Great Laser Eye Surgery Links

For More Information, Start with These Sources:

The FDA's site on Laser Eye Surgery is a good starting point for learning more about laser eye surgery.   http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/LASIK/default.htm.

The Eye Surgery Education Council has one of the best most informative sites covering the ins and outs of laser eye surgery, with a strong emphasis on the popular Lasik procedure. http://www.eyesurgeryeducation.com/FAQ.html. 

“The Complete Book of Laser Eye Surgery" by Stephen G., M.D. Slade, Richard N. Baker, Dorothy Brockman is also a comprehensive reference work to laser eye surgery and is available on Amazon.

"LASIK: A Guide to Laser Vision Correction" by Ernest Kornmehl also has good suggestions on picking a doctor, as well as other sections on the various aspects of this form of surgery.

MedLine Plus and Mayo Clinic are good, all-purpose net-based medical guides that have useful, informative entries on laser eye surgeries.

Preparing for Laser Eye Surgery

Okay. Let's say you've been referred to a great doctor. You've saved your money and/or picked a great payment plan. Now what? What can you expect? What will the actual procedure be like?

Weeks Before Surgery

Of course, before you have your surgery, you'll have your initial evaluation by your doctor to determine if you're a good candidate for laser eye surgery and to discuss your options. If you wear contacts, it's a good idea to stop wearing them a few weeks before you first go see your doctor. Contacts change the shape of your cornea, and your doctor will have to examine the shape of your cornea to come up with a good surgical plan. Wear your glasses instead in the weeks leading up to your first visit. Stop wearing soft contacts two weeks before your first visit, gas permeable lenses three weeks, and hard lenses four weeks. 

During the visit, be prepared to tell your doctor about your medical history and any allergies you may have. If you're not sure, look it up before you go so you'll have that information on hand and not waste more time. Your doctor will give you a thorough eye exam. She'll also discuss the risks and benefits of the surgery and which of the various corrective surgeries is best suited for your sort of problem. This is also your time to ask any questions you have. Make sure any questions you have are answered before surgery and before signing consent forms.

Picking a Doctor for Laser Eye Surgery

As we said before, they're your eyes so picking a good doctor is important. But how to do it? Although there's not doctor out there who is ever 100 percent perfect, there are a few things to keep in mind that can help you sort the wheat from the chaff.

Be wary of slick advertising. Don't be taken in by a great-looking brochure. A great deal of competition for laser eye surgery patients means a great deal of advertising: newspapers, radios, mailings, you name it. “No interest! No money down! Lowest prices ever!” (Are these your eyes, or a used Honda Civic they're talking about?) Of course, good doctors advertise, too, but an ad should not be your starting (or ending!) point in picking a place to have your procedure done. 

• Be cautious of any doctor or eye center that makes loads of fabulous-sounding promises, without informing you adequately about the risks and drawbacks. “20/20 Vision... Guaranteed!” There are no guarantees in any surgical procedure. And a doctor who doesn't talk with you  about the risks and drawbacks isn't being upfront.

• Get a referral. Your regular ophthalmologist, optometrist or even your general practitioner probably has the names of the best eye surgeons in your area. This is one of your greatest resources. Do not pass it up.

Is Laser Eye Surgery Right For Me?

The American Eye Surgery Education Council, a professional society of ophthalmologists, has developed a list of medically accepted criteria to determine the ideal, less-than-ideal and unsuitable candidates for laser eye surgery.

Here is a chart to help you understand if laser eye surgery is right for you:

Profile

Characteristics

Ideal candidate

Is at least 18 years old Is afflicted by one of the refractive errors (myopia, hyperobia, astigmatism or a combination). The ideal candidate has myopia up to -12 D, astigmatism up to 6 D and hyperopia up to +6 D Has worn glasses or contacts for at least two years In the case of Lasik, has a sufficiently thick cornea for the surgeon to cut a flap Does not suffer from any disease or health condition which would prevent or significantly slow the healing process or complicate surgery Is adequately informed about the risks of laser eye surgery.

Benefits and Risks of Laser Eye Surgery

Benefits

According to the Mayo Clinic, about 85 percent of people who've undergone refractive surgery no longer need to depend on their glasses or contact lenses most of the time. People with a low grade of nearsightedness tend to have the most success, and people with a high degree of farsightedness along with astigmatism have the least predictable results. 

The results you get, of course, will depend on the nature and degree of your vision problems going into surgery and the quality of the work your doctor does.

Risks and Complications

We're all well-acquainted with the touted benefits of corrective surgery, but what about what the ads don't necessarily tell you? What are the risks associated with laser eye surgery? Any surgical procedure carries with it a certain amount of risk, and laser eye surgery is no different.

Some of the risks of undergoing such procedures include:

Types of Laser Eye Surgery

Meet Your Eyes

Before we take a look at laser eye surgery, let's take a good look at those eyes of yours.

One of the most important parts of your eye when it comes to your vision is the cornea. It's the part on the front that helps focus light to create an image on the retina on the back of the eye, which is then sent to and interpreted by the brain. The cornea works a bit like a lens on a camera, bending and focusing light to make a clear image.

The cornea—just like any other part of the human body—is not always perfectly shaped. When the cornea is misshaped, or has what's technically referred to as “refractive errors,” the image that you see will appear blurry or out-of-focus.

There are three types of refractive errors:

• Myopia or near-sightedness in which distant objects are more out of focus than near objects
• Hyperopia or far-sightedness, the opposite of myopia, in which near objects are more out of focus than distant objects
• Astigmatism refers to any other distortion of the cornea, such as bends or warps, which cause imperfect vision.
• A combination of hyperopia and astigmatism or a combination of myopia and astigmatism are not only possible, but very common.

Laser Eye Surgery Overview

Anyone who's ever worn glasses has dreamed of waking up to a perfectly clear view of the world--no contacts, no glasses necessary--just crystal clear vision. That's the dream, and the advertisements for laser eye surgery would have us believe that we can make it a reality (for a not-so-small a fee). But how realistic is this dream? Is it possible for someone with blurry, poor vision to wake up to 20/20 eyesight?

The Trusty Guide to Laser Eye Surgery examines the sometimes confusing world of laser eye surgery. After reading this guide, you’ll have a better idea of your options, what’s right for you, the risks, finding a doctor, and more. Here's a brief summary of the guide:

Question

Answer

What are my options?

Lasik is the most common and involves cutting a hinged flap on the outer rim of your eye and then using a laser to reshape your cornea. Lasek is similar to Lasik, only it involves cutting a much thinner piece of the cornea. It's a good option for people with thin corneas or who for one reason or another can't undergo Lasik. PRK involves a thin layer of the surface of the cornea being taken away and slowly healing in the correct shape. It's older than Lasik, and is often an option for patients with low to moderate vision problems. LTK is a relatively new procedure used to treat farsightedness and astigmatism. The heat of a laser beam is used to shrink and reshape the cornea.

Laser Eye Surgery Quiz

What part of the eye is corrected by laser eye surgery?

Retina
Optic Nerve
Cornea Correct Answer
Rods and Cones

How does LTK differ from other forms of laser eye surgery?

It is a "new age" laser eye surgery
It is the oldest form of laser eye surgery
It uses a "cold" laser
It uses heat to reshape the cornea Correct Answer

Around how much can you expect to pay for laser eye surgery?

Between $200 and $500 per eye
Between $500 and $1000 per eye
Between $1200 and $2600 per eye Correct Answer
Around $5000 per eye

What percent of people who undergo laser eye surgery find they no longer need glasses or contacts?

85% Correct Answer
90%
95%
100%

Which of the following is a risk of laser eye surgery?

Under-treatment
Over-treatment
Infection
All of the above Correct Answer

Which surgical procedure delves deeper into the cornea?

Lasik Correct Answer
Lasek

How long after surgery should you refrain from contact sports?

One week
Three weeks Correct Answer
Six weeks
Six months

What's one of the best ways of finding a good eye surgeon?

Look for the lowest price
Closest to your house
Yellow pages
Get a referral from a doctor you know Correct Answer