LASIK (laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis ) is probably the most commonly performed laser eye surgery procedure and tends to be what people think of when considering laser surgery for vision correction. However not all patients may be ideal candidates for LASIK surgery due to variations in cornea thickness and curvature. Photo refractive keratectomy ,or PRK, may be the better option for vision correction in some patients who are not able to have LASIK.

Prior to the introduction and subsequent popularity of LASIK, PRK was the most common refractive eye surgery procedure performed. Both LASIK and PRK share similarities in that an excimer laser is utilized to sculpt and reshape the cornea of the eye in accordance with the patients medical needs. Both techniques are used in the correction of myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism (blurred vision resulting from corneal irregularity), or a combination thereof. Likewise, both are outpatient surgical procedures which may be performed in a physicians office or clinic setting. There are however a few differences in the two procedures.

In a LASIK procedure a small flap is cut with a special tool on the exterior of the cornea. The computer controlled excimer laser is then used to reshape the corneal tissue under the flap. The flap is then replaced over the cornea where it will adhere to the eye and serve to protect it. In PRK, the excimer laser is used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea directly on the surface, or epithelial layer, of the eye. A protective soft contact lens is usually placed over the eye for 3-5 days to allow the epithelial surface to heal.

Several major differences for the patient exist in the two procedures. The first is the recovery period, which tends to be considerable shorter for LASIK patients as opposed to PRK. Likewise, vision improvement with PRK tends to be more of a gradual process than take from a few days to a few months. LASIK patients will in most circumstances experience the benefits of their surgery in a much shorter frame.

A successful end result for both procedures is an improvement in vision, and the correction of pre-existing vision conditions. Only a thorough examination and consultation with a qualified laser eye surgeon can determine which is right for you.

R Heavner
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/lasik-versus-prk-eye-surgery-136018.html

friend and i are debating about it. we're part of the DEP program for the USMC and he's thinking about getting lasik eye surgery. will he be able to? trust me he has really bad eye sight.

I would suggest that you talk with a Marine recruiter,first. The Navy might already have a Lasik program to correct vision. If this is the case, your friend could save a few thousand bucks in the cost for Lasik if the Navy does it free !

The navy takes care of all USMC medical care !

As with any other type of procedure, you should make sure that you are absolutely positive that you want to have lasik laser eye surgery done before going through with it, and that means that you need to weigh all of the advantages and disadvantages, and consult with your physician as well before going through with the procedure.

What are the Advantages of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery?

There are many advantages that can be gained from having the lasik eye surgery done, for example many patients who are considering refractive surgery done are interested in comparing the advantages of lasik eye surgery over the other available types of eye surgery, due to the incredible benefits that are thought of as coming from the lasik laser eye surgery.

As well, with this surgery there is a much faster recovery time, and there will also be a smoother corneal surface and better optical quality even furthermore. There is also a reduced risk of infection with this procedure when compared to that of others, and this is because there is less need for potentially hazardous prophylactic steroids to be used, and in addition, this procedure has a much greater range of vision correction.

The Risks and Complications

The risks and complications of this procedure would basically be considered as being the disadvantages, and in regards to this, as with any surgery, there are certain risks and complications that are present that must be taken fully into consideration.

For instance, there are certain flap complications that could occur, which would include such things as: irregular or incomplete flaps, flaps that are too small or too thin, buttonholes which are small holes or tears in the center of the flap, or free caps which are flaps without a hinge - these are just some examples, as there are more possibilities.

However it should be known that in most cases, flap complications will pose no threat and truly cause no permanent damage or decrease in that of that patient's visual activity. Furthermore, if and when a flap complication does occur, the surgeon will then typically halt the procedure in order to reposition the flap properly.

Overall, if you have weighed all of the advantages and the disadvantages, and still want to go forward, then that decision is obviously up to you; lasik is an elective procedure, meaning that it is not medically necessary to have done.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/lasik-laser-eye-surgery-weighing-the-advantages-and-disadvantages-120493.html

This is my personal video log of when I got Intralase Lasik Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery. I did not know what to expect and I was willing to take the risk. I just new I had to document my experience and share it with others.

Duration : 0:5:31

More on My Laser Eye Surgery - Video LOG

Los Angeles LASIK surgeon and Visian ICL specialist Dr. Paul Dougherty (http://www.DoughertyLaserVision.com) performs Visian ICL surgery on actor/comedian Chris "Kid" Reid. Dr. Dougherty served as a principal investigator for the ICL's FDA clinical trial, and has performed more ICL procedures than any surgeon in the western US.

Duration : 0:2:2

More on Visian ICL - LASIK Alternative for Actor Chris Reid

Custom LASIK surgery is specially designed around you and your unique needs. Now imagine the following scenario. You are going in for a scheduled brain surgery and are told by the neurosurgeon that instead of tailoring the surgery especially for you, they would try something that works for most people.

Would you be ok with such a suggestion or would you freak out? Now, something like that would just freak me out and I believe the same goes for you.

The point that I'm trying to make is that it is always better to have surgery tailored for your exact needs than have something that works for most people. Because you are a unique human being with unique needs. Something that works for somebody else might not work for you.

And when you talk of sensitive areas such as the brain or your eyes you cannot take such a chance. If something goes wrong you can become blind for the rest of your life.

Now in the past LASIK eye surgery was not so advanced and what happened was that there were standard procedures surgical procedures that were applied to every person undergoing LASIK eye surgery. However things have changed with the advent of custom LASIK laser surgery.

Custom LASIK eye surgery captures three dimensional photos of your eyes as they are accepting light. These imagesare then used to map out a surgical strategy for your LASIK surgery. This procedure is known as wave-front technology and is more exact compared to contact lenses, glasses or other LASIK procedures.

By making use of computer-based tests to analyze the way your eye allows light in, the best course of action can be plotted. As this is a three dimensional image that perfectly fits the patient's eye, the surgeon ensures that the dimensions of the flap over the cornea are exact.

Even though custom LASIK offers superior results, it may not be the best option for everyone. Hence you must first be approved by the FDA who will evaluate your specific eye condition to see if you qualify. First your custom LASIK surgeon will present you with the available options. If you choose to have custom LASIK, he will then look at the condition of your eyes to see if their condition is such that custom LASIK would offer the best results.

Custom LASIK offers the following advantages:

- Improved odds of getting a 20/20 vision

- The occurrence of glare or night vision disturbances are decreased or eliminated

-Lower odds of losing contrast sensitivity or vision quality

Research indicates that in spite of the higher cost of custom LASIK, more and more people choose this procedure compared to non custom LASIK. Nevertheless, it is necessary to consult with your eye doctor before the surgery on what can be corrected. This is because even though custom LASIK is possibly the best LASIK procedure in terms of its results, it may not fix all types of vision abnormalities at present.

Jimmy Roos
http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/the-benefits-offered-by-custom-lasik-eye-surgery-60264.html

im 19 , i heared positive feedback about lasik eye surgery i asked 2 good doctors they told me if your 18+ its okay and there will be no complications ,, the next day i read in an article that it is recommended for 30-40 years old ! what do you think ?

The FDA has approved LASIK for those over the age of 18. The real question is whether or not your prescription is stable. See the source:

http://www.usaeyes.org/lasik/faq/lasik-age.htm

Yesterday morning I had Lasik in my right eye and PKR in my left eye. A day and a half later I my Lasik eye is still blurry. The doctor said it's somewhat normal because I had a strong astimatism and very poor sight to begin with. Should I be worried? How much time should I give it before I worry?

the dr's that i talked to said they had vision right after the surgury, and the next day. They are eye doctors that had it done. I had surgury not lasik but a stigmatism correction and was blurry for a bit maybe a week. now ok but get blurry at times. and that is years later.

When it comes to lasik eye surgery, New York has some of the most surgeries of the east coast. In New York, there is a trend for improving your looks and improving your health. Individuals are continuously looking for a way to improve themselves so that they can stand out from the crowd and really make a difference. Lasik eye surgery is just one way that they can make that happen. Other areas of the country, such as Miami, Florida and many cities in California, also have these large numbers of eye surgery performed.

What does that mean for someone that is looking to have their eyes improved with the use of lasik eye surgery? For one thing, there are plenty of qualified doctors in the area. In some cases in some areas of New York, lasik eye surgery is offered by several physicians which means there is a bit of competition for your business. Although prices are significantly higher in these areas because of the cost of living in those areas, it is still possible to get an affordable price on the surgery.

Of course, the cost should be one of the last things that you think about when it comes to having lasik eye surgery. New York is filled with qualified physicians that provide for the best possible reduction of risks and the best results possible. Still, there are those out there that aren't as experienced and perhaps don't have the best training. For that reason, you should invest in finding out as much as you can about the physician that will be handling your surgery.

There is no question that you can have an excellent lasik eye surgery in New York. By insuring that you learn as much as you can about the surgeon that will be handling your surgery, you also improve your risks and get the best possible surgery.

Frank Montes
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/lasik-eye-surgery-new-york-91569.html