Don't want to wear glasses? Why not Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is the most commonly practiced procedure that uses a laser to correct vision problems caused by refractive errors, including myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism (distorted vision when looking at objects at any distance). Short pulses of invisible ultraviolet light remove a small amount of tissue from the cornea to correct the curvature. The amount removed is typically less than the thickness of a human hair. By correcting the curvature of the cornea, images are better focused on the retina and the images are clearer.
Types of Laser eye surgery:
PRK (Photo-Refractive Keractectomy): This procedure was first introduced in the early nineties. In PRK the surgeon removes the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) with a surgical blade or blunt instrument. The laser beam, guided by a computer, is then used to vaporize tiny amounts of tissue under the surface of the cornea. The procedure removes just enough tissue to reshape the cornea in a way that corrects vision. The initial healing process is complete in about a week.
LASIK (Laser Assisted in situ Keratomileusis): This practice was introduced in the mid-nineties. This surgery is more complicated. The surgeon first cuts a flap in the cornea with a very sharp blade or laser, and then lifts it and uses a computer-guided laser to remove calculated amounts of tissue from the inside layers of the cornea. Afterwards, the flap is put back and the eye heals more quickly than with PRK.
There are also more recent advance in LASIK procedure by the use of Wavefront technology which creates a detailed map of the eye.
LASEK: This is a variation of PRK and LASIK. The surgeon cuts the outer layer of the cornea (epithelium) with a fine blade, and uses alcohol to loosen and lift it in a single layer. The laser beam is then directed at tissue under the epithelium, as with PRK. When the laser procedure is finished, the epithelium is put back in place. LASEK is best suited to vision problems that require minor correction. The healing process takes about two weeks.
Epi-LASIK: This is a modified LASEK in which the outer layer of the cornea is removed with a mechanical device using a blunt, rather than a sharp blade. This is used to correct mild to moderate short sight and astigmatism. Recovery usually takes a few days.
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Benefits:
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Side Effects:
- Infection: Patient feels low level itchiness or burning in the eyes the first day. All of these are treated with eye drops. Reactions (adverse) to any of the eye drops are possible, as are allergic reactions.
- Night Glare: Many nearsighted patients experience poor night vision with their glasses or contact lenses, and this symptom is not uncommon immediately following surgery. Patients typically report day and night glare or haloes for 3-4 days, and then it will start to clear. After 6 months, the majority return to pre-surgery levels of night glare.
- Drooping eyelid, hazy or blurry vision, scratchiness, light sensitivity, or small pink/red patches on the white of the eye but these usually disappear with time and are rarely permanent.
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Loss of Contrast Sensitivity: Loss of contrast sensitivity after LASIK surgery can impair the patient's ability to clearly discern objects. This is particularly noticeable in low light conditions and may affect night driving ability. Patients usually find that contrast sensitivity returns to normal within six months.
- Laser eye surgery is not a good option for patients who are diabetic, have rheumatoid arthritis or are experiencing a few other serious health conditions. Only a qualified ophthalmologist can determine if this method of vision correction is safe and appropriate.
How to minimize the risk:
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Cost involved in the surgery: The price of laser refractive surgery depends on where you have this procedure done. The average cost involved is:
- $2,105 for all laser-based vision correction procedures in which a single price is quoted.
- $1,662 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.
- $2,341 for wavefront-guided LASIK using Intra Lase.
The cost may vary depending upon the process and place of surgery.
How to look for your surgeon:
- Many refractive surgery centers are advertising in newspapers, on the radio, and on TV. They can be a starting point, but an ad or a procedure price should not be your only criterion in choosing a doctor.
- Ask for a referral from your regular eye care practitioner, whether an optometrist or an ophthalmologist. Tell him or her that you want the LASIK surgeon in your area with the best reputation in the profession.
- Visit the American Academy of Ophthalmology's website, where you can use the "Find an Eye MD" feature. Be sure to specify "refractive surgery" under "specialty."
- Call refractive surgery centers in your area; you'll find them in the Yellow Pages. Most have websites that explain their specialties and doctor credentialing.
- Always go for a second opinion.
- If you have someone in your relation in medical profession, he can be the best judge to advise you a right surgeon.
So if you suffer from any of the following conditions, moderate to high degrees of myopia (nearsightedness), low to moderate degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism associated with myopia, and have thick corneas, you'll qualify for the operation. So consult your eye doctor and get his advice to move ahead in the world of light.
Top Hospitals for Laser Eye surgery:
Ottawa Hospital, USA
Valley Laser, Canada
Centre for sight, India
Moorfields Eye Hospital, UK
Canberra Eye Hospital, Australia.
(Sources: hc-sc.gc.ca, optimax.co.uk, ezinearticles.com, dlxguard.com, docshop.com, eyetechlasik.com, allaboutvision.com)
