What To Know Concerning Lasik
With excellent breakthroughs in the medical industry issues that were considered to be life-threatening or irreparable can now be addressed and even remedied An example is the professional medical development in the optometry field where treatments such as Lasik can these days correct problems so substantially that spectacles and contact lenses are no longer the only alternate options.
Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis or Lasik as it is commonly referred to is one of the great treatment options available for people suffering with eye conditions. This technique is used to correct problems such as myopia (near-sightedness or short-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness or long-sightedness) and astigmatism (when eye-sight is blurred because the eye’s optics can’t focus).
This very gentle procedure is carried out by eye experts (ophthalmologist) by means of a very specialized laser. Lasik is considered a type of refractive or surgical corrective procedure. One of the major advantages is that individuals recover quite quickly after a Lasik procedure while other surgical eye procedures may need extensive recovery periods.
Incredibly enough the first Lasik procedure was done almost 60 years ago in Columbia. Initially only the thin flaps of the cornea were cut to alter the shape, but as time evolved more technical developments followed. Today the tissue beneath the eyes can be remodelled by means of a laser where after the eye flap will be put in place again so that the eye can heal entirely.
Something that might sound a bit intimidating is the fact that someone receiving Lasik is mobile and alert It’s possible that a light sedative can be taken, but patients need to prepare themselves for the fact that they won’t be totally sedated.
While this is a relatively safe procedure there are still some preoperative precautions that need to be followed. Make sure to discuss this with your eye specialist well in advance. Measures might range from not wearing your contacts for a specific period of time before the surgery to medicine and antibiotics that should be taken to reduce the risk of after-procedure infection and other issues. It is also very important to take anti-biotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops following the procedure. The eye should be allowed time to recuperate properly and it is important to protect against bacterial infections in this time. Protective spectacles are usually used so that patients don’t accidentally rub or scratch their eyes while sleeping and darkened glasses can also offer protection against harsh sunlight. Patients are often advised to sleep (or at least rest) wherever possible. They eye is of course very fragile and needs all the rest and care it can get following such a procedure.
The rate of success of Lasik procedures are incredibly high, with more than 90% of patients content with the result. It is nonetheless vital that you realize that each affected person and condition is unique and it is vital that you go over the treatment as well as any pros and cons with an eye specialist prior to making a decision.
Your eyes should last you a lifetime Make sure that you take proper care of your eyes and have them examined regularly.
Disclaimer: This posting is based on information freely available in the popular press and medical journals. The information given here should not be construed to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice the reader should consult with his or her physician or other medical specialist.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 28th, 2011 at 3:53 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.