Archive for the 'eye surgery' Category

Are Eye Braces Safer Than Laser Eye Surgery?

Sunday, November 18th, 2007

Are you nearsighted, farsighted? Before your give up your glasses for contact lenses or Lasik surgery, check out the promises of eye braces. Eye braces promise to correct your vision without surgery - while you sleep.

A long time ago, back in the 1960s, two California doctors when getting feedback from their patients who wore contact lenses, kept hearing the same type of story over and over again. Many times their patients would leave their home, drive to work and then halfway through the day notice that they were not wearing their contact lenses. And they were seeing perfectly well. It appeared that the constant wearing of the contact caused a gradual reshaping of their cornea, improving their ability to see. This chance discovery eventually led to experimentations and studies on shaping the eyes using contact lenses.

Corrective eye braces or CRT (Corneal Refractive Therapy) lenses as they are formally known, are hard contact lenses that act much like a retainer or braces do on your teeth. You put them on at night just before you go to bed. During the night, while you sleep, they reshape the cornea of your eye. When you wake up in the morning, your blurred vision is gone. You can see the pictures on your wall, the buttons on your clothes, and the alarm clock on your dresser. You have 20/20 vision.

Unlike laser eye surgery, the changes are not permanent. The changes to the cornea will last only a day on some people. On others, it has lasted up to a week.

So who are the most likely candidates for these eye braces?

Young teenagers for one. Many good eye surgeons will not operate on a teenager or a person under 18 or 21 because the body, including the eyes. may still be growing and changing. At those ages, they doctor may legitimately determine that the risk is not worth it and rule out corrective eye surgery altogether. In this case, eye braces, may be a good alternative.

The eyes are one of our most important senses and many people are leery of making any type of permanent change to them. Add to that the growing number of malpractice lawsuits involving refractive surgery, and some people, especially those already wary of surgical operations, begin to look for alternative ways of improving their vision. For them, eye braces are a good compromise between permanent contact lenses and laser eye surgery.

Those looking for a bargain will also like eye braces. The cost of CRT lenses is much less than the cost of laser eye surgery.

The news is not all good, however. The braces have to be hard, in order to reshape the cornea. This can make them uncomfortable to wear. And although most people will get used to them, some find they cant adjust.

Also, although relatively infrequent, the wearing of contact lenses, does increase the risk of microbial infections of the eye.

And thirdly, there have been no long term studies of the effect of wearing eye braces on a nightly basis for an extended period of time.

So if you want CRT lenses how do you get them? You cant just go into an eye doctors office and order them. A CRT lens has to be prescribed by a doctor who has been certified in CRT lenses.

Dana Siconolfi is a freelance writer who writes articles relating to custom eye laser surgery as well as other health related topics. Visit her site at http://www.lasereyesurgeryupdate.com .

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

Can Anyone Have LASIK Eye Surgery?

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

Can everyone who has a problem with their eyesight
apply to have LASIK? Clearly LASIK has got great
potential and benefits but just like with any new
procedure there are risks associated.
The risk of complications or impaired eyesight after
LASIK vision correction can be greatly reduced if you
make an effort to establish if you are a good prospect
to have LASIK surgery. Not everyone who wants their
vision corrected is necessarily a good candidate to
have LASIK surgery. Here are a few things to consider
before you decide on LASIK:
* If you are risk averse, you probably shouldn’t have
LASIK laser surgery. There are possible complications
that can come about as a result of LASIK that you
should consider before having the procedure done.
* Does your insurance cover LASIK vision correction?
How would LASIK laser surgery or possible
complications affect your career? If having this
procedure would impact your life negatively you might
consider another alternative.
* Although the cost of having LASIK done is getting
cheaper, it is still quite expensive and you’ll want
to make sure it isn’t prohibited by your employer.
* A requirement for LASIK vision correction is that
you must be an adult with refractive stability.
Refractive instability is common among patients who
are 20 or younger with fluctuating hormones. This is
caused by several conditions including diabetes,
pregnancy or breastfeeding or taking medications that
cause fluctuation in vision.
* People who regularly engage in contact sports or
suffer from a condition or disease which may affect
the healing of a wound might have to consider an
alternative to the LASIK vision correction surgery.
There are a number of other situations one should
discuss with your doctor prior to deciding on LASIK
laser surgery. If you suffer from conditions such as
herpes or shingles that affects the area around the
eyes, you should disclose that information. Also, any
other conditions, including glaucoma, ocular
hypertension, eye diseases, eye injuries, previous eye
surgeries, or keratoconus should also be discussed
Please ask your doctor to screen you for the
following conditions prior to LASIK eye surgery:
* Blepharitis
* Large pupils
* Thin corneas
* Previous refractive surgeries
* Dry eyes
Only once you have considered and cleared all of the
above conditions or discussed them with a LASIK
surgeon, can you determine if you are an excellent
candidate for LASIK laser surgery.

The author L Jimmy Roos writes widely, offering
solutions on various topics that affect the human
condition. For more information on Lasik laser eye
surgery and how it can help you, please visit now
http://www.lasikeyeadvice.com

L Jimmy Roos

Common Cataract Surgery Complications

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

Cataract is not a disease. Instead, it is a condition whereby the crystalline lens in the eye develops a clouding or opaqueness. This reduces the amount of light that reaches the retina. It ends up causing a person to experience foggy or hazy vision. The condition will get worse as time passes. The causes of cataracts include aging, prescription drugs, eye trauma or an ongoing medical condition.

Cataracts are treated using surgical removal methods. This is a very common treatment and it has a ninety five percent success rate. There are risks however. Some may develop fluctuating eye pressure, bleeding, infection, inflammation, double vision and loss of vision. There are some common temporary risks that may be corrected with time and then more serious risks. The more common and temporary of the cataract surgery complications include:

Cataract Surgery Complications: Itchiness, Stickiness, and Pain

*Itchiness to the white of the eyes with some redness.

*Stickiness to the eyes in general, along with itchiness. The patient may experience blurry vision for awhile after the procedure.

* Some patients feel pain in their eyes for about a week to two weeks

* Some may have eyelids that ache.

Cataract Surgery Complication: Rip of the Lens

A more serious cataract surgery complication is when the lens behind an eye rips during a surgery. This will cause damage to vision. The doctor must perform another surgery to take away the cataract.

Two types of cataract surgery procedures done today. One is the phacoemulsification surgery and the other is known as extracapsular surgery procedure.

Cataract Surgery Complication: Posterior Capsular Opacification

The phacoemulsication surgery requires a lens capsule or casing to be left in the eye for the benefit of placing an intraocular lens into it. After surgery, one of the more common complications may be that the capsule would become cloudy and develop another cataract within a two year time frame. This complication is termed “posterior capsular opacification”. The cataract must then be treated with laser surgery. Other familiar cataract surgery complications are discussed below.

Cataract Surgery Complication: Retinal Detachment

This condition occurs when fluid enters through a tear to the retina. The retina ends up becoming detached from the backside of the eye.

Cataract Surgery Complication: Choroidal Hemmorrhage

Choroids are a web of small blood vessels that supply blood to the retina. Choroidal Hemmorrage is when this web of vessels bleed in the surgery. This may happen to older patients or people who suffer from glaucoma.

Gavin Sanderson is an established freelance writer. You can find more of his writing at cataractzone.com and lasik-central.com.

Gavin Sanderson

Tips on Lasik Eye Surgery

Tuesday, May 29th, 2007

What is Lasik Surgery?:
The word LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Sutu Keratomieusis, a process which reshapes the cornea to refract light in the lens. While LASIK surgery isn’t close to perfect, it is a very viable and increasingly safe surgery.
LASIK surgery is a very simple two step process:
A slight, thin flap of tissue is created on the outside layer of the eye or cornea. The flap helps heal and provide comfort on the way to better vision.
The doctor then folds open the flap on the inner cornea to correct the vision. Finally, the flap is closed to its original position and sealed with stitches.
Preparing for LASIK Surgery:
When you meet the doctor to discuss LASIK eye surgery you should let him know a few things about yourself. Let the doctor know about any past or present medical and eye conditions as well as all medications you are taking or are allergic to. It is important that you disclose all of this to your doctor before deciding if LASIK is right for you.
After you’ve disclosed this personal information to the doctor, you should then discuss if you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Let him explain to you the risks, benefits, and alternatives of the surgery as well as what you can expect from beginning to end.
You should stop using any lotions, perfumes, or creams the day before the surgery as well as any makeup that may cause debris to get in the eye. The doctor may even request that you scrub and wash out your eyes for a good time before LASIK surgery to prevent the chance of any type of infection.
Finally, you should definitely arrange with a loved one for transportation to and from the LASIK surgery. Before LASIK surgery some doctors will arrange for you to take some medicine to help you relax that could impair your vision and reaction time. After LASIK surgery you may need a few days to recover your vision, hence the need to arrange for a drive home.
The Cost of LASIK:
When you are considering different LASIK surgery opportunities you should question your surgeon on what is included in the cost of the LASIK surgery.
What is and isn’t included in the LASIK cost?
What will I be charged for if complications occur or enhancements are needed?
What is the cost for LASIK medications such as anti-inflammatory or painkillers?
What is the cost for temporary contact lenses if they are needed after LASIK?
What is the cost of the follow-up visits related to LASIK?
Finally, you should get in contact with your insurance company to determine if they will cover the cost of the LASIK surgery. Some insurance companies don’t cover LASIK cost because they consider the surgery to be cosmetic. If financing is not a problem you should strongly consider using the LASIK surgeon who best suits your needs and concerns.
The FDA considers the average cost of LASIK surgery to be $1,344 in 2005, a significant decrease from the original numbers listed in 2002 of nearly $1,600. Many consider this LASIK cost to be marginal in relation to the comfort created by newly improved vision.
After LASIK Surgery
The moments after a major life-altering event are usually filled with joy, laughter, and camaraderie, but this usually doesn’t happen after surgery. LASIK surgery is no different than any other surgery, but its drawbacks may be a little different than others.
The results of LASIK surgery are much akin to the results of being pestered by a pet day after day. Instead of the healing of bruises or incisions, LASIK surgery is accompanied by more burning and itching of an area that you are completely unable to scratch or cool. At this point, any touching of the eye could undo everything the surgery just repaired.
Your vision will be blurry because of the watering and tearing up of your eye, but you cannot under any circumstances touch your eye. The eye may appear dry or bloodshot for several days, if this occurs you should consider taking time off of work. If you experience severe pain from LASIK surgery at any time you should contact your surgeon.
Within 24-48 hours after your surgery you should have a post-operative exam to make sure everything is healing well. At regular intervals after the LASIK surgery up to six months you should continue seeing your doctor for checkups.
At the first visit after LASIK surgery your doctor will remove the shield and make sure your eye is responding correctly to the surgery. You will not be able to use contact lenses for sometime to keep from further irritation and you may have to use drops or artificial tears to help with lubricating the eye.
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