Posts Tagged ‘corrective eyewear’
LASEK surgery is a form of laser eye surgery that corrects refractive errors by reshaping the cornea – to this day, thousands of people the world over have benefited from this revolutionary procedure. LASEK eye surgery is performed on patients whose corneas are either too thin or too flat for LASIK eye surgery, but both procedures offer the same results in vastly improved vision and negate the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Who Can Benefit From LASEK Eye Surgery?
Patients who suffer from refractive errors will be delighted to learn that LASEK eye surgery can once and for all allow them to live life with more freedom and no longer rely on corrective eyewear.
LASEK eye surgery can be used to treat the following refractive errors:
- Short-sightedness (myopia) – This eye condition results from the cornea being slightly rounder and shorter than it should be. Due to this, the light that enters the eye converges just in front of the retina, meaning that suffers experience difficulty when trying to see a clear image at a distance. Through LASEK eye surgery, the shape of the cornea is corrected and the light is made to focus precisely on the retina – meaning that the blurred images at a distance will become a thing of the past, eliminating the effects of short-sightedness!
- Long-sightedness (hyperopia) – Patients who suffer from hyperopia have a cornea that is slightly flatter and shorter than it should be. This results in a blurred image because the light that enters the eye focuses on a point just behind the retina. Most people who suffer from this refractive error rely on glasses on contact lenses, but through LASEK eye surgery, the effects of hyperopia can be permanently corrected. That means no more headaches and straining eyes to get objects – both near and far – into focus.
- Astigmatism – In this case, the cornea is a more conical shape than it should be – this means that light enters at different angles through this cone. This creates two points of focus and ultimately a blurred image. Although this condition is slightly more complex than myopia or hyperopia, using the right technology, virtually all astigmatism symptoms can be treated through LASEK eye surgery.
What Does the LASEK Procedure Involve?
A patient is deemed an appropriate candidate for LASEK eye surgery when they suffer from one of the above mentioned refractive errors and usually because their cornea is not thick enough to withstand LASIK eye surgery. During the LASEK procedure, an ophthalmic surgeon focuses of the preservation of the corneal epithelium. In this way, the procedure differs from both LASIK and as the surgeon does not create a corneal flap or scrape and remove the epithelium.
LASEK treats the epithelium with a diluted alcohol solution which loosens it; the surgeon then rolls the epithelium tissue back and works with a laser to reshape the exposed corneal tissue beneath. The surgeon then simply smoothly rolls back the epithelium cells in their new reshaped position.
What Happens After Laser Eye Surgery?
Recovery time from LASEK eye surgery tends to take slightly longer than that of LASIK, but in the hands of expert surgeons, the visual outcomes are the same. Patients experience vast vision improvement with maximum convenience.
Post-treatment, patients are usually prescribed medicated eye drops which aid the healing process and relieve any temporary discomfort during this time. For about the first week, patients are given a night shield to wear when sleeping, which prevents any accidental rubbing of the eyes. In some cases, patients are fitted with soft contact lenses to give further protection to the healing eyes.
Patients who undergo LASEK eye surgery will find they have a newfound freedom as they no longer have to rely on glasses or the deal with the hassles of contact lenses or spectacles. Due to their vast visual improvement, many patients say that their self-esteem is boosted, along with their confidence!
The London Vision Clinic is leading laser eye surgery clinic in the UK, boasting world-class ophthalmic surgeons who expertly perform LASIK and LASEK eye surgery. If you suffer from a refractive error and are considering LASEK eye surgery, contact one of the Patient Education Consultants at the London Vision Clinic today to set up a screening to determine your suitability for the procedure.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/a-guide-to-lasek-eye-surgery-1675407.html
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Understanding Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery can seem like a daunting prospect to those who don’t know much about it. However, if you have an understanding of the skill demanded of the surgeons and the care that is taken when laser eye surgery is performed, you will learn that it is, in fact, a remarkably safe and potentially life changing process.
There are two types of laser eye surgery – LASIK (which is the most common) and PRK/LASEK. In both procedures, extremely precise lasers are used to reshape the cornea, where light enters the eye. Laser eye surgery can be an ideal solution to treat those who suffer from an eye condition – whether it may be astigmatism, myopia (short-sightedness) or hyperopia (long-sightedness).
The Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery
People that suffer from poor vision have to deal with the inconveniences associated with contact lenses and glasses. Bad eyesight can therefore be a nuisance – think of groping for glasses first thing in the morning or the hassles of fiddling with contact lenses and cumbersome cleaning and storing solutions. Since the advent of laser eye surgery, people who suffer from eye conditions can rest assured in the knowledge that there is a solution that can potentially change the way you they see the world.
The benefits of laser eye surgery mean that you will experience an immediate improvement in your vision and freedom from corrective eyewear. The reshaping of the cornea in LASIK laser eye surgery means that the eye’s focusing power is improved and the patient’s visual acuity is enhanced. This laser eye procedure is usually associated with very little discomfort and a quick recovery time.
Transforming your Life with Laser Eye Surgery
Very soon after a laser eye surgery procedure, patients can begin to experience dramatically improved vision that eliminates the need for corrective eyewear. You will find that outdoor activities can be embraced and enjoyed without worry – a swim in the sea or a walk on the beach is a breeze! You will also be able to participate in sports without the restrictions that wearing glasses and contacts bring. Not only that, but this newfound freedom from glasses or contacts can do wonders to heighten your self-confidence in public and enhance your social life.
Patients who have undergone laser eye treatment tend to find that even travel becomes more enjoyable as there is no need to pack a backup pair of glasses (heaven forbid you may break the first!) or a need to worry about packing all of the accessories associated with contact lenses. You can just pack up and go, purely enjoying the views and experience your holiday presents.
Not only will your life be transformed, but after your procedure, you will never again have to worry about the costs of corrective eyewear – no more stress about breaking your glasses or having run out of contact lens solutions. On top of that, you won’t need to face the costs of replacement each time your prescription changes. Laser eye surgery can not only improve your eyesight, but also has the potential to change your whole outlook on life.
To experience freedom from corrective eyewear, contact the London Vision Clinic, a forerunner in revolutionary laser eye surgery. Offering world class surgeons and unmatched results, you can be assured that you will receive optimum eye care from dedicated professionals.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/transforming-your-life-with-laser-eye-surgery-1400223.html
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Lasik surgery is a medical procedure that is carried out by an ophthalmologist. It is used to correct abnormalities on the cornea of the eye such as myopia, astigmatism or hyperopia. These abnormalities usually end up impairing the vision, and are usually resolved by the wearing of corrective eyewear such as glasses or contact lenses.
The procedure is a form of refractive surgery that is frequently referred to as photorefractive keratectomy. The procedure involves the use of a laser and other specialist equipment. The procedure takes around thirty minutes to complete and a patient can expect to be fully healed within a short space of time while suffering absolutely minimal physical pain or discomfort.
After a series of consultations with the surgeon who will be performing the operation, the patient is asked to attend the clinic on the day of surgery itself. In the pre-operation stage the patient will be given a medicine to take that acts as a relaxant. This will be given time to work and the patient will be allowed to relax while the effects take place.
Once ready, the patient is sat in a chair that can recline to a horizontal position. An anaesthetic solution is the dropped into the eye using a pipette.
While the anaesthetic is given time to work, the surgeon will begin by mapping the eye. This is a computer generated process that is carried out by producing a blueprint for the eye that includes higher and lower order aberrations. This allows for the most accurate of surgical procedures and uses a format called Wavefront technology.
This is a more advanced method of the bladed procedure and is appropriately known as bladeless surgery.
The eye itself is kept open by a special instrument called a speculum while the other eye is kept protected with a separate shield. An instrument called a microkeratome will be used if the bladed form of surgery is being employed to cut a small hinged corneal flap on the outer layer of the eye.
In the bladeless form of surgery, a high temperature laser called an intralase will perform this part of the surgery instead.
After the flap has been created, another laser called an excimer is used to remove incredibly precise amounts of corneal tissue that is dictated by the mapping process mentioned earlier.
The amount taken will be enough to correct the abnormal shape and then the surgeon will apply very short bursts of light with the laser to actually reshape the cornea.
Once the cornea has been replaced, the hinged flap on the outer layer of the eye is replaced and the speculum is removed. The flap requires no stitches and will heal itself reasonably quickly.
Although the actual surgical procedure only lasts around 15 minutes, the pre-operative implications mean that the experience will last for around one hour in total.
Patient can go home the same day although they are not allowed to drive themselves, and a follow-up appointment takes place to check on the healing of the eye. Although vision can be blurred for some time afterwards, over 95% of patients are able to see perfectly afterwards.
To learn much more about the precautions of any laser eye treatment, visit AllAboutLaserEyeSurgery.com where you’ll find this and much more, including personal lasik, and other laser eye surgeries.
Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/vision-articles/all-about-lasik-surgery-1087765.html
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