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What Are The Side Effects of Laser Eye Treatment?

Many people are justifiably concerned about the side effects of laser eye treatment. After all, vision is the key to taking in and responding to the world, so it pays to be very careful with your eyesight. Therefore, if you are considering having laser eye treatments you will want to look at the statistics and evaluate your own personal risk factors.

First and foremost, you will want to separate the facts from the fiction. Searching the Internet for data on the side effects of laser treatment for eyes will often lead you to websites with a specific agenda to promote. Do not trust data from attorney’s websites, “victim” sites that ask for donations, or unmoderated public bulletin boards. Many of these sites will be pushing you to a course of action which either directly benefits them or unnecessarily alarms you.

A much better option is to seek out information from industry watchdogs, professional medical societies, patient advocacy groups or government reporting agencies. The US Food and Drug Administration, the American Association of Professional Eye Care Specialists, or USAeyes, a leading patient advocacy group, are all good sources of information on side effects. They will all provide you with up to date and factual information you can use to make an intelligent and informed decision about your level of risk and best course of action.

Once you have separated out the myths and deceptions, you can look objectively at the potential side effects you will need to take into account before deciding to have your eyes done. The most common side effects are (not in order of prevalence):

• Sensitivity to light
• Visual fluctuations
• Dry eye
• Glare
• Ghosting
• Halos around light sources (especially at night)
• Headaches
• Double vision
• Loss of vision
• Infection
• Scratchiness and/or irritation

According to the US Food and Drug Administration, only 1% – 5% of patients experience any level of complication or side effect from the surgery. The American Journal of Ophthalmology reported in a study from March of 2006 that the most common side effect was dry eye, which was experienced by 36.6% of patients. However, many dry eye symptoms were caused by the healing process and cleared up completely by six months after surgery.

Some patients do have heightened risk factors for side effects from laser eye treatment that will need to be taken into account. Severe vision impairment, diabetes and chronic dry eye prior to surgery can all change the outcomes of the surgery. Interestingly enough, extremely large pupils are also a contributing factor to many of light sensitivity and glaring/ghosting side effects, so be sure to discuss this with your doctor prior to surgery as compensating operating strategies can be employed to mitigate this risk.

Recovering after Laser Eye Treatment

As with any surgery, a top concern for laser eye treatment patients is recovery time.  After all, you want to start enjoying the benefits of enhanced vision as soon as possible!  Fortunately, most laser treatments for eyes have short recovery times.  The basic recovery stages will be outlined for you here so that you can walk into your surgical decision with a good understanding of your healing path.

The Day of Surgery

Laser eye surgery is what is known as an ambulatory surgery.  This means you walk in and walk out the same day, under your own power.  Do not drive home.  Let’s not get too carried away here!  Your vision will not be instantaneously improved, especially if you needed intense correction, so give your eyes a chance to get used to their new shape.

Most patients will experience mild pain and discomfort as the numbing drops wear off, usually in the form of dry eye or “scratchiness”.  Your doctor will have given you antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops to use that day, and warned you not to rub your eyes.  This is serious, as poking around in your eye immediately could dislodge the flap or cause irritation that will compromise the clarity of your vision.  Your best course of action is to put in the drops and go to sleep.

The First Week

The good news is that most patients can return to their normal activities, including work, the next day.  About half of all patients choose to take an additional day off to allow themselves more time to adjust to their new eyesight, but this is up to you.  Avoid wearing eye make-up and limit your time in smoky or dusty environments.  Expect increased light sensitivity, slight irritation or dry eye, and to have some challenges reading or doing intricate tasks.

The more correction that was done as a part of your surgery, the more you may need to adjust.  Remember that this is completely normal.  Your eyes need to get used to their new refractive abilities, and your brain needs to adapt to the different news coming in about depth perception.  Climbing mountains, flying planes and doing surgery is not recommended until your vision has stabilized.

The First Month

Almost 37% of patients report some symptoms of dry eye following a laser eye treatment, with the greatest severity in the first few weeks after treatment.  Your eye is getting used to the new shape of your cornea.  Having some drops handy will help you until these symptoms subside.

You may also notice mild glare, halos around lights or starbursting effects.  Your vision in dim light may be less than what you had hoped for when you had the surgery.  This is normal, and as long as the effects are minor you should just adapt.  However, double vision, ghosting, unstable vision and/or continued irritation or bleeding should be reported to your doctor.

After 6 Months

At this point, your eyes should be healed and stabilized from their laser eye treatments.  You will have a sense of what your new level of uncorrected vision will be, and whether you will need reading glasses or can be done with vision correction until old age.  Most patients at the 6 month mark report that all irritating symptoms of dry eye are gone and that they are fully satisfied with their decision to have treatment.

The Benefits of Laser Eye Treatment

Laser eye treatment is very popular, and for many excellent reasons. If you’ve dreamed of the day when you could see without glasses or contact lenses, then laser eye treatment may be for you . After laser eye treatment, you may be able to stop wearing your glasses or contact lenses. The procedure is quick and painless. If you quality for it and can afford it, laser eye treatment is an excellent option for those wishing they didn’t have to wear glasses all of the time.

If you are very active, or are concerned about your image, you may be excited by the possibility of not having to wear glasses anymore. Glasses can get in the way of many activities, and contacts require daily care. You can save the time and money spent on glasses and contact lenses, and you won’t need to worry about replacements or breaking them. After laser eye treatment, you can concentrate on other things besides your eyesight, with over 90 percent of patients reporting that they no longer need glasses after the procedure.

Laser eye treatment is quick and painless. Although not everyone will qualify for the procedure, the surgery itself should not be a reason to avoid fixing your eyesight. Although you may be scared of a laser entering your eye, the surgery itself takes less than an hour and is painless , and your vision could be much improved as a result of this short procedure. The ability to create perfect or near-perfect vision is an exciting new possibility from laser eye treatment, and many people have experienced impressive results. Increase your quality of life by undergoing laser eye treatment to improve your vision.

Laser eye treatment offers very exciting possibilities for people who are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses. There are many benefits to improving your vision through laser eye treatment. This outpatient procedure offers a very fast recovery time, almost instant vision improvement, and a very low risk of complications. It can be used to correct common vision problems including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, as well as other eye conditions. If you’re interested in undergoing laser eye treatment, book a consultation with your local laser eye clinic . If your eye condition can be improved through the procedure, laser eye treatment is a great option. Although it’s not for everyone, consider laser eye treatment if you want to permanently improve your eyesight.

Laser eye treatment is improving every year, leading to more successful surgeries and better results. If you’re considering eye surgery, why wait?

Laser Eye Treatment Technologies

There are actually many different technologies used for laser eye treatment, with new ones constantly being developed. There are essentially two steps to the procedure. First, the surgeon gains access to the cornea, which is the part of the eye that bends the light entering it, producing our vision.

Here are a few ways that the surgeon accomplishes this:

• During LASIK eye surgery , the surgeon uses a tiny handheld blade to cut a flap in the surface of the eye.

• IntraLase LASIK lasers use a computer-guided beam of light to create the access flap. It is more precise than the blade technique, so it heals better than traditional LASIK flaps.

• LASEK eye surgery involves the lifting of the outer layer of your eye with a fine blade. Then, alcohol is used to loosen the tissue so that the laser can access the underlying cornea.

• PRK eye surgery “vaporizes” the outer surface of the eye using a special laser. This method takes a little longer to heal than other laser eye treatment methods.

Once the surgeon can access the cornea, it is precisely reshaped to change your vision. Usually, this employs a computer-guided laser beam. Current technologies include:

• Excimer lasers . These have been used since the early 1990’s. This type of laser uses light to vaporize a small amount of tissue from the center of the cornea. This is a cool beam of ultraviolet light, unlike other surgical lasers that burn tissue using heat, or produce a shock wave to separate the tissue. By vaporizing the tissue one layer at a time, the Excimer laser is very accurate for changing the shape of the cornea.

• Wavefront Custom LASIK is an even more personalized form of vision correction, using Wavefront-guided lasers. This technique uses special lasers to measure eye irregularities on a 3D map, which then guides the computer in reshaping your cornea. This is much more accurate than traditional laser eye treatment.

There are new methods being developed every year, making laser eye treatment more accurate than ever before. The decision of one procedure over the other should involve careful consideration and discussions with your doctor to figure out which method would work best for your eye condition and personal preference. The technologies vary in the specific eye conditions they are able to treat, as well as the recovery time. A good surgeon will explain all of the options to you and help you choose the best one for your situation.

Advantages of Laser Eye Treatments

Laser eye treatment procedures are very popular, and for many excellent reasons. The most obvious advantage is the ability to finally lose the annoyance of glasses or contacts forever. You’ll save money on glasses and contact lenses, and will not have the hassle of bringing them with you wherever you go. Although glasses can look cool, they get in the way of day-to-day life. While some patients will still need glasses, many are able to see well without glasses, or may just need glasses for driving or reading. About 90 percent of patients find that they are able to drive without glasses.

The ability to create perfect or near-perfect vision is an exciting new possibility from laser vision treatment. It can accurately correct many common eye conditions, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, leading to improved sight for thousands of patients. New technologies are being developed every day to treat more types of eye conditions. Laser eye treatment can drastically improve your vision. You’ll be able to see clearer almost right away, which can be an amazing experience.

The laser beam is guided by a computer, making it very precise. This precise reshaping of the cornea to increase its abilities is what is so revolutionary about laser eye treatment. The results are typically very accurate, and a single surgery often achieves the desired outcome, which will last for many years.

Laser eye surgery is a very quick and painless procedure, with a recovery time of just a few days. The treatment does not require a lot of preparation or weeks of downtime following the procedure. In fact, the procedure itself takes less than an hour. Many patients experience improved vision immediately following the procedure. After a day of recovery time, the patient will normally have completely corrected vision, and can go back to work.

Laser eye treatment has a low risk of complications or infection, and is safe and effective for most patients who undergo the surgery. New techniques are much more accurate than older laser eye treatment methods, further decreasing the risks involved in the surgery. Although it’s important to understand the risks, be aware that the vast majority of surgeries are successful and complication-free. If you’re considering laser vision treatment, discuss the latest methods with your eye doctor. The procedure is a fast and easy way to finally be able to get rid of your glasses.

LASIK Laser Eye Treatment

Laser eye treatment can be a great procedure if you hate the annoyance of glasses or contacts. There are new procedures for laser vision treatment being developed every day. One of the most popular is LASIK eye treatment. This outpatient procedure offers a quick recovery time, almost instantaneous vision improvement, and a very low risk of complications. The ability to create perfect or near-perfect vision is an exciting new possibility from LASIK.

LASIK vision treatment is an incredible development, increasing the success rate of laser eye surgeries. Laser eye treatments become more and more successful each year; LASIK surgery is one of the newest methods that is helping to increase the success rate. Here’s how LASIK works:

Like most methods of laser eye treatment, LASIK is most often used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. However, it can also be used to correct several other vision issues, including, macular degeneration, and presbyopia, which is blurred vision when focusing close-up.

What makes LASIK unlike other forms of laser vision treatment is the way that the surgeon gains access to your cornea. LASIK stands for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, which is the process of creating a flap in the corner of the eyeball. Once your eye has been numbed with anesthetic drops, the surgeon will create this flap. Then, the underlying cornea is reshaped using a computer-guided laser beam. This precise reshaping of the cornea is what changes your vision.

After the surgery, the flap is simply repositioned, where it will stay without stitches. Unlike other forms of laser treatment for eyes, this method comes with little discomfort, and a fast recovery time, as your eye will be completely healed within just a few days. As with most methods of laser eye treatment, you should plan for a few days off from work and other obligations to recover from your surgery.

LASIK eye treatment has recently received substantial attention, and for good reason. The results can be quite impressive, immediately improving your vision and allowing you to go without glasses or contacts. LASIK is painless, and the procedure takes just a few minutes. Laser treatment for eyes is getting better each and every year, and LASIK is a very exciting new development in the world of eye surgery. Consult your eye doctor if you are considering LASIK, or any other kind of laser eye treatment.

Is Laser Eye Treatment right for me?

With laser eye treatment firmly entrenched as one of the world’s most popular elective surgeries, you may be wondering if you can have the surgery to fix your own eyes.  Sure, your neighbor had it done and that guy at work seems happy with it, but how can you be sure?  It’s your vision, after all, so you will want to ask yourself four simple questions to determine if the procedure is right for you before you consult with your doctor.

How old am I?

A candidate for laser treatment needs to be at least 18 years of age.  This is because the eye needs time to completely mature and stabilize.  If you are so far over 18 that you qualify for the senior citizen discount, you have probably aged out of the procedure.  Laser treatment for eyes can improve visual impairment caused by the shape of your eye, but not visual impairment caused by the age of your eye.

Is my eye prescription stable?

Most reputable doctors insist that your eye prescription must have been unchanged for at least one year prior to considering surgery.  Others insist on a stable prescription for the three years leading up to surgery.  If your prescription is still changing every year, then you will have to wait until it stabilizes before doing a laser treatment.

Am I healthy enough for this surgery?

This question can refer to your overall health, and to specific ocular health issues that could impact the effectiveness of the surgery.  With regards to your general health, if you have any autoimmune disorders you will need to have a thorough conversation with your doctor as your increased risk of infection may ruin the surgery for you.  If you have diabetes you may also be disqualified from surgery.  The surgery is also not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing.

Specific ocular health concerns also need to be taken into account.  If you have corneal scarring, a history of eye infections or chronic dry eye, you may be ineligible for surgery or risk poor outcomes.  Also, if your pupils are very large, you may not get good results from laser eye  treatment.

What am I expecting?

This is a hard and brutally honest conversation that you need to have with yourself prior to any laser eye treatments.  The reason for this is simple.  The #1 reason for patient dissatisfaction after surgery was unrealistic expectations.

Surgery isn’t going to fix all of your problems.  Improving your vision may make you feel more attractive, confident and intelligent.  It won’t win back your ex, make you a better athlete or get you that promotion at work.  Also, surgery will not instantly give you the “Superman Vision” that some patients expect.

However, surgery will improve your vision to 20/40 or better in 95% of cases, and to 20/20 or better in 65% of cases.  You may be able to get rid of your glasses entirely, or switch to light glasses used just for reading and fine or intricate projects.  Regular visits to the eye doctor will also ensure you continue to preserve and protect your vision.

Choosing the Best Laser Eye Clinic

If you want to undergo laser eye treatment to finally lose those glasses forever, there are some things you need to do first. Choosing the right laser eye clinic or surgeon is one of the most important steps when you’re deciding to undergo laser eye treatment.

When finding a laser treatment clinic for your eye surgery, be sure to comparison shop to find the best price. However, because it is a medical procedure, don’t just choose the doctor with the lowest price. Do not compromise on the quality of the doctor to save a few dollars; you will risk permanently damaging your eyesight by choosing a less-than-reputable surgeon to use a laser beam on your eyes. Make sure you choose a reputable laser eye clinic to entrust with your vision.

As with choosing any medical professional, be sure that you are comfortable with both their expertise and their demeanor before continuing. Ask for references of past patients, and find a friendly and helpful doctor who will walk you through the process and give you personal attention. Be sure to ask lots of questions about the surgery, and make sure you are comfortable with his answers before proceeding. Find a surgeon who is not only knowledgeable about the procedure, but also happy to share his information with you. He should ensure that you understand the information, including the risks before going through with the treatment. Be wary of any surgeon that seems over-eager to go ahead with the treatment without making sure you are well prepared for it.

Don’t overlook the nurses when choosing a surgeon to work with. Because the doctor will not be caring for you personally for the entire time you are in his office, meet the nurses before making your decision. Most of your pre- and post-operation time at the laser eye center will be spent with the nurses, so make sure they are friendly and helpful.

Before the surgery is scheduled, your surgeon will bring you in for a consultation. He will review your medical history and perform an eye exam. Beware of doctors who seem willing to perform laser eye treatment on everyone to come through the door; the procedure is not right for every situation. The surgeon you choose should perform a thorough check to make sure that you are a good candidate for laser eye treatment.

If you do your research to find a great clinic and follow your doctor’s orders with care, it is very likely that you will get impressive results from laser eye treatment.

The Different Laser Treatments For Eyes

Many people assume that LASIK and laser eye treatment mean the same thing. In fact, LASIK is just one technique for laser eye treatment. There are new methods being developed every year, making laser eye treatment even more accurate. The one you choose should be based on your specific eye condition, as well as personal preference. These surgery options are very sophisticated, so you should understand your eye correction prescription before choosing one. Here are a few of the most commonly used methods:

• LASIK - This is the most commonly used procedure for people who are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. A small incision is made in the corner of the eye, creating a flap. Then, a computer-guided laser beam is used on the cornea underneath the flap. This precise reshaping of the cornea is what changes the patient’s vision. At the end of the surgery, the flap is simply repositioned over the eye. Healing time is just a few days.
• LASEK - LASEK involves the lifting of the outer layer of your eye with a fine blade. Then, alcohol is used to loosen the tissue. Finally, the laser is used underneath it, on the cornea, just as it is used in LASIK. This option offers a very fast recovery time, usually within a day or two.
• Zyoptix - A very new procedure, this technique can be used for many eye conditions. The laser works more quickly, allowing the surgeon to be more accurate when reshaping your cornea. This can produce better vision results.
• PRK - Photorefractive keratectomy is one of the oldest procedures, and it is not as commonly used today. With PRK, the outer surface of the eye is removed using a laser. This procedure works best on people with mild or moderate eye conditions. On the downside, the recovery time is more gradual than with newer method, and it can take several months for your eyes to fully heal.

There are several other options as well, which are used to correct specific eye issues. All of these methods involve the reshaping of the cornea to change the vision. They differ in how the cornea is accessed by the surgeon, as well as how the cornea is reshaped. Discuss all of the possible options with your laser eye surgeon before deciding on a method for your laser eye treatment. A good surgeon will explain all of the options to you and help you choose the best one for your situation.

How Does Laser Eye Treatment Work?

Laser eye treatment offers many benefits to patients and is wildly popular as an elective surgery.  Yet for all its popularity, the surgery is not always well understood.  As you should never agree to a procedure that you don’t fully understand, this article will review the basic mechanics of laser treatment for eyes.

The key thing to keep in mind is that there are two factors that impact your vision.  The first factor is the shape of your eye.  The second factor is your age.  Laser eye treatments address the first of these two factors.  No cure has yet been found for the second, but doctors are working on it!

How does it work?

Laser surgery focuses on improving vision by reshaping the eye.  The reshaping is accomplished by targeting a specific portion of the eye, as reshaping the whole eye would be too complex.  The cornea of the eye is the element that is reshaped by surgery.

According to the University of Wisconsin Medical Center, the cornea is responsible for 65% of the eye’s refractive power.  In layman’s terms, that means the cornea handles the bulk of the light bending that is needed to give you a clear picture of the world.  Even small changes in the shape and texture of the cornea can have a major impact on your focus and vision.

What Happens During the Procedure?

During a laser eye treatment, trained doctors use a specially designed blade to cut a small flap to access the cornea.  They lift this flap and then use a specially designed laser to work on the cornea of your eye to create a new shape that will give you better vision.  Then they replace the flap, smooth it into place over the reshaped area, and set it to heal.

The whole process will be mapped out before any cutting takes place using a measured picture of your eye.  It is an incredibly precise topographic map, like a 3-D model of a landscape, only better.  Doctors measure changes that need to be made not in inches or millimeters but in micrometers!  The tiny, tiny levels of change needed to improve your focus are dependent on the shape, age and health of your eye, and also why occasionally some treatments need to be touched up later.  Everyone heals differently and sometimes quarters and halves of micrometers will make the difference.

The tiny measurements are also why the lasers used in the surgery are constantly remapping the position of your eye.  The most commonly used surgical laser for eye treatments, the Excimer laser, remaps your eye position up to 4,000 times per second during surgery.  The speed of the laser and the small operating area means that the total surgery time may be less than 30 minutes.

What Takes Place After Surgery?

After your laser eye treatment, you will be given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drops for your eyes.  Some patients even wear special medicated contact lenses for a few weeks after the surgery.  Most people heal completely within just a few weeks and go on to enjoy a lifetime of good vision as a result of their choice to have laser eye treatments.

Introducing Laser Eye Treatment

Laser eye treatment is one of the most popular elective surgeries in the world.  More than 1 million Americans have the surgery done each year.  The procedure goes by a number of brand names, but in all cases the shape of the eye is altered by a laser to improve vision clarity.  Created over 30 years ago, the treatment continues to develop and bring greater benefits to patients.

There are three distinct advantages to having a laser treatment for eyes performed.  They are financial savings, medical and psychological benefits, and enhanced personal perception.  Many people who have their eyes done focus on just one of these advantages as the core reason for their surgery, but it is important to understand the impact of each benefit on your life.

1. Financial Savings

Laser eye treatments are actually very affordable and cost effective surgeries.  They should be thought of as investments.  For most people, this investment will be paid back in 10 years or less, depending on the level of correction they experience after the surgery.

If this seems surprising, just run the numbers.  Market Scope, the leading vision industry data cruncher, pegged the average cost of surgery at $1350 per eye in 2008.  Many consumers are able to have both eyes done for $3,000 or less.  As a result, they are able to switch to less expensive, lower prescription contacts and glasses, or usually throw away their corrective eyewear altogether.

The average pair of glasses costs $200, and most Americans have 2 or 3 pairs at home.  Bifocals or designer frames can run the cost up to $500 or more per pair.  Basic daily disposable contacts prescriptions cost $250 per year, while contacts for astigmatism or monovision cost $450 yearly. Add in the cost of contact solutions, cleaners, and drops over the course of a lifetime, and treatment becomes an obvious choice for the cost-conscious consumer.

2. Medical/Psychological Benefits

There are many medical and psychological benefits to having your eyes done.  They range from minor medical issues like relief from irritating contacts to major psychological issues like obsessive-compulsive behavior relative to eye health.  Depending on your personal situation, the medical and psychological benefits will outweigh even the most substantial of cost savings.

One of the most cited benefits is headache relief.  Many people who need vision correction do not realize the extent to which their sight impacts the level and severity of their headaches. Squinting at computer screens or fine print can cause headaches, as can the neck strain and poor posture that result from leaning in for a better view all day long.  Laser eye treatment can relieve these symptoms and reduce recurrent or chronic pain.

3. Personal Perception

Finally, it is also important to consider the personal perception benefits that accrue from laser eye treatments.  Getting rid of the need for vision correction allows you to throw away glasses that you find unattractive, burdensome or aging.  Many patients report feeling more confident and attractive after the surgery as a result of being able to trade in their “Coke-bottle” glasses for lighter frames or get rid of their glasses altogether.

Other patients talk about their increased self-esteem.  Identifying a problem in your life and taking the steps necessary to fix it can be very personally empowering.  Every time you share the story of your surgery, you get to relive that positive choice and feel better about your own personal capabilities.

Looking at these advantages, it is no mystery why so many people choose to have laser eye treatment each year.  There is no other surgery that offers such financial, medical and personal benefits.  Understanding each benefit, it is easy to see the change that is possible thanks to this one simple procedure.

• Recent Updates

  • What Are The Side Effects of Laser Eye Treatment?
  • Is Laser Eye Treatment Permanent?
  • Recovering after Laser Eye Treatment
  • The Benefits of Laser Eye Treatment
  • Laser Eye Treatment Technologies

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