Lasik Laser Eye Surgery

One of the complications associated with lasik is dry eyes. Did you know dry eyes after lasik can be a real nuisance and if not properly treated could lead to further complications.

While lasik has been a real boon for people with eye issues and is extremely safe, there is still an element of risk associated with it simply because it is surgery. Dry eyes after lasik can hinder day to day activities however, it’s biggest nuisance value comes in the area of recovery from lasik procedure.

The testament to any eye surgery procedure is always how well the patient recovers from it. That is why the screening process is a strict one and patients who are deemed too high a risk will usually be denied.

Medications and eye ointments are usually prescribed for a patient if they are suffering the dry eye syndrome. It’s important to correct the issue as quickly as possible because the longer it takes, then the more chance further complications could set in as a result of it.

If you are considering lasik at the present and are concerned about some of the risks then these will be discussed with you during the pre-screening phase. Talk to your surgeon about dry eyes after lasik and the risks it poses. Also discuss treatment options should it arise following the procedure.

Qualifying For Lasik

A lot of doctors will not operate on someone that they feel is a high risk for dry eyes. If you have experienced dry eyes before you head in for a Lasik procedure, the doctor will likely disqualify you from any Lasik treatments or any other refractive procedures for your eyes.

With this knowledge in mind, the doctor can make the best possible decision for your eyes and for your health. This is what is best for you and while you may feel that you would rather have the eye operation, the doctor is in charge of risk assessment and your health primarily.

It is common to experience dry eyes after lasik. The important issue about the experience is to what degree and for what duration, so consider this when you talk to your doctor. The degree of dry eyes in most cases is not significant enough to impede your activity or cause any other complications.

Most dry eye symptoms will resolve themselves automatically with a small period of time, so patience is your best ally. If that is not the case, you may want to consult your physician for assistance.

It was always on the cards - custom eye surgery and it’s popularity continues to grow. After all, many areas of our day-to-day living involves having the choice to choose whichever direction we want to go in and it’s no surprise that people are now given a choice to select the parts of lasik they want performed.

Once you pass the qualifying tests for lasik, the option to choose the parts of the procedure you want performed is being given by more and more surgeons.

Is this a good thing? After all, when someone decides to opt for custom lasik eye surgery how can they be sure they are choosing the right course of action. The truth is, decisions will need to be confirmed by your surgeon.

During the assessment period, you’ll be given a good guide as to what type of surgery you require and if full lasik surgery isn’t needed then you’ll be the first to know. A surgeon will sit down with you and go over the options and you’ll be in a position to decide which one to take.

Surgeons get to look at your eye in a three dimensional way through lasik and they will have a very good idea as to the level of surgery required. Recommendations will be made to you and while the decision is ultimately yours, if you trust your surgeon’s judgment then most will follow their lead.

Your surgeon will look at all the angles including whether problems may exist further down the track if part of the procedure is skipped.

Qualifying For Custom Lasik Eye Surgery

In terms of getting custom eye surgery, whether you elect to try out the custom procedure or the traditional procedure, you will first need to be assured to be an actual candidate for the operation. This requires you to meet the fundamental requirements put forth by the Food and Drug Administration that will check your credentials and your medical history for any problems.

If you are cleared for the procedure, you will be tested as to what procedural options are best for your situation and for your body. After this decision has been made, your procedure will be schedule with a trained physician.

In custom eye surgery should you elect to have it, your eye will be measured in a three dimensional fashion that will enable doctors to determine whether there needs to be any reshaping or other procedures.

From there, you can pick those procedures and give the go-ahead for them or you can choose to do without. Regardless of your choice, the outcome ends up being up to you and the choices you make for your lasik surgery.

One of the main problems associated with eyes, particularly among the elderly is dry eye syndrome. It’s real and affects many people. Treatment such as corrective surgery for eyes is usually the more drastic step taken however, it’s very effective.

Dry eye is a nuisance and without proper and effective treatment, will usually only get worse. Statistics suggest it affects more women than men however, this article is not about who it affects the most but it’s centered on giving you information which can help relieve the discomfort of dry eye.

What Is Dry Eye?

Basically, it’s lack of tears in the eyes needed to keep them moist, comfortable and clean and when this moisture is lacking, problems can arise such as discomfort and mucus discharge forming. It’s not a very pretty sight and can worsen by the day.

Dry eye can be caused by several things including laser surgery. Basically, there is a slight chance the tear film made up of three layers can be damaged. So what are the symptoms of dry eye:

- persistently gritty eyes
- itchy eyes
- burning sensation in the eyes
- pain

Usually, people head for their pharmacy and purchase eye drops or gel solution to treat the eyes. In effect, this is okay as a temporary measure but really doesn’t solve the problem. It may require further attention such as corrective laser surgery for eyes so seeing your doctor is probably a smart step even for peace of mind. Not every dry eye problem will require corrective laser surgery though.

Cost Of Corrective Laser Surgery For Eyes

The advantage of having corrective surgery for eyes is that it is quite affordable for everyone and its popularity among people is growing as it allows the patient to anticipate having good vision without recourse to using glasses or contact lenses as the incidence of people using corrective laser eye surgery continues to grow.

With positive feedback that emanates from those who have found corrective laser eye surgery to provide best results, more and more people are getting convinced that there are genuine benefits to this form of surgery. Some of the benefits of corrective laser eye surgery are that the procedure is affordable.

There’s little doubt corrective surgery for eyes owes its popularity, amongst other things, to its value for money and has been found to correct many of the problems that affect a person’s vision. It has also been used to treat cataracts, glaucoma, as well as macular degeneration and these are problems that often hinder vision in the elderly.

Macular degeneration is one of the foremost reasons behind blindness in old people and corrective laser eye surgery would be able to treat macular degeneration though not cure it and symptoms may be controlled though the process, even though they may not be completely eliminated.

One of the most critical elements of wearing contact lenses has, oddly enough, nothing to do with wearing them. If you wear contact lenses, you must take care of them properly. Your eyes are very sensitive, and if you do not clean the lenses properly, or store them 8in such a way that dirt can access them, then you stand a very real chance of transporting bacteria to your eyes. And eye infections are not to be taken lightly. However, there are some things that you can do to avoid any of this nastiness, and it will only take a few minutes of your time.

Contact Lens Cases
When you first get your contact lenses, you will undoubtedly have been given a contact lens case. It is a good idea to change this case periodically, even if you do clean it properly. They are not costly, and your eye care specialist should be able to tell you where to get hold of fresh supplies. On top of that, you should be cleaning the storage case at least one a week. One way to help you with this is to buy a new toothbrush, and scrub the case down, especially where the lid screws onto the case. Ask your optician about the right cleaning fluids to use; ones that are not going to give your eyes any bother. If you don’t have any cleaning fluids then as a bare minimum, use very hot water to do the job.

Contact Lens Cases
Keep the lens case away from anywhere that might be a breeding ground for bacteria. The toilet is certainly one place to avoid. Many people use the bathroom to store their lenses because of the easy access to mirrors and water, but you should keep your case as far away from the toilet bowl itself as possible. If a cabinet is available, then use that, and make sure to wash your hands before and after handling the contact lens case.

Contact Lens Cases
If you have to travel anywhere, then make sure that you have a spare case with you at all times. Whilst contact lens cases are readily available, some places may not have them available, and you will not want to be in a position where your case gets lost and you do not have access to a replacement. Additionally, if you are in a country that does not speak English as it’s first language, you do not want to find yourself discussing medical matter with someone who might not understand what it is that you need. Having a spare ensures that you get no problems.

The incidence of the side effects of laser eye surgery are reasonably low, in fact very low however, even with the low risk statistics, it’s still in your best interests to understand what they if you are considering eye surgery.

There are a host of side effects which could surface following the procedure but don’t get too hung up on the long list. If you go through the proper screening process leading up to your surgery, chances are, if you are even slightly at risk you won’t be recommended to go under the laser.

Side Effects Of Laser Eye Surgery

Let’s take a look at some of the side effects of laser eye surgery. Infection and delayed healing is one of the more common risks. Even so, the percentages are well under one per cent. Corneal infection is the more likely side effect but the good news is, there are no real long term effects.

Other side effects include:

- under or over correction is another of the more common side effects. It’s difficult to predict how a person’s eyes will respond to treatment and in some cases, eye wear may still be required following surgery. Further surgery could even be required.

- best corrected vision is another issue although not a serious one. This simply means a patient with contacts may find their vision with contacts is worse than previous and this can be due to factors such as unscheduled tissue removal.

- Corneal haze is usually an issue with patients who undertake PRK(Photorefractive keratotomy) and is less with lasik patients. It doesn’t usually affect the patient’s vision and is usually picked up by an ophthalmologist. Excessive corneal haze in some instances could hamper a person’s vision.

- Regression is a nuisance side effect. It means despite the procedure appearing to be a success, the eye could return back to it’s normal state prior to surgery which means a new procedure may need to be scheduled.

- Halo effect occurs in low light conditions. A halo side effect is a concern to people driving at night and is the result of an image forming because of the untreated section of the cornea.

- Flap damage or loss is one of the side effects of laser eye surgery that can only affect patients undergoing a lasik procedure. In some cases, instead of creating a hinged flap on the center of the cornea, the entire flap tissue comes off. This can usually be replaced after the laser treatment. However, in some cases, the flap can be damaged or lost.

- A distorted flap also affects only patients who have had a lasik procedure. It consists of a distortion in the shape of the cornea created during the healing process, which can result in a lower best-corrected vision.