June 27, 2006
PRK Laser Eye Surgery
The Laser Eye Surgery Known as PRK
Another popular laser eye surgery is PRK or Photorefractive Keratectomy. As with other types of laser eye surgery, PRK is a procedure during which the cornea is reshaped. Reshaping of the cornea with PRK is highly effective at restoring vision to 20/20 or better. And for approximately 80% of the patients, quality vision is achieved without the need to wear eye glasses or corrective lenses.
The laser eye surgery PRK differs from LASIK and LASEK in that the laser pulses the top of the cornea, not beneath it. This means it's not necessary to slice a thin hinged flap from the top of the cornea.
The benefits of PRK
Those who benefit from PRK laser eye surgery have mild to moderate degrees of farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism. Fewer complications are other benefits. Slicing the corneal flap can cause problems beforehand if the flap is cut completely off the cornea rather than leaving it hinged. Recovery can also be hampered should the patient rub the eye and cause the flap to dislodge and interfere with the healing process.
The disadvantages of PRK
Oftentimes, PRK laser eye surgery causes more pain. Afterwards, discomfort often continues for several days. Eyes may be irritated and watery resulting in a longer healing time.
PRK laser eye surgery requires several months before 20/20 results are achieved. And even then, there is no guarantee that the patient will attain this level of vision without eye glasses. Halos around images and glare are two additional potential side effects.
Finally, PRK eye surgery generally does not cost any less than LASIK Surgery, with costs averaging around $2,000 per eye.
What is involved with PRK?
Prior to the PRK procedure an eye surgeon will take a complete medical history and perform a thorough round of eye testing to ensure the patient is a good candidate. Then a procedure date is scheduled.
Patients are given local anesthesia, and in just a few minutes, cool beams of laser are pulsed onto the top of the cornea, continuing until it is properly reshaped. A bandage that mimics a contact lens is put on the eye and remains for several days to allow for healing. During the next several months, regular follow-up visits with the eye surgeon are crucial.
Expect periods of good vision and blurry vision for several weeks. It's possible that glasses will need to be worn, especially at night. Eye drops will keep eyes moist and prevent infection. Operating a motor vehicle won't be possible for several weeks after the PRK procedure. Best vision won't be achieved until a minimum of 6 weeks and may take as much as 6 months.
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Selecting an ophthalmologist trained in PRK laser eye surgery is very important. Get referrals, interview several candidates and review the fine print to avoid miscommunication. It's best to avoid using ophthalmologists offering deep discounts and/or who utilize expensive advertising.
Posted by Vision at 09:56 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2006
LASEK Laser Eye Surgery
Understanding LASEK Laser Eye Surgery
LASEK (Laser Epithelial Keratomileusis) laser eye surgery takes the most beneficial elements of two other types of laser eye surgery and combines them into one very effective surgical procedure. These other two laser eye surgeries are LASIK and PRK.
Unlike the LASIK procedure which involves using a sharp blade to slice off the top of the cornea, LASEK uses a solution consisting of diluted alcohol to loosen a thin layer from the epithelium so that it can be moved off to the side.
Benefits of LASEK laser eye surgery
One benefit of LASEK laser eye surgery is that it eliminates the risks associated with the corneal flap. With LASIK surgery, a very sharp blade called a microkeratome is used to cut the corneal flap. There have been cases in which the flap was cut too deeply or cut off completely instead of leaving it attached with a hinge, both of which are capable of causing any number of serious vision problems.
Healing is faster with LASEK because there is no cutting and because the epithelial flap can be used somewhat as a natural bandage after the procedure is finished. And unlike PRK, the chances of developing a glare after the operation are greatly diminished when using LASEK.
Risks/disadvantages
Risks associated with LASEK laser eye surgery are greatly diminished mainly due to the fact that no sharp device is being used to cut the cornea. There is some pain but it is minimal and is most often treated with over the counter medicines. Also, it is not possible to guarantee any type of vision results and glare, halos and dry eyes are potential side effects.
The LASEK procedure
Prior to the LASEK procedure, a patient must provide the eye surgeon with a complete medical history. Eye tests and other diagnostic procedures are undertaken to ensure the patient is a good candidate for LASEK laser eye surgery. On the day of the procedure, the eye is cleaned and prepped and an eye drop to numb the eye is administered. A special tool will hold the eyelids in place, preventing them from blinking.
The diluted alcohol solution is applied, the epithelium loosens, and it is gently pushed out of the way. The pre-calculated beams of ultra violet light are then pulsed onto the cornea and in just a minute or so, the procedure is complete.
Most patients will have blurred vision at first and won't be able to drive home from the procedure. Most need a day or two to rest. Vision will vary over the ensuing months.
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For best results, always use an eye surgeon who has experience with the LASEK laser eye surgery procedure. Never be afraid to ask a surgeon you're considering for the names and contact information of previous patients. If you get a list of contacts, be sure to call and ask about their experiences.
Posted by Vision at 09:50 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2006
Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery
Understanding Epi-LASIK Laser Eye Surgery
The most advanced of the surgical eye procedures using laser technology, Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery combines the best of traditional LASIK surgery with the best of the LASEK and PRK laser procedures. Epi stands for Epithelial and LASIK stands for Laser in situ Keratomileusis. Basically this newest procedure involves gently separating the epithelial from the top of the cornea using an epikeratome rather than slicing the top of the cornea and creating a hinge as is the case with LASIK.
A good candidate for Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery is someone who has a very thin cornea and who also has mild to moderate farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism. As with the other types of laser eye surgery, best vision is achieved by using laser beams to reshape the cornea.
Benefits of Epi-LASIK laser eye surgery
The two main benefits of the Epi-LASIK procedure are its quicker recovery time and the speed at which vision is restored. Because the cornea is not cut with a microkeratome (a sharp blade) the cornea does not have to heal. And because only a thin layer of the epithelial is separated, it too has the ability to heal quickly. This type of procedure eliminates the potential risks associated with incorrectly cutting the cornea, which in some cases can cause a number of vision problems including a permanent loss of vision. There also is less pain.
Risks of Epi-LASIK
While no surgical procedure is without risk, proper candidate screening including thorough diagnostic testing will significantly reduce the risks associated with Epi-LASIK surgery.
The Epi-LASIK procedure
As with the other laser eye procedures, the Epi-LASIK procedure also takes less than 10 minutes to complete. Anesthetic drops are placed into the eye to minimize pain and discomfort. From there, the epithelial must be moved off to the side so that the laser can reach the intended target area.
Specialized equipment is used to first stabilize the eye. Then, the epithelium separator makes a pass across the eye and flattens the cornea which makes it easier to separate the epithelial. It is not separated completely, rather it remains attached in the middle instead of at one side as happens with the LASIK procedure. A small spatula-type tool is used to move the flap out of the way.
The laser then begins emitting pulses of ultraviolet light, quickly removing the excess tissue from the cornea. As the laser pulses, the cornea is being reshaped. This continues until the proper amount of excess tissue is removed, as determined by the eye surgeon. When finished, antibiotic drops are placed in the eye to protect against infection, and a contact lens-like bandage is applied. Those opting for the Epi-LASIK procedure can usually resume normal activity the day after the procedure. Several follow-up visits are required to monitor healing and vision.
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It's important to choose an Epi-LASIK eye surgeon with care. Discuss the surgeon's experience with this type of procedure including success rates. Also discuss the type of care that will be provided during all stages: before, during and after the procedure and associated costs.
Posted by Vision at 09:46 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2006
Corrective Eye Surgery
Understanding Corrective Eye Surgery
Several types of correct eye surgery exist today and these different types of corrective eye surgery fall under two main categories: Excimer Laser procedures and Non-Excimer laser procedures. As is the case with other conditions that affect the body, major technological advances have been made in recent years in the field of corrective eye surgery. The following is a brief introduction to the two categories.
Excimer Laser Procedures
An Excimer laser is a tool that was approved for the treatment of nearsightedness ranging in severity from mild to moderate. Use of the Excimer laser is complicated and it's important to work with ophthalmologists who are both trained in the surgical procedure and who have demonstrated the ability to properly operate and calibrate this precision instrument.
The Excimer Laser was originally approved for PKR, or Photorefractive Keratectomy and its usage was later expanded for LASIK procedures, or Laser in situ Keratomileusis. With PKR, the cornea is reshaped by eliminating excess tissue from the cornea's outer surface. With each computer calculated lightening-fast laser pulse, a microscopic ultraviolet light beam removes the excess tissue. After only a few minutes and the application of local anesthesia, the procedure is over. In just a day or so, patients can resume normal activity.
In a LASIK procedure, the eye doctor rather than the laser's built-in computer determines where incisions will be made and how much tissue will be removed. This is a more complex and invasive procedure and it is one that is recommended for more severe refractive conditions. Using a microkeratome (a knife), the eye surgeon slices and then pulls back a flap of the tissue covering the cornea. With the tissue out of the way, the laser is then used to remove tissue and reshape the cornea. The flap is put back into place and the patient typically can see well enough to drive home after the procedure. LASEK and epi-LASIK are variations of the LASIK procedure.
Non Excimer Laser Procedures
These are procedures that rely on artificial implants, surgery and reshaping to correct eye problems. Lens implants are effective for individuals who have cataracts, nearsightedness and farsightedness. Intraocular lenses or IOLs are used as replacements for the damaged cloudy lenses caused by cataracts. New and improved artificial lenses now incorporate the use of hinges that allow the eye to move and act like a real lens.
Other types of implantable contact lens can correct nearsightedness and farsightedness. They act much like removable contact lenses but require no maintenance and wearers cannot feel these lenses and implants.
Thermokeratoplasty involves the use of heat to manipulate the collagen within the cornea. In doing so, refractive errors can be corrected in a matter of minutes. There are two types of Thermokeratoplasty procedures. Laser thermal keratoplasty or LTK involves the use of holmium YAG laser and CK or conductive keratoplasty involves use of radiofrequency waves.
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Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) involves cutting the cornea in order to reshape it. However, its use has diminished since laser treatments involve less risk and are far more effective at reshaping the cornea.
Posted by Vision at 09:44 PM | Comments (0)
