Lasik and Lasik Surgery

Lasik Surgery or Lasik Laser Eye Surgery is the most well known surgical procedure carried out to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. Lasik (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) provides vision correction by permanently changing the shape of the cornea and changing it's focusing power. In Lasik surgery the corneal tissue is precisely removed and the cornea is reshaped.

In the USA, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the use of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery in correcting vision since 1998, for the treatment of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Lasik Surgery is not recommended for the persons who are in their early 20s or younger, persons who have diabetes, are pregnant, or taking medications such as steroids. Also, people who were suspected of having glaucoma, or ocular hypertension and eye diseases or previous eye surgeries should not undergo Lasik Laser Eye Surgery. There are a few risk indicators that should be taken into consideration when a person decides to have Lasik Surgery (Lasik), such as: large pupils, thin corneas, previous refractive surgery, dry eyes (Lasik surgery aggravates eye dryness). This should be done in order to avoid Lasik surgery complications.

Before you have Lasik surgery your Lasik surgery doctor will recommend that you stop using contacts for 1 to 4 weeks before the Laser surgery in order to permit the cornea to return to it's initial shape. During the Lasik surgery patients are given an anesthetic and generally they feel no pain, but there are a few cases in which patients suffer some discomfort. You can have Lasik surgery for both eyes at the same time if your health condition allows it. Lasik surgery regularly takes about 5 or 10 minutes per eye. Lasik Surgery cost for one eye will be doubled for both eyes.

You can have Lasik laser eye surgery performed.in Florida, Georgia Connecticut and Michigan and other States. Also, you could have Lasik surgery in Canada.

The newest technology in Lasik, the wavefront laser, was approved by the FDA in 2002. It sends a wave of light to the retina that helps to produce a 3-D map on the eye's visual system.

During the Lasik surgery a few patients might suffer some complications, probably less than 1% of patients. If everything is planned and carried out beforehand there should be no Lasik surgery complications.

You are a candidate for Lasik surgery if you are at least 18 years old and you have had no radical changes in vision during the past year. In addition, for persons with severe vision problems Lasik may not be an option. You should consult a Lasik surgery doctor and get advise on this matter.

After going through a Lasik surgery there is a small chance that a patient might lose  his/her vision. This might happen to the patients who were among the persons for whom the Lasik procedure was not indicated. Also, after the Lasik surgery there are some patients who had blurred vision, bad night vision and diminished visual contrast. Generally, these problems can be resolved by a new treatment.

Additional Information about Lasik

Lasik Laser eye surgery can be an advantage for the many people who experience low to moderate vision problems. Lasik eye surgery is a quick and painless procedure, and Lasik surgery cost is reasonable, but there are some risks and complications involved with the surgery.

It is important to understand what happens before, after and during Lasik Laser eye surgery, if you are thinking about having the surgery. It is also advantageous to have realistic expectations of the Lasik Laser eye surgery before the procedure begins.

Most good Lasik surgery doctors will talk to you and fully explain the before and after procedure. Like most patients, you will probably have many questions about the Lasik eye surgery. The following is a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about the Lasik Laser eye surgery.

Am I a good candidate for Lasik?

It depends on many factors for a person to be a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery. When you make an initial appointment for Lasik eye surgery, your eye care professional will ask many questions and take a thorough health history. Additionally, you eyes and the history of your vision problems will also be a major factor in whether or not you can have the Lasik eye surgery procedure. For people with certain health problems such as autoimmune diseases and diabetes, Lasik is generally not recommended.

A person cannot have Lasik eye surgery if he is under the age of 18. Certain degenerative eye diseases might also disqualify you from having Lasik eye surgery. Your Lasik surgery doctor will make a decision based on all of these factors. Those who are not good candidates for the Lasik Laser eye surgery can have poor outcomes.

Are there any Lasik eye surgery complications?

Yes. As with any surgery or medical procedure there are Lasik eye surgery complications and risks. Most people who have the surgery do not have problems, however some people do.

Reduced low light vision is the most commonly reported side effect of the Lasik eye surgery. This can cause glowing or halos around lit objects at night. After some time the side effects of the Lasik eye surgery will disappear over a period of time. There are some long-term Lasik complications that have been report, though they are rare. Some people could experience worse eyesight than they had before Lasik Laser eye surgery.

Will Lasik vision correction eliminate the need for corrective lenses?

The short answer to that is maybe. Most people who have the Lasik Laser eye surgery may still need to wear some form of glasses or contacts. This does not mean that the surgery had a poor outcome. This is normal and should be expected. Lasik is not a means to totally correct vision problems. It is designed to enhance vision. Those who go into Lasik expecting perfect vision with an unlikely expectation should not undergo treatment.

How much is the Cost of Lasik eye surgery?

The Lasik surgery cost will depend on where you live, the condition of the eyes and what kind of method is used. Those with more severe vision problems will cost a bit more. Generally, you can plan on spending at least $2000 for the Lasik procedure.

Does insurance cover the cost of Lasik eye surgery?

Because Lasik eye surgery is considered elective, most of the time, insurance plans do not cover it. Some insurance plans have extended eye care plans that help defray the costs of Lasik Laser eye surgery.

If your insurance plan does not cover the cost of Lasik Laser eye surgery, check with your employer. Some employers offer their employees special rates for going to a certain clinic for Lasik. Sometimes Lasik can be paid for by using a cafeteria plan.

Will I need to take time off of work after the procedure?

Yes, most patients do need to take some time off of work following the procedure. This can vary though according to the work. Most of the time patients can start back to work in two to three days, particularly for jobs that are sedentary. It will be essential to rest the eyes after surgery, so a lot of computer work may bother the eyes after surgery. You will need to talk to your Lasik surgeon about when you can start back to work.

Does the Lasik Laser eye surgery hurt?

The Lasik eye surgery is quick and painless for most patients. Each eye only takes a minute or two. The eye is numbed using drops and patients will stay awake the entire time. For those who feel uncomfortable about the Lasik surgery, a mild sedative can be given. Most patients are able to walk out of the surgery center after the procedure is complete.