In this day and age of high-tech solutions to just about every situation, it should be no surprise that there is a high-tech solution to vision problems through Lasik laser eye surgery. This procedure has become quite popular and for a number of good reasons.

There is a fast recovery time, the vision improvement is virtually immediate and the risk of complications is super low. But, to be sure that the best results are achieved and to further minimize potential problems, there are a few things patients need to do after Lasik eye surgery.

One of the first things that people want to know when they are considering corrective eye surgery is how long it will take, after the surgery, before they are able to return to their normal daily activities. The good news is that recovery from this type of laser eye surgery is quite rapid and within a couple days after the procedure, most people can get back to life as normal, except without the hassle of needing their eyeglasses or their contact lenses. …click here to read more

A lot of eyebrows were raised in 2006 when a study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University’s Casey Eye Institute suggested it may be safer in the long run to have LASIK surgery than to wear contact lenses. Now a new survey may explain why the conclusions of that study may indeed be correct.

Poor contact lens care habits

Synovate, Inc., a global market research company, recently asked 508 contact lens wearers a number of questions about how they care for their contact lenses, and the results were startling. All respondents were over age 18 and wore their lenses on a daily wear basis (removing them prior to sleep every day).

The survey of contact lens wearers revealed:

* 40% don’t wash their hands prior to handling their lenses.
* 20% don’t use fresh solution when cleaning their lenses.
* 40% have put their lenses in their mouth to clean them.
* 70% wear their contact lenses when swimming.

All of these behaviors cause more bacteria and other harmful microorganisms to be transferred to the eyes, increasing the risk for serious eye infections. Couple these statistics with the fact that an estimated 38 million Americans wear contact lenses, and you have a huge number of people who are putting themselves at risk for sight-threatening eye infections. …click here to read more

Like any surgery, LASIK and other vision correction procedures have some risks and possible complications. But since the first laser vision correction surgery was performed in the United States in 1988, serious complications from LASIK, PRK and other laser procedures have been uncommon, and serious vision loss from the procedures has been rare.

Selecting the right eye surgeon probably is the single most important step you can take to decrease risks associated with LASIK. An experienced, reputable surgeon will make sure you are a good candidate for laser vision correction before recommending and proceeding with refractive surgery.

And if complications or undesired outcomes occur, a responsible LASIK surgeon will do what they can to resolve the problem to your satisfaction.

How Common Are LASIK Complications?

Advances in refractive surgery technology and techniques have improved outcomes and decreased risks and complications associated with LASIK. Experienced LASIK surgeons report that serious complications can be held well below 1% if surgical candidates are carefully screened and selected. During your LASIK consultation, be sure to mention any health problems you have, as certain conditions may increase your risk of complications after refractive surgery.

As part of your LASIK consultation and pre-operative exam, your doctor will thoroughly evaluate the health of your eyes to rule out chronic dry eye, thin corneas, unusually large pupils and other factors that might affect your LASIK outcome. …click here to read more

LADARVision® uses state-of-the-art technology that is uniquely different from other laser vision correction systems available today. The LADARVision® system incorporates the use of the LADARTracker™, a high-speed computerized eye tracking method that helps the doctor enhance your treatment. The LADARTracker™ had its genesis in technology research done by the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA). Today, it’s incorporated into our new-generation excimer laser to provide superior precision, and less worry, for patients desiring laser correction of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.

Your eyes are continually making very fine jumping movements - called “saccadic” movements - and they are beyond your control, no matter how hard you concentrate. They occur during all laser vision correction treatments. Our LADARVision® system, however, assists the doctor by scanning the eye an amazing 4,000 times per second. Then, using computer control, it makes micro-adjustments at speeds of 100 times per second to reposition the pinpoint laser beam between pulses of light, tracking even the smallest and quickest movements of your eye during treatment.

In addition, our LADARVision® system uses an ultra-small beam of cool laser light - one that’s less than a millimeter wide, a spot much smaller than the thickness of a single human hair. Using high-speed computer control, the LADARVision® system moves this tiny beam of light across the surface of the cornea very rapidly in a tiny, non-sequential and overlapping pattern. This helps create a smoother surface on your eye after your treatment, which has been attributed to quick visual recovery.

Finally, because of its state-of-the art active tracking system and its unmatched precision, our LADARVision® system means that LASIK laser vision correction is even easier for our patients. Now, you can relax and not worry about holding your eye perfectly still during your treatment.

Source: http://www.seewithlasik.com/docs/ladarvision.shtml

Epi-LASIK is an abbreviation for Epithelial Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis. This procedure is an advanced type of corneal surface ablation to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Like the other Laser Eye Surgery surface ablation procedures such as PRK and LASEK, it attempts to merge the desirable features of LASIK, PRK and LASEK. In this procedure, a specially designed microkeratome like instrument is used to create a thin flap of corneal epithelium. It achieves this by gently separating the epithelium from the underlying corneal layer without cutting . In Epi LASIK, no alcohol solution is applied to loosen and remove the surface of the epithelium as in LASEK. Epi-LASIK is similar to LASEK in that it is a LASIK Eye Surgery procedure that can be used for patients who have thin corneas and might not otherwise be good candidates for ordinary LASIK. Once the epithelial layer has been removed, the Excimer Laser is then applied and reshapes the cornea to correct your prescription, as in LASIK, PRK and LASIK. Upon completion of the Excimer Laser application, the epithelial flap is then returned to its original position.

Epi-LASIK has a relative advantage in that it avoids any of the potential complications encountered while making a conventional LASIK flap and during the flap healing process. Compared to LASEK and PRK it is believed that Epi-LASIK can allow a more rapid visual recovery, perhaps 3-4 days versus a 7 days or more with PRK and 5-7 days with LASEK. LASIK generally offers patients a minimal amount of discomfort, if any. With PRK, LASEK and again with Epi-LASIK, a thin soft bandage contact lens will be worn for several days after treatment to help with healing and minimize discomfort. Whereas with PRK there may be moderate discomfort for 1-2 days. With LASEK it is less and with Epi-LASIK it is believed to be even less, but still not quite as comfortable as with ordinary LASIK. Advanced LASIK Eye Surgery surface ablation such as Epi-LASIK may be your best choice is you have thin corneas or have certain conditions of the cornea. In general it is best to leave the recommendation of which procedure to is best for you, up to your LASIK surgeon based on your consultation.