LASIK: Pursue Life with New Confidence, Enthusiasm, and Ease Thanks to Laser Eye Surgery

 
This month I am privileged to have Dr. Jessica Bailey, Clinical Director at TLC Laser Eye Centers of Atlanta, as a guest Blogger.  She has extensive knowledge in the area of LASIK / Refractive Surgery and shares some important information every LASIK candidate should know in this blog. 

LASIK, or refractive eye surgery, is a highly successful vision-correcting medical procedure that is designed to reduce dependency of glasses and contact lenses. It is aimed to reduce vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.  These vision problems affect the eye’s ability to focus on images both near and far away. 

 

The cornea is the part of the eye the helps light focus an image onto the retina, which then sends the image to be interpreted by the brain. LASIK, which stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, utilizes either a laser or a mechanical blade called a microkeratome to create a hinged flap on the most superficial layer on the cornea. The most current technology utilizes bladeless laser technology for corneal flap formation. This is widely accepted in the medical community as the safest surgical way with minimal sight-threatening risk to obtain the quickest recovery following the procedure. After the flap is created, computer-controlled pulses of cool laser light are applied to the inner layers of the cornea.  The laser will make a ticking sound as it pulses and will reshape the eye to mimic the patient’s glasses or contact lens prescription. An eye-tracking device used during the procedure tracks eye movements up to 4,000 times per second for precise correction.

 

  LASIK is not for everyone. Potential LASIK candidates should be 18 years of age or older      and have stable vision.  It is necessary for eyes to be healthy overall, including no glaucoma, cataracts, severe suffering of dry eyes, or corneal disease/injury.  Candidates should not be pregnant, nursing or have certain active autoimmune conditions.

 

Be sure to talk to your optometrist for more information regarding LASIK eye surgery.  Your primary care optometrist is an excellent LASIK resource because he or she knows you and is familiar with your ocular history.  Often, your eye doctor can recommend a reputable LASIK provider who is fellowship trained in corneal surgery.  Be sure to ask your eye doctor about the role they will play throughout your LASIK surgery process.  Many LASIK centers provide complimentary consultations to evaluate your candidacy for surgery. Cost of surgery is often reflective of the experience of the surgeon, available technology, and safety standards. Check out http://www.edwardseyecare.com or http://www.lasik.com for more information regarding LASIK and refractive eye surgery.