Lasik - Eye Care and Vision Correction

Eye Care and Vision Correction

Lasik

Are you a good candidate for LASIK?

LASIK can be very successful when performed on the right patients. However, it is not for everyone.
Here you can find some general guidelines used by eye care professionals and organizations. Many factors influence your suitability for LASIK, and all factors can not be covered by these guidelines. You should consult a physician for advice related to your condition.

This screening does not constitute medical advice.

LASIK tips for a successful outcome

Your eyes must be healthy: if you have any condition (dry eyes, conjunctivitis or any injury), you must wait until that condition is solved.

You can not be under 21 years old.

You must have stable vision for at least a year: Your existing vision must not have changed within the last twelve months. Persons that have not stabilized their vision into one prescription in the last year are not good candidates for LASIK.

During pregnancy, women will experience arising in their fluid levels caused by hormonal changes. This could change their corneas, leading a change in their vision. LASIK must never be done until the vision has normalized.

Your prescription must be within certain limits: Very high myopia or astigmatism levels would require removal of too much corneal tissue. In those cases another type of refractive surgery may be a better option.

If you're not a candidate for LASIK, you may qualify for another laser eye surgery such as LASEK. There are also non-laser vision correction procedures like Phakic intraocular lenses. Your prescription and eye structure will be considered to help to determine which procedure is best for you.

LASIK is an outpatient procedure. Modern laser eye surgery (LASIK/LASEK) usually takes around seven minutes.

People not candidates for LASIK?

Patients with the following conditions are not suitable for LASIK:

  • Cancer treatment

  • Cortisone treatment

  • Poor wound healing

  • Immune suppressors (gastrointestinal problems)

  • Diabetes

LASIK Risks and Complications

No surgical procedure is ever risk free.
LASIK, like any other surgery, has certain risks. However, LASIK risks are minimal.
When LASIK surgery is performed by an experienced LASIK surgeon, LASIK Eye Surgery is one of the safest and most effective types of surgery you can get today. Nevertheless, LASIK is surgery, and as in any other type of surgery, there are risks that patients should be aware of and fully understand before consenting to get it done.

Some of them are:

  • Unrealistic expectations- Most people expect their eyesight to be perfect after LASIK, but the truth is that not everyone comes out with 20/20 vision. Some LASIK patients may still need reading glasses after surgery.

  • Under correction or overcorrection- If an under-correction has occurred, the patient may still need glasses in certain occasions, like driving or using a computer. Patients could also choose to have LASIK surgery done again to adjust the residual refractive error.

  • Dry Eyes- Most LASIK patients report dry eyes for a few months after the surgery was done. This LASIK complication can be fixed by using saline eye drops to keep the eyes wet. Dry eyes will go away once the eyes have completely healed; it usually takes 1-2 months before they feel normal again.

  • Night Glares and Halos- Some people report glares at night and light halos. These side-effects are not severe, and they usually correct themselves within 6 months.

  • Corneal Flap complications- LASIK surgery requires that a flap is cut over the cornea, and it is important that the flap heals correctly. If a person rubs their eyes immediately after the surgery, the flap may move and heal in the wrong place.

  • Haze- Very few people (less than 1%) experience hazy vision after LASIK surgery. There are several treatments that can be done to correct the haziness: medication, eye drops, and in-office treatments depending on the seriousness.

  • Infections or Severe Inflammation- Infection may set in if the eyes are not properly cared for after the surgery. These infections can be serious if they are not treated right, that is way it is important to use the post surgical eye drops and visit your doctor like he tells you.

In summary, LASIK is one of the safest surgeries performed today, but as in any surgery, there may be some risks involved, but most LASIK complications are short-term or can be corrected.

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