internal medicine

Some people who undergo LASIK surgery have experienced some kind of complication . However
if you have an experienced surgeon by your side
the rate of surgical complications is far reduced. Common sense aside
one should base their decisions on the actual facts reported by their treatment provider. Overall
the number of complications are generally reported to be less than 1%. Most of the reported problems are handled through laser re-treatments or enhancements.

In order to understand the kind of complications people have your should understand what a LASIK treatment is all about. During LASIK surgery a laser beam is used to cut a very thin
hinged flap into the front of the eye. The flap is then lifted and the laser is applied to re-shape the eye
and then the flap is replaced to heal.

Some of the more common types of LASIK complications are improperly formed LASIK flaps: Sometimes after the first surgery a patient might experience an improperly formed flap. This might create an irregular surface and cause various vision defects. In such cases
LASIK surgery needs to be repeated one or more times to make the eye surface smooth.

Inflammation: Sometimes there might be inflammation that can develop in areas where the flap comes in contact with the eye. Such a condition
is called diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK). It may create symptoms such as sensitivity towards light and loss of Vision .

Epithelial In growth: If there is any kind of initial swelling in the eye it might create a common LASIK complication called Epithelial in growth
This condition can be best described as a type of scarring which leads to an irregular eye surface and other vision distortions. In such a condition the surgeon lifts the flap and scrapes out the epithelial growth from inside. This is certainly not a full proof method. It has been noticed that in many cases the epithelial in growth reoccurs.

Some other common types of LASIK complications include dry eye
infections and night vision problems such as glaring around the lights.

Many trained surgeons feel that by using better technology and more precise instruments the chances of having a major LASIK complication can be avoided. People who have had a history of eye complications or infections are not advised to go for these surgeries.

Radial keratotomy (RK) is a refractive surgical procedure employed to correct myopia or nearsightedness. Radial Keratotomy came into existence by accident rather than through meticulous research. The procedure was discovered by Dr. Svyatoslav Fyodorov when he operated one of his patients who had met with a bicycle accident. The boy wore eyeglasses
which broke on impact
and the glass splinters lodged into his eyes. The doctor had to make several radial incisions in the corneal tissue in order to extract the glass. When the cornea healed
the doctor found that the boy’s eyesight was significantly improved.

In radial keratotomy (RK)
a series of micro-fine incisions are made in the outer portion of the cornea with the aid of a high-precision calibrated diamond knife. The surgeon administers a local anesthetic
since the incisions are superficial and the procedure is fairly painless. The corneal thickness of the patient’s eye is measured prior to the surgery. Before the incisions are made
the diamond-edged cutting instrument is precisely set under the operating microscope. Thus by flattening the curvature of the cornea in such a manner
RK can easily correct myopia or nearsightedness.

Radial keratotomy was first introduced in the United States in the 1980s. Initially it was much of an investigational procedure
with doctors operating only one eye at a time and waiting for at least 3 months to observe the results
before operating on the other eye. But the surgeons gained experience over time and now they could well operate both eyes simultaneously. Now
radial keratotomy is a minor surgery that takes about 15 to 20 minutes for each eye.

Radial keratotomy is constantly improving
owing much to the rapid advances in technology
and the fact that a number of such procedures have already been performed successfully. However
RK is not as precise as LASIK and PRK. Since
RK is less predictable
only a few surgeons now perform this procedure.

Lasik and other forms of laser eye surgery have become so common and effective that many health plans around the country may soon begin paying for them as acceptable forms of eye surgery. And if they don't
they should. The success rate with lasik eye surgery and laser eye surgery
in general
has made the procedure a household name
and made it also more affordable
so many more people can actually consider the procedure.

But no matter how many people have lasik eye surgery or laser eye surgery
you may still have your reservations. After all
they are slicing into your eyes
two of the most important organs you have
with a white-hot laser. So don't be afraid to ask any questions that you may have
and do as much research as necessary to make yourself comfortable with the procedure. Hopefully
we can get a jumpstart for you here with this article - and the answers to the 7 most commonly asked questions about laser eye surgery.

#1: What exactly is laser eye surgery? Lasik is one form of laser eye surgery
whose sole job is to make you not dependent on your glasses or contacts anymore. Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis.

#2: How does lasik work to correct vision? You sure you want to know the answer to this one? Kidding aside
laser eye surgery works because it actually changes the shape of your cornea
or the clear lens of your eye that allows light to enter your eye. Doctors use a microkeratome
a knife
to create a flap in your cornea. This is then folded back and a laser
called an excimer laser
is used to "shave" off the cornea until it's the proper shape. Of course
there are other types of laser eye surgery out there
some of which you may have already heard about
like intralase surgery.

#3: How do I know if lasik is right for me? There are a lot of considerations to make before you get the laser eye surgery. First
you have to ask yourself whether or not you can afford the procedure
or whether or not your work and health insurance will pick it up.

#4: Are there other medical conditions that could interfere with the surgery? Yes
you should be aware of any medications that you may be taking that can slow down your healing
such as steroids. You should make sure you don't suffer from a condition that could slow your healing
such as an autoimmune condition.

#5: Are all eyes able to be "shaved"? No
some eyes
especially those with other conditions
such as dry eye
thin corneas
or pupil disorders
do not make good candidates for laser eye surgery. If your prescription is still in flux - if you've changed prescriptions in the last year or two - you should probably hold off on the lasik eye surgery as well.

#6: Does laser eye surgery work 100 percent of the time? No
sometimes the results are not permanent. In that case
repeated procedures may be needed down the road. You could also suffer side effects such as dry eyes
contrast sensitivity
or even blindness.

#7: How do I find a doctor? Ask around your friends
family
colleagues
and other doctors. The best laser eye surgery doctors should be experienced
have the latest equipment
be able to explain everything about the procedure to your heart's content
and offer care down the road.