LASIK is the latest type of refractive surgery. As the name implies, refractive surgical procedures are used to alleviate refractive errors. Refractive errors are imperfections in the eye’s focusing power.

Making the decision to get a LASIK is no laughing matter. Before submitting to the proc edure, you should gather as much information as you can. This will help you evaluate the risks that come with LASIK treatment.

If you are not a risk taker, then LASIK is probably not for you. Although the procedure is relatively safe, it is also quite new. There is no long-term data available for LASIK patients. Complications after the operation are definite possibilities, though they are not likely.

LASIK can also jeopardize your career. Some career paths may close to you once you get refractive surgery. Before you do, you might want to clarify the issue with your superiors.
Cost is also an issue. Refractive surgery is usually not covered by insurance, which can mean high costs for you. Those who participate in contact sports such as boxing and wrestling are also poor candidates for LASIK.

Anyone who still exhibits refractive instability may also be bad candidates for LASIK. Younger patients, such as those under age 25, can expect their cornea to change significantly over the course of their life. As such, the effects of LASIK or any other refractive surgery might vary over time. People who exhibit refractive instability may also include the diabetes patients and pregnant or breastfeeding women.

Jeanette Pollock is a freelance author and website owner of eye-care-hq.com eye-care-hq.com. Visit Jeanette’s site to learn more about eye-care-hq.com/2006/07/11/are-you-a-good-candidate-for-lasik/ LASIK eye surgery.

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Tags: lasik

One of the most common eyesight problems is myopia or nearsightedness. Myopia afflicts almost one third of the population. Myopia or nearsightedness is a condition wherein the person cannot see distant objects clearly without glasses. Usually, nearsighted people can see up-close objects clearly but have problems reading far-away signs and other objects at a distance.

The signs and symptoms of myopia may include headache, eyestrain and fatigue when doing some tasks that require distance vision like driving and playing sports. People with myopia often squint and strain their eyes, which usually cause headaches. For nearsighted and myopic people, far objects appear blurry and indistinct.

Myopia occurs when the eyeball is slightly longer than usual from front to back. Because of this defect, the light rays focus at a point in front of the retina rather than directly on its surface. Myopia is hereditary and usually shows its symptoms in childhood. Although myopia may stabilize at some point, it can also worsen with age, a condition known as myopic creep. Fortunately, myopia or nearsightedness is a mildly debilitating condition that is easily correctible. Nevertheless, there are also cases where myopia is severe and is considered pathologic. Pathologic or degenerative myopia develops in those with extraordinarily elongated eyeballs. This type of myopia typically starts by age twelve and can worsen with age, resulting in progressive or severe loss of vision.

Myopia can be corrected or treated in several ways. Glasses and contact lenses are the most common ways of correcting myopia. Some myopic persons may need to wear glasses and contact lenses all the time. People with myopia have a negative prescription number. The higher the numeral, the stronger the lenses are. Myopia can also be treated through surgery. Refractive surgery can reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses or contacts. The most common refractive surgery is laser-assisted in LASIK. In this procedure, a flap is cut through the top of the cornea. Then a laser removes some corneal tissue and afterwards the flap is put back in place.

Another surgical procedure is PRK. In this procedure, a laser removes a layer of corneal tissue. This flattens the cornea and allows light rays to focus properly on the retina. A surgical method for correcting mild myopia is by implanting plastic corneal rings, which alter the shape of the cornea. They can either be removed or adjusted or can be left in place permanently. There are also non surgical procedures available for persons with myopia. In orthokeratology, the patient wears special contact lenses that slowly reshape the cornea over time. The cornea temporarily retains the new shape allowing the patient to see clearly. Until recently, there have been no medications available to help people with myopia. However, in 2001, a new FDA-approved photosensitive drug called Vysudine was introduced as a treatment for revascularization or the abnormal growth of blood vessels in pathologic myopia.

Myopia is the most common eyesight problem in the world. Almost a third of the population of the United States has myopia. Fortunately, myopia can be corrected and treated. An eye examination is highly recommended for people experiencing signs and symptoms of myopia. Regularly visiting an ophthalmologist is the best way to know if you have myopia. It is also recommended so that you can get your myopia treated and corrected as soon as possible.

Dirk Wagner is the author of the ebook called curemyopianaturally.com” target=”_blank Cure Myopia Naturally. Visit his website for more information about

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Tags: implant, lasik

So the time has come and you’re actively thinking about having LASIK or laser eye surgery performed in order to improve your eyesight or perhaps you’ve already done your research on laser vision correction surgery and have decided that you will indeed have the surgery performed. Believe it or not, you’re not alone. Everyday there are hundreds of consumers that suffer from an eye disorder making the same decision. So as you can imagine with this much demand it’s only natural that there are many LASIK surgeons to choose from, in fact there are to many.

Conducting your research on what LASIK is and what it does is vitally important on your part prior to undergoing any eye improvement surgery. However, it is just as vital for you to spend the time becoming familiar with the LASIK doctors and surgeons in your area. It’s very important to choose the right doctor who clearly specializes in the most up to date LASIK procedures and has access to the newest and most advanced laser eye surgery equipment.

Because there are so many LASIK specialists to choose from the task of finding someone that specializes in the particular style of LASIK surgery you require may initially be difficult. Prior to consulting with a LASIK doctor spend some time with a regular eye doctor. They may be able to recommend to you to a LASIK specialist that they prefer or think highly of and would trust enough to operate on their own eyes. Whatever you do, don’t let price be the deciding factor in determining who your LASIK doctor will be. This isn’t like searching for something in the phone book under the yellow pages. You’re interested in having your vision correction surgery performed by an experienced professional not a price cutter.

There are a few general guidelines that you can follow which will make the process of locating a competent LASIK professional and then having a successful LASIK experience. The first would be to insist on having the LASIK doctor performing your surgery treat you from start to finish. An eye care center that specializes in LASIK procedures is really no different from any other medical establishment. Although they do care about their patients well being, they are still a business, so in many cases they will have a trained staff or separate section that will perform the preliminary eye exams and obtain your health and eye history for your eye surgeon. In fact, if you’re not careful you may never even see your surgeon until right before he or she performs the LASIK surgery. If you have the opportunity always insist on having the same doctor from start to finish. They should perform the initial eye exam, of course perform the surgical part of your procedure and then be available for all of the necessary follow up appointments and treatments.

Always make sure that the doctor you are considering specializes in the type of LASIK you will require. Although the common LASIK doctor can most likely successfully perform all types of LASIK surgeries your chances for a more successful outcome are greatly enhanced if you choose an eye surgeon with the latest equipment and who truly has experience performing the type of LASIK your eye condition requires.

It’s always prudent to discuss the pros and cons as well as the common risks that are associated with having a LASIK procedure performed. In almost all cases, LASIK is very successful in dramatically improving the patients eyesight and rather quickly. However, there are a few isolated cases where the LASIK surgery caused a reduced night vision in some individuals and there have also been reported case where the patient’s eyesight actually diminished or got worse following the vision correction surgery.

If you’re considering a LASIK eye center that has cheap or low prices and regularly conducts advertising campaigns you may want to reconsider. Not because they can’t correctly perform the LASIK procedure, the truth is they most likely can. However, you will most likely not be able to get the one on one doctor – patient treatment that really enhances the outcome of your laser eye surgery procedure. Also keep in mind that sometimes the advertised cheaper price may not actually pertain to all of the additional costs associated with LASIK so in the long run you could actually end up paying more then you initially thought.

If at all possible try and choose a respected LASIK surgeon that is close to where you live. Normally after your eye surgery you will be required to return to the eye care center for multiple follow up treatments. With the cost of gas and the time associated with having to drive to see your LASIK surgeon its simply more convenient to have a local surgeon perform your vision enhancement surgery provided they meet the criteria mentioned previously.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more eye surgery solutions, LASIK information and details on vision-doctor.com/LASIK-Eye-Surgery.html how to find a LASIK surgeon that you can research in your pajamas on his website

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Tags: cialis, lasik

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a new custom lasik procedure in September of 2005. This new procedure can now treat many patients who were previously ineligible for the surgery.

Nearsightedness

Nearsightedness occurs when the eye is too long and light rays focus in front of the retina, instead of focusing on the retina. Some of the symptoms of nearsightedness are blurred distant vision, eyestrain, and squinting, along with having a difficult time seeing at night.

Although nearsightedness can be easily fixed with glasses or contact lenses (when not too severe), many people don’t like to hassle with either one. With this new lasik procedure, folks will now be able to have pure vision.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is the effect of the eye being shaped like a football, instead of round like a baseball. This deformity — where the light rays focus on two points on the retina instead of one — results in blurred vision, double vision, and shadows on letters when reading. Until recently, this deformity has prevented some people from even getting contact lenses. Breakthroughs in contact lenses have only helped those with slight astigmatism.

However, with this new lasik procedure, patients can now have their eyes repaired to normal, or at least be repaired enough to comfortably wear contact lenses. Either way, their vision is enhanced and many are happy just to get rid of the glasses and finally be able to wear contacts, or possibly nothing at all.

Farsightedness

Farsightedness happens when light rays focus behind the retina instead of on the retina, resulting in blurred near vision. Some patients with severe farsightedness have to step back from what they are reading and others require magnifying glasses to see something that is right in front of them. People with farsightedness can see you 30 feet away, but when you get right up close they can’t see you! This can be embarrassing and cause the afflicted person much insecurity along with the feeling that they are going blind.

Farsightedness is easily remedied by wearing glasses to read and see things up close, but it’s very inconvenient to constantly be taking your glasses on and off. Not only is it inconvenient, you take the chance of leaving your glasses behind. Some patients keep their glasses on a chain so they won’t lose them, but this makes them feel old. Now, lasik surgery is another option for these patients.

New Laser Technology

The FDA recently approved the new Visx STAR Excimer laser system. This fantastic breakthrough in technology allows doctors to do more than they ever could before, giving them the ability to reshape the eye to correct astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. Before this marvelous breakthrough these patients were not good candidates for lasik eye surgery. They now can join the rest of the vision impaired and have the option for lasik.

Recent FDA studies show that over 98% of all patients receiving these new procedures were seeing 20/40 or better 6 months after surgery. Over 84% were seeing much better than 20/20 after 6 months. Now that’s reason to celebrate!

New breakthroughs in lasik eye surgery technology are happening all the time. Now people don’t have to be inconvenienced by the hassle of glasses or contacts. All they want to do is to be able to get up in the morning and see normally. These breakthroughs in lasik technology are giving them an improved quality of life that once was unattainable.

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Tags: lasik, quality of life