Are You Ready to Toss Your Contacts?
Learn about the advantages of LASIK surgery and why you could be wasting your efforts on contact lenses.


/Vision-Eye Care News Articles/ - November 03, 2006 - Contact lenses have advanced repeatedly over the years, so the variety we can choose from is enormous. But:
· They still need to be replaced at certain intervals
· They can still be lost
· They must still be cared for
· There's still an adjustment period when you first start wearing them
· Some people can't wear them at all
LASIK surgery is permanent
A LASIK procedure alters the shape of your cornea such that your vision is improved. It's an effective surgery for treating:
· Nearsightedness (myopia)
· Farsightedness (hyperopia)
· Astigmatism (irregularities on the corneal surface)
These 3 visual problems are all caused by the shape of the cornea. Visual problems such as cataracts and presbyopia, which are caused by lens problems, can't be treated with LASIK.
Are you a LASIK candidate?
The first thing to do is have a thorough eye exam. All good LASIK surgeons will do this to establish whether or not you're a good candidate, because good outcomes are important to a good LASIK surgeon. A good outcome isn't possible with a bad candidate.
If your corneas are too thin, your pupil diameters too large, or the cause of your vision problem is other than a refraction issue, you won't be a good candidate for LASIK. And if you're:
· Under 18
· Diabetic
· Pregnant
· Have any of a variety of certain diseases
· Are taking certain medications
you will not be a good candidate.
Wavefront Diagnostic
Traditional LASIK surgery requires pre-testing which uses a number of sophisticated devices to precisely measure your corneas and assess your vision.
A newer variety of LASIK called Wavefront-guided LASIK uses wavefront technology to even more precisely diagnose the cause of your vision impairment. A special light is beamed into your eyes from the wavefront system. It bounces back from the retina (inside back surface of the eyes, like a camera film) to the wavefront system, carrying with it detailed information about the irregularities of your corneas.
This information is presented on the wavefront computer monitor as a pair of 3-D maps of your eyes. Each tiny ripple or bump on your corneas is clearly visible now to your eye surgeon. From this information, mathematical formulae are created which then guide the laser in correcting the problem.
Wavefront diagnostic can be done on anyone's eyes. It's independent of whatever solution is chosen for you to correct the problem.
Many LASIK surgeons use wavefront technology and offer a wavefront-guided LASIK procedure as well as the traditional procedure.
The LASIK procedure
It's a short and painless procedure yielding quick results and a short recovery period.
· Anesthetic eyedrops numb your eyes.
· Your comfortable bed is rotated to position your head beneath the laser. You don't need to struggle with keeping your eyes open, as an eye speculum is placed against your eyelids to keep them open.
· One eye is treated at a time, with a shield over the other one.
· Using a hand-held device called a microkeratome and a small suction cup, your eye surgeon will make a small round flap on the outer surface of the cornea, and gently fold it back out of the way.
· The laser is directed at the tissue exposed by the folded-back flap, for 10 to 20 seconds. It vaporizes tiny amounts of excess corneal tissue that have been causing your vision problem.
· The surgeon replaces the small flap and applies some antibiotic ointment to its edges. It starts to heal by itself, and no stitches or bandages are needed.
Afterwards
Although there'll be some temporary blurriness from the antibiotic ointment, you'll notice immediate improvement in your vision.
· An eye shield needs to be worn for a day or so to protect your eyes from touching or pressure
· Your LASIK surgeon will give you some moisturizing eyedrops and antibiotic eyedrops to use for a few days
· There might be some temporary redness or sensitivity to light, but no pain or swelling
Within a month or so you'll be completely healed and your new eyesight will be part of your life.
Wouldn't you like to toss away the contact lenses and be able to see clearly at all distances with your natural eyes?

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Sara Goldstein
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