to subside and the vision to stabilize. Following this period, the physical effects of the treatment are permanent. However, age related vision problems might alter the visual acuity.
Will I require eyeglasses after LASIK surgery? - In general, LASIK eliminates a person’s dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses. Though a rarity, a few people might need a minimal prescription for certain activities. Anyway, reading glasses are typically necessary beyond the age of 40, when presbyopia sets in. This is when the eye lens loses its accommodation power.
What is the frequency of follow up visits after surgery? - The surgeon would normally examine you on the day following surgery. After that, there should be regular checkups spanning a period of around 3 to 6 months - a time period enough for the visual results to completely set in. Basically, the recovery should be meticulously monitored over a substantial period of time.
If you find a LASIK doctor that you are confident with, you will be able to get more information about LASIK laser eye surgery.

The LASIK Surgeons Directory - find a LASIK doctor. Nicola Kennedy publishes articles and reports, provides news and views about LASIK laser eye surgery at Your Lasik Information.
This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and the live links are included intact. All rights reserved. Copyright Your-LASIK.info

Nicola Kennedy


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