How to Decide on Laser Eye Surgery

Pros and Cons of Lasik Corrective Procedures for Eyes

Sep 2, 2009

Corrective Eye Surgery Helps Thousands Each Year, limegreetwallet

The prospect of perfect vision is a dream for many short-sighted people, which Lasik corrective eye surgery has made possible. However, there are side-effects to consider

For those who have to fiddle with contact lenses or fumble around looking for their glasses throughout the day, it is an appealing prospect to think of waking up each morning to perfect vision.

How Does Lasik Eye Surgery Work?

Lasik eye surgery (Laser In-situ Keratomileusis) is a procedure whereby an ophthalmologist carefully peels back the cornea surface to operate underneath and then returns the cornea to its original place. Laser eye surgery works by realigning the cornea with the retina.

The cornea is the clear part of the eye that refracts and focuses light. The retina is the tissue lining the inside of the eye that absorbs images and transmits them through the optic nerve.

During the surgery the procedure is as follows:

The patient is positioned in a reclining chair and anesthetic drops placed in the eye to numb the area,
A lid speculum is put over the eyes to keep the eyelids open,
A ring is placed right on the eyeball and suction is then applied around the cornea,
The surgeon uses a microkeratome (surgical knife) to create a thin, circular flap in the cornea equal to about ¼ its depth,
The microkeratome and ring are removed and the patient is asked to stare at a light to keep the eye focused on a fixed object,
The pre-programmed laser then cuts corneal tissue, thereby reshaping it. After the cornea has been re-shaped, the flap is replaced where it quickly conforms to the newly shaped cornea,
The flap will heal over the next few days and vision should clear.

Post operative care includes not driving, avoiding contact sports or anything else that could damage the eyes during the healing phase.

Pros of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery

For those who suffer no side-effects, laser surgery is a positive and life-enhancing experience. Eye sight improves immediately for those with low to moderate degrees of myopia (short-sightedness), low to moderate degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism associated with myopia.

The recovery time of Lasik eye surgery is fast and results are immediate.

Cons of Lasik Laser Eye Surgery

The procedure remains expensive, expect to pay around $2,100 for all laser-based vision correction procedure (per eye).

No surgery is risk free. According to the “Review of Optometry” journal, up to one in six people who undergo laser surgery end up with complications that affect their eyesight, such as distorted vision.

Dry Eye Syndrome - Patients who suffer from dry eye usually have the symptoms for around two months following surgery. However, for some people, the condition does not improve and they need to take artificial tears for the rest of their lives.

There is a chance that the cornea may become infected, delaying the healing process.

There is a risk of under-correction or over-correction, in some cases a second procedure is necessary.

If the patient's eye condition is incorrectly diagnosed, he or she might develop permanent debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, halos, or double vision after the operation.

Who Should Not Consider Laser Eye Surgery?

The Lasik procedure is not recommended for people who:

are under 18,
pregnant,
have a history of eye disease including optic nerve damage, cataracts or problems with the cornea or anyone with extremely large pupils (bigger than 7mm can cause problems with Lasik),
have very thin corneas,
have diabetes, autoimmune disorders or glaucoma.

An ophthalmologist will complete a full check up to ensure that the patient's eye health is in good condition before undergoing laser eye surgery.

Sources:

1. "How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?" Tim Gorman, Ezine, 2 September 2009

2. "Cost of Lasik and Other Corrective Eye Surgery",Liz Segre, www.AllAboutVision, 2 September 2009