LASIK Surgery - Terms Your SHould Know

Here are some interesting LASIK eye surgery terminology and facts. If you are planning on having this type of surgery it is always good to familiarize yourself with it and the lingo.

Dr. Jose Barraquer from Colombia in 1970 was the first person to develop the Microkeratome, an instrument that could cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape. He is ultimately the one who made this type of corrective eye surgery possible.

This type of surgery is very safe and painless. Patients experience very little pain and usually fully recover within 24 hours. Their vision is noticeably improved as soon as the surgical procedure is finished. Patients are awake during the procedure and do go temperately blind while their cornea is being worked on. This sometimes frightens patients but only lasts for a short period of time.

Here are some terms for your interest.

Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a form of refractive laser eye surgery. This type of procedure is performed by an Ophthalmologist and is designed to help correct vision.

Microkeratome - A Microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery

Eye Surgery - Ophthalmic surgery or ocular surgery, a surgical procedure performed on the eye or its adnexa.

Adnexa - Appendages of an organ.

Refractive - The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density. It is also the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina, allowing the image to be sent to the brain for processing.

In Situ - In situ is a Latin phrase used in many different contexts and means 'in place'.

Keratomileusis - A procedure for the correction of the refraction of the cornea by removing a deep corneal lamella, freezing it, forming it to a new curvature, and then replacing it.

Ophthalmologist - A physician who specializes in ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology - Branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.

Isn’t medical technology amazing? Just knowing that if you were born with bad eyes that you can go spend a few thousand dollars and transform your sub-par vision into perfect 20/20 should bring some ease to your life. To your heath and to your life – farewell!

By Jim Grayson

The author makes a living in the field of research and if you have found this article useful, try clicking on his specialist resource site, http://www.lasikeyeinfo.info/ . For other more general information on this topic, try this site http://www.instant-knowledge.com/ .
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com/

Is LASIK Surgery Dangerous?

Dr. Jose Barraquer from Colombia in 1970 was the first person to develop the Microkeratome, an instrument that could cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape. He is ultimately the one who made this type of corrective eye surgery possible.

Is Lasik Surgery safe? Yes, it is safe. It is very rare to have complication. This type of surgery is painless. Patients experience very little pain and usually fully recover within 24 hours. Their vision is noticeably improved as soon as the surgical procedure is finished. Patients are awake during the procedure and do go temperately blind while their cornea is being worked on. This sometimes frightens patients but only lasts for a short period of time.

Some terminology:

Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a form of refractive laser eye surgery. This type of procedure is performed by an Ophthalmologist and is designed to help correct vision.

Microkeratome - A Microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery

Eye Surgery - Ophthalmic surgery or ocular surgery, a surgical procedure performed on the eye or its adnexa.

Adnexa - Appendages of an organ.

Refractive - The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density. It is also the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina, allowing the image to be sent to the brain for processing.

In Situ - In situ is a Latin phrase used in many different contexts and means 'in place'.

Keratomileusis - A procedure for the correction of the refraction of the cornea by removing a deep corneal lamella, freezing it, forming it to a new curvature, and then replacing it.

Ophthalmologist - A physician who specializes in ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology - Branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.

OK. By now I guess you understand what LASIK surgery is. It is one of the most popular types of laser eye surgery. This procedure can permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye, and change its focus power using an excimer laser. Millions of patients have been treated using LASIK, using of a wide variety of different lasers. This procedure can be used to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Prior to the surgery:

Before you undergo LASIK surgery you will have to get your eyes examined by a doctor to see if you are a good candidate. If you wear contact lenses, you will have to stop using them for 1 to 4 weeks before the surgery and switch to wearing your glasses, to allow the cornea to return to its original shape, or else this can have negative consequences like inaccurate measurements and a poor surgical plan; resulting in poor vision after surgery. These measurements would decide how much corneal tissue is to be removed, and have to be repeated a week after your first evaluation as well as before surgery, to see that the measurements have not changed.

It is important that you tell your doctor all about your past and present medical eye conditions, and also the medications you are taking or if you are allergic to any medicines. Then on the day of the surgery you will be given a numbing drop so that you do not feel pain, although some patients do experience some discomfort. The area around your eye will be cleaned and a lid speculum will be used, which is an instrument to hold your eyelids open. A suction ring will be placed on your eye and suction will be created by applying very high pressure to the cornea. As a result of this, your vision will dim and the pressure may cause some discomfort.

During the surgery:

A small device called a microkeratome will be attached to the suction ring; the blade of which will be used to cut a thin flap on your cornea. The flap is created, exposing cornea tissue. After this, both the microkeratome and the suction ring will be removed. The doctor will now lift the flap and fold it back on its hinge, exposing a layer of tissue called the stroma - the middle section of the cornea.

You will be made to focus on a particular spot and the doctor will begin the laser to remove the corneal tissue, according to the measurements taken at the initial examination. The flap is then put back into position and left to heal.

After the surgery:

As no stitches are required, you will just have to wear an eye patch as protection to prevent rubbing, getting poked, or any kind of pressure that might disturb the healing process. You can not drive home by yourself, so, you need to arrange someone to take you home. Within 24 hours your vision will come back. It may take up to three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery.

So... is LASIK surgery for you? Now you decide :)

By Simon

Find Out About Laser Eye Surgery Before You Decide to Get It Done

Finding out about Laser Eye Surgery is a very simple process. The Internet and your ophthalmology surgeon are your two best sources of information. Deciding to get laser vision correction surgery is a big decision and you should do all the research you can before making such big decisions. Being well informed about your surgeon and their experience and education will benefit you and could help to prevent an untrained surgeon from operating on your eyes.

When people first decide to start looking into this surgical technique they are usually just concerned about getting their vision fixed. As you start to become more and more interested in actually getting the surgery there may be some other more pertinent concerns that will pop up.

Important Questions

1. How do I decide on the right clinic to perform my surgery?

2. What experience does my surgeon have?

3. Did my surgeon go through special training in order to do this type of eye correction surgery?

4. How much is my surgery going to cost?

5. How long is the recovery time?

6. Does my surgeon have any lawsuits pending or any history of them?

These are all very important questions that you need to look into before you arrive at your surgeons office the day of the surgery. It takes time to make an informed decision so do not rush the process.

Time and Research

Spend a couple of weeks making your decision. If you make your decision when you are calm and not rushed, it is more likely that you will make a clear-headed decision about your eye surgery. Laser eye surgery has the risk of potential blindness, so it is not a surgery you should take lightly.

How to Start Your Research

Start your research with a consultation from a local laser eye surgery clinic. At your consultation you will be able to find out what type of corrective eye surgery will be able to help improve your vision. Feel free to take notes or have your surgeon write down the important information regarding your surgery.

After you have had a consultation it is time to use the Internet to your benefit. Look up the type of surgery your doctor suggested that you have. Become clear on the risks and potential benefits associated with this surgery.

You can also use the Internet to check up on your doctor. With just a few minutes of research time you should be able to find out if your doctor has any lawsuits or complaints pending. Although lawsuits are fairly common practice today, you should definitely pay attention if your surgeon has even one pending suit against them.

You can also research the licensing of your surgeon in his or her specialty field. If you have any questions about your surgeon's past, feel free to ask the clinic directly. If they are open and honest they will direct you to exactly where you can go to find out more information concerning the training and education of your surgeon.

Finding the corrective eye surgery solution that is right for you can be quite a challenge. For helpful and informative articles, resources, facts and tips to assist you toward better vision please visit us at:
Your Corrective Eye Surgery.
By Mike Jerry
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com