An Overview of Lasik Eye Surgery
- By Richard Neesal
- Published 10/7/2008
- Health
- Unrated
Almost 50 per cent of Americans wear eye glasses or contact lens. Many of these people have started to investigate Lasik eye surgery as a way to reduce their dependency on their eye aids.
Lasik surgery, also known as laser eye surgery, is a medical operation that utilises a laser to redesign the cornea of the patient's eye in order to improve their eye sight. Millions of people around the world have successfully undergone a Lasik procedure which can take as little as 30 minutes to complete. But, just like all medical operations, it is not risk free and you should be fully aware of what the procedure involves before considering it for yourself.
Most people who choose Lasik do it for cosmetic reasons or have jobs where wearing contact lens or glasses are either dangerous or inconvenient. In the later situation, some employers even pay for their employees to have Lasik surgery.
Lasik is an acronym for "Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis". Using a computer assisted laser, the surgery cuts a flap in the cornea of the eye and pull it back so that the laser can reshape the inner cornea. The cornea is part of the eye that helps people see by focusing light and so by changing its shape the surgeon can assist people who have long or short-sightedness to focus properly.
Once the reshaping has taken pl
ace, the surgeon puts the flap back in place which adheres to the eye without stitches. Patients can walk in and walk out of the surgery in under 1 hour, and no anaesthetic is often used.
Often the patient only has minor discomfort in the days following the surgery. The most common complications that can arise include dry eyes, eye sensitivity or visual problems such seeing lights or haze. Luckily, research has shown that most minor complications only occur in 3 to 5 percent of surgeries.
Lasik surgery is not a holy grail for all eye problems. Most people will still need reading glasses sometime after 40 even if they have Lasik due to an unrelated condition that is linked to the ageing of the eyes.
If you are interested in having Lasik surgery done then you will need to find an experience and qualified surgeon that your trust. This often only takes a bit of research, talking to people you know who have had the surgery done or discussing it with your regular medical practitioner. A sign of good Lasik surgeon is someone who takes the time to address your concerns and answers your questions in logical, easy to understand language and who is concerned with your welfare.
The cost of surgery is usually around $2,500 an eye. This isn't cheap but when considering the cost of eye glasses or contacts over your lifetime and the inconvenience of wearing these eye aids you may find that is worthwhile for your situation.
Lasik surgery, also known as laser eye surgery, is a medical operation that utilises a laser to redesign the cornea of the patient's eye in order to improve their eye sight. Millions of people around the world have successfully undergone a Lasik procedure which can take as little as 30 minutes to complete. But, just like all medical operations, it is not risk free and you should be fully aware of what the procedure involves before considering it for yourself.
Most people who choose Lasik do it for cosmetic reasons or have jobs where wearing contact lens or glasses are either dangerous or inconvenient. In the later situation, some employers even pay for their employees to have Lasik surgery.
Lasik is an acronym for "Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis". Using a computer assisted laser, the surgery cuts a flap in the cornea of the eye and pull it back so that the laser can reshape the inner cornea. The cornea is part of the eye that helps people see by focusing light and so by changing its shape the surgeon can assist people who have long or short-sightedness to focus properly.
Once the reshaping has taken pl
Often the patient only has minor discomfort in the days following the surgery. The most common complications that can arise include dry eyes, eye sensitivity or visual problems such seeing lights or haze. Luckily, research has shown that most minor complications only occur in 3 to 5 percent of surgeries.
Lasik surgery is not a holy grail for all eye problems. Most people will still need reading glasses sometime after 40 even if they have Lasik due to an unrelated condition that is linked to the ageing of the eyes.
If you are interested in having Lasik surgery done then you will need to find an experience and qualified surgeon that your trust. This often only takes a bit of research, talking to people you know who have had the surgery done or discussing it with your regular medical practitioner. A sign of good Lasik surgeon is someone who takes the time to address your concerns and answers your questions in logical, easy to understand language and who is concerned with your welfare.
The cost of surgery is usually around $2,500 an eye. This isn't cheap but when considering the cost of eye glasses or contacts over your lifetime and the inconvenience of wearing these eye aids you may find that is worthwhile for your situation.
Richard Neesal
The Australian Laser Eye Surgery Guide has a wealth of information on the laser eye surgery operation and how to choose a good surgeon.
View all articles by Richard Neesal