Lasic Eye Surgery Information Guide

Immediately after the procedure, your eye may burn, itch, or feel like there is something in it. You may experience some discomfort, or in some cases, mild pain and your doctor may suggest you take a mild pain reliever. Both your eyes may tear or water. Your vision will probably be hazy or blurry. You will instinctively want to rub your eye, but don’t. Rubbing your eye could dislodge the flap, requiring further treatment. In addition, you may experience sensitivity to light, glare, starbursts or haloes around lights, or the whites of your eye may look red or bloodshot. These symptoms should improve considerably within the first few days after surgery. You should plan on taking a few days off from work until these symptoms subside. You should contact your doctor immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit, if you experience severe pain, or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better.

You should see your doctor within the first 24 to 48 hours after surgery and at regular intervals after that for at least the first six months. At the first postoperative visit, your doctor will remove the eye shield, test your vision, and examine your eye. Your doctor may give you one or more types of eye drops to take at home to help prevent infection and/or inflammation. You may also be advised to use artificial tears to help lubricate the eye. Do not resume wearing a contact lens in the operated eye, even if your vision is blurry.

What to expect after surgery?

You should wait one to three days following surgery before beginning any non-contact sports, depending on the amount of activity required, how you feel, and your doctor’s instructions.

To help prevent infection, you may need to wait for up to two weeks after surgery or until your doctor advises you otherwise before using lotions, creams, or make-up around the eye. Your doctor may advise you to continue scrubbing your eyelashes for a period of time after surgery. You should also avoid swimming and using hot tubs or whirlpools for 1-2 months.

Strenuous contact sports such as boxing, football, karate, etc. should not be attempted for at least four weeks after surgery. It is important to protect your eyes from anything that might get in them and from being hit or bumped. During the first few months after surgery, your vision may fluctuate

· It may take up to three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery.

· Glare, haloes, difficulty driving at night, and other visual symptoms may also persist during this stabilization period. If further correction or enhancement is necessary, you should wait until your eye measurements are consistent for two consecutive visits at least 3 months apart before re-operation.

· It is important to realize that although distance vision may improve after re-operation, it is unlikely that other visual symptoms such as glare or haloes will improve.

· It is also important to note that no laser company has presented enough evidence for the FDA to make conclusions about the safety or effectiveness of enhancement surgery.

Contact your eye doctor immediately, if you develop any new, unusual or worsening symptoms at any point after surgery. Such symptoms could signal a problem that, if not treated early enough, may lead to a loss of vision.

Patients who are considering undergoing Lasic eye surgery to correct their vision should research the procedure and local surgeons with great care. Such patients will find the following LASIC surgery statistics beneficial to their search.

More than one million patients undergo the LASIC procedure in the United States each year. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reports that LASIK eye surgery complications occur in 1 to 5 percent of cases. According to the FDA’s LASIC surgery statistics:

· Glare and sensitivity to light affect 1.7 percent of LASIC patients.

· Visual fluctuations occur in 2.6 percent of LASIK patients.

· Halos around light sources are experienced by 3.5 percent of patients.

· About 3 percent of patients report vision worse than before LASIC.

Talk to your local surgeon about his or her personal LASIC surgery statistics and typical results for patients. Laser eye surgery complications, statistics, and results do vary among surgeons so it is important to discuss your surgeon’s experience in the field.

Source - http://www.docshop.com

Wavefront Lasic Eye Surgery

Wavefront lasik eye surgery is a very popular form of vision correction operation done today by many experienced lasic surgeons.  Originally approved by the Federal Drug and Food Administration in 2002, the procedure uses a very sophisticated computer system to map out the entire outer and inner eye of the patient.  It is different from standard lasik operations because wavefront lasic eye surgery requires a highly skilled surgeon to complete the procedure successfully for real results.

A computer system reveals a three dimensional imaging of the whole eye, particularly the corneal flap and cornea region of the inner eye.  The surgeon then receives a large amount of detailed information of the patient’s eye to help them gauge and guide the incision points.  He or she will be able to locate the exact problems and refraction points of the eyes that needs fixing.

The lasers will then be targeted to those particular areas.  The doctor uses this whole mapping process as an aid for accuracy.  The doctor can also identify any additional problems with the eye.  The whole operation is diagnostic in nature as well.The laser is then aimed directly onto the cornea and eye with this process.  The lights from the lasers then passes through the eye for refraction.

This is all done after the surgeon takes essential data and computes it into a single formula that will be used to help the patient achieve better vision.  The outcome is usually perfect vision.  Patients undergoing this process will be able to get 20/20 vision.  Their vision will be restored fully.  In some cases, vision may be better than 20/20.  This type of operation also reduces the chances of long term complications and risks like blurriness, dry eyes, red eyes, and halos.  Side effects are common in some patients with regular lasic.  Wavefront lasik eye surgery reduces the onset of certain side effects in most people.

Lasic Finacing

With LASIC costing a few thousand dollars per eye,having laser eye surgery may sometimes seem more of a financial decision than a medical or lifestyle choice. However, financing options mean that cost need not be a reason to avoid LASICWith a little research, you may be able to find an affordable way to pay for the LASIK procedure even if you are concerned about cost. Payments typically range from $127 to $420 monthly, depending on the type of financing plan you choose.Options for managing LASIC surgery costs include finding a healthcare financing company that suits your needs, financing the procedure through a LASIK surgeon or using a flexible spending account (FSA).With these options, you can reduce the substantial upfront cost of LASIK into more affordable monthly payments.

Paying for LASIK Through Finance Companies

First you should make sure the LASIK surgeon you plan to use approves of the financing company. Because not all LASIK surgeons will work with all financing companies, you might consider asking for a list of approved financing companies before you apply for a loan.

Companies that provide LASIC financing offer a range of plans in which you can complete payments within three months, or extend monthly payments for as long as five years. Some companies allow you to spread out payments over time without incurring any extra cost.

Some short-term payment plans charge no interest at all. For longer term payments, interest rates can vary greatly and range as high as 22.99 percent. A deposit also may be required. Interest rates and deposits depend on personal credit ratings and the LASIC financing company used.

LASIC Financing Through Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are a tax-free way to save for LASIC. With an FSA, you can use pre-tax income to pay for medical-related costs. You create an interest-free LASIK financing program for yourself by taking a portion of your salary each month and depositing it into a tax-free FSA account.

When you are ready for your LASIC procedure, the money is available for your use and you don’t need to worry about paying interest on a loan. However, this option is available only through employer-sponsored benefit programs.

Lasic Benefits

Most patients are extremely pleased with their LASIC results. LASIC eye surgery benefits include improved visual activity, freedom from corrective eyewear, and possibly new career opportunities. Patients who achieve a successful LASIC outcome can eliminate their need for glasses or contact lenses, and enjoy the freedom of clear vision at all times. Patients can play sports, swim, spend a day at the beach, and participate in various activities without the restrictions that glasses and contacts bring. LASIC eye surgery is a safe and effective treatment that has continued to gain popularity among patients.

In addition to the convenience of hassle-free eyesight, LASIC eye surgery patients can also use the surgery as a means to open up career opportunities that were once off-limits for those with poor vision. Some of these career paths include becoming a military or commercial airline pilot. Military servicemen are also able to extend their careers beyond the normal timeframe when they are approved for LASIK eye surgery.

Whatever your motivation is for getting LASIK eye surgery, the results are sure to greatly improve your vision and your quality of life.

Many patients considering refractive surgery are interested in comparing the advantages of laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (LASIC) over excimer laser surgery (PRK) alone. In PRK, the surface remodeling, with the laser, of the corneal epithelium (front surface layer) can cause significant corneal compromise. In LASIC, the corneal epithelium remains intact. This results in a much faster recovery, a smoother corneal surface and better optical quality. The LASIC procedure also has a reduced risk of infection with less need for potentially hazardous prophylactic steroids. In addition, LASIK has a much greater range of vision correction.

Lasik Surgery Cost

“Lasic surgery costs could be as low as $400 an eye”. This kind of statement sometimes provides the basis for a patient’s expectations about their about their Lasik surgery affordability and payment plans for Lasik surgery costs, however often the final total is significantly more than expected.

Several factors contribute to the real costs for Lasik surgery. Do you have astigmatism? Do your eyes require additional correction? Also the cost of the examinations and duration of post-surgical treatments can raise the final costs of Lasic surgery costs. How many follow up visits are covered? Many surgeons charge based upon their own experience and expertise, accounting for wide fluctuations in refractive surgery costs between different practitioners. Many practitioners will have a flat fee and if you are quoted a rate per eye, you should find out exactly what that means and is there any possibility for extras. Patients have been taken by surprise.

Depending on the type of procedure being performed, LASIC usually costs between $2,000 to $5,000. Various laser centers will differ in cost, but not quite as much as the public thinks. Many of the lower fees quoted are simply bait and switch techniques, or they may be using an older, outdated laser.

Costs also vary depending on the surgeon performing the procedure. Keep in mind that the LASIC surgeon is the most important factor in your surgery outcome. (Your choice of surgeon should not be based on cost.) Experienced eye surgeons well-known in the LASIK community will generally be more expensive than lesser-known surgeons.

Although most insurance companies consider LASIC to be an elective treatment and do not cover the procedure, many surgeons offer no-interest financing to help with the cost. LASIC financing is sometimes available if you can’t afford to make the full price up front. Financing will allow you to break the total cost into smaller monthly payments according to your personal budget. If you need help financing the cost of LASIC, consider the following sources:

· Care Credit: CareCredit offers short-term, no-interest financing plans and low-interest, extended-payment plans.

· Capital One Healthcare Finance:Capital One Healthcare Finance provides patients with financing to cover the cost of laser eye surgery procedures, including LASIK. Capital One offers fixed interest rates, in addition to interest-free loans for qualified applicants.

Another option for financing LASIK is to use a flexible spending account (FSA). With FSAs, you can save for LASIK in a tax-free way: you can use pre-tax income to pay for medical expenses. By depositing a portion of your salary into a tax-free account, you will have an interest-free LASIK funding program.

Cost of LASIK by Region

Many patients are curious if the cost of LASIK varies by region, and to some extent it does. Patients will encounter a higher LASIK eye surgery price in larger or more metropolitan cities, where doctors are trying to stay ahead of their competition by utilizing the latest laser technology. However, despite these influences, the average price of LASIC eye surgery in the United States remains relatively consistent from region to region.

LASIK Cost Breakdown

The cost of LASIC eye surgery may or may not include any of the following:

· Royalties owed to laser manufacturers.

· Purchase and maintenance of surgical and technical equipment.

· Surgical gowns, gloves, masks, and other sterile and disposable materials.

· Medications used before, during, and after surgery, including anesthesia, eye drops, and oral pain medications.

· Rent for surgical and office facilities.

· Surgical and office staff salaries.

· Advertising fees.

· Pre- and post-operative evaluations for up to one year after surgery.

· Post-surgical enhancement, if needed.

Since many of these LASIC eye surgery price quotes are variable according to office location, the technology employed, and other factors specific to each surgeon, it is important for prospective patients to fully research what they are paying for when they have LASIK laser eye surgery. Be sure to ask surgeons to clearly outline what is and what is not included in their prices for LASIC before agreeing to any payment plans or methods.

Average LASIC Costs

· $2,140 for all laser-based vision correction procedures (including LASIK) in which a single price is quoted.

· $1,748 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) andexcimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.

· $2,314 for wavefront-guided LASIK using a laser-created flap.

LASIC Prices

LASIC prices, after rising for several years, seemed to stabilize from 2006 to 2009. Industry sources report that the average LASIC price in late 2006 was about $1,950. In 2007, LASIC and laser-based procedures charged at a single price (no extra charges added on for new technologies) cost an average of $2,099. And at prices reported in 2008, the average rose only slightly, to $2,105. The average LASIC price reported in 2009 was $2,140 (see charts below).

In comparison, LASIC in 2002 was $1,550-$1,600; by October 2003 it had risen to $1,710; at the end of 2004, it was a little over $1,800; and in 2005 it was $1,965. These averages take into account procedures performed at surgeon-owned laser centers, institutions, and corporate laser centers. Also, keep in mind that earlier prices do not reflect new technologies of wavefront analysis and laser-created flaps, which have been adopted for widespread use only in recent years.

Source - http://www.allaboutvision.com

Lasic Risks

Most prospective surgical patients are aware that any surgery has inherent risks. LASIC eye surgery carries risks, as well. Though rare (occurring in about 1 to 5 percent of cases), some patients do experience laser eye surgery complications. To learn more about the potential complications of LASIK surgery, please read the page below.

Over/Undercorrection

With LASIC eye surgery, overcorrection and undercorrection are both possible. These and other potential laser eye surgery complications can usually be attributed to the fact that corneas can vary greatly from patient to patient, in terms of water content, healing ability, and other variables that are beyond the control of the surgeon. While extreme cases of over- or undercorrection may necessitate further treatment, mild cases can be effectively addressed by wearing glasses when necessary.

Infection

As with any surgery, a risk of infection is possible with LASIK. If left untreated, eye infections can result in scarring on the cornea or significant and permanent loss of vision. However, eye infections from LASIK surgery are very rare. Antibiotic eye drops are normally prescribed after surgery to prevent infections, and patients should schedule regular post-operative visits to make sure eyes heal properly. If an eye infection does develop after your LASIK treatment, your surgeon will discuss treatment options with you.

Flap Wrinkles

Small folds in the corneal flap are among the most common complications of LASIK surgery, but the surgeon can easily identify and remove them. Also, within the first few hours following surgery, wrinkles can form in the corneal flap if the patient tightly shuts the eye. The surgeon can fix this by re-laying the corneal flap to smooth out any wrinkles. However, flap wrinkles are a rare laser eye surgery complication and occur in less than 1 percent of cases.

Central Corneal Islands

Central corneal islands are small areas of raised tissue that show up on the cornea when the laser used during surgery does not remove tissue uniformly. This type of complication occurs in less than 1 percent of LASIC cases, and can usually resolve itself after a few months. If central islands persist, the surgeon may prescribe contact lenses to smooth out the cornea surface or a laser touchup if necessary.

Epithelial Ingrowths

Another LASIK risk occurs when cells from the corneal epithelium start growing under the corneal flap. In some cases, this epithelial ingrowth will stop growing, die, and be absorbed into the cornea. But if the epithelial cells continue to grow, they can significantly affect vision. To treat this, the surgeon must lift the LASIC flap and remove the ingrown cells. However, this eye complication happens in less than 1 percent of LASIC cases.

Corneal Ecstasia

Lasic Complications

Corneal ectasia refers to a weakened cornea that may bulge out months after LASIK surgery. This occurs when the surgeon makes too deep an incision during the flap creation process or removes too much corneal tissue during surgery. Ectasia can only be treated with a corneal transplant. If left untreated, the patient may have a recurrence of nearsightedness or astigmatism. This LASIK complication is rare and can be prevented if the thickness of a patient’s cornea is measured prior to surgery.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is a post-operative LASIK risk that occurs when foreign bodies become trapped behind the corneal flap. Patients with DLK may experience pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or the sensation that there is something trapped in their eye. Some patients experience no symptoms at all, but DLK can be detected during follow-up examinations after surgery. Symptoms typically present themselves within a week of LASIC surgery, but DLK complications have been known to occur even years after surgery if patients experience corneal trauma. Patients who experience any sort of eye trauma should be evaluated by an eye care professional. Though DLK is one of the more dangerous post- LASIC risks, it is easily treatable with topical and oral medication when caught in its earlier stages.

Astigmatism

In rare instances of laser eye surgery complications, a patient’s cornea can permanently warp as a result of scarring. This may lead to astigmatism and an inability to use traditional contact lenses. Astigmatism after LASIC surgery, known as induced astigmatism, may cause blurred or distorted vision. Patients who encounter astigmatism as a result of LASIK usually must continue to use corrective eyeglasses.

Lasic Steps

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is not the only kind of operation. There are several types of laser refractive surgery for the purpose of reducing dependence on, or eliminating the need for glasses and or contact lenses. If you are considering corrective eye surgery, you should understand the different types of corrective eye surgery options available. Radial Keratotomy or RK and Photorefractive Keratectomy or PRK and thermokeratoplasty for example are other refractive surgeries available to reshape the cornea. Lets review each variation of treatment and laser refractive surgery.

There are several variations of Refractive Eye Surgery used to correct the shape of the cornea, required because the eye is not perfectly contoured causing the image on the retina to be out-of-focus or distorted. Such imperfections in the focusing ability of the eyes are called refractive errors. The most common types of refractive errors are, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Myopia (called nearsightedness) causes difficulty seeing distant objects as clearly as close objects. Hyperopia (called farsightedness) causes difficulty seeing close objects as clearly as more distant objects. Patients with Astigmatism have distortion of the image caused by irregularities in the shape of cornea. Many patients can have a combination of these three conditions. In addition to contact lenses or specticles, surgical procedures called refractive surgery are becoming more and more common to improving the focus of the eyes.

LASIK is the the acronym for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a surgical procedure that permanently changes the shape of the clear covering of the front of the eye called the cornea. Surgery is performed using an excimer laser. A knife, known as a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea leaving a hinge at one end of this flap. When folded back the flap reveals the middlesection of the cornea known as the stroma. Pulses from the computer controlled laser vaporize a predetermined section of the stroma before the flap is replaced. This process reshapes the cornea changing its focusing power.

Excimer Laser Procedures

Excimer Laser Procedures include those where an eximer laser is used to reshape the clear part of the eye covering the iris and pupil called the cornea to change it focusing abilities.

Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) treats myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. The surgeon cuts a flap in the cornea’s middle layer consisting of lamellae and cells, known as the stroma which makes up the largets portion of the cornea. Next the surgeon uses an instrument that uses short wave (ultraviolet)light (an excimer laser)to vaporize and remove tissue particles.

Epi-LASIK is similar to LASEK in that the flap is cut only in the epithelium, but the surgeon uses neither a blade nor alcohol. Instead, the surgeon uses an epikeratome, which is a separator that creates an epithelial sheet. Because no alcohol is involved, patients are likely to feel less pain than in alcohol procedures and will generally heal faster. For people with less steep corneas from low myopia.

ALL LASER LASIK differs from LASIK surgery in that an additional laser is used instead of a microkeratome to create the flap in the epithelium.

Non-Excimer Laser Procedures

Lasic Procedures

Non-laser refractive procedures include reshaping the eye with low heat radio waves, inserting artificial lenses into the eye, or cutting into the eye’s surface.

Astigmatic Keratotomy (AK) is used to treat mild astigmatism. The surgeon cuts the cornea in those areas that are too bulgy, to flatten them to a more normal curve. Many patients undergo Astigmatic Keratotomy in addition to other corrective eye surgery, although some excimer lasers can now correct astigmatism in procedures such as LASIK and PRK making this less common. In a version of AK known as Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI), the surgeon cuts the area connecting the cornea and sclera where the white and colored areas of the eye meet to allow the cornea to heal to a more become more rounded shape.

Conductive Keratoplasty (CK). This proceedure uses heat from radio waves to shrink collagen in the periphery of the cornea. The process steepens the cornea overall to correct farsightedness or presbyopia.

Scleral Expansion Bands (SEBs) These bands are implantation devices to treat presbyopia. The surgeon places four segments just below the surface of the outer coat of the eyeball that forms the visible white of the eye and surrounds the optic nerve at the back of the eyeball.

Intacs are plastic inserts that are used to correct degeneration and thinning of the cornea resulting in a cone-shaped bulge. The surgeon places the segments in the cornea to flatten it. The segments, though designed to be permanent, can be removed if necessary.

Lasic Eye Surgery

LASIK - Laser Vision Correction is now turning dreams of clear vision into a reality for men and women from all walks of life around the world. Using the “cool” light of the Excimer laser, this exciting, life changing procedure takes only minutes to perform and can reduce or eliminate a lifetime of dependence on glasses and contact lenses.

Today there are many techniques to correct myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism. The most common technique is known as LASIK (Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileussis). LASIK is the fastest growing procedure in ophthalmology and in many cases eliminates or diminishes the need to wear eyeglasses or contact lens. This procedure surgically alters the cornea to correct refractive errors.

In order for the eye to focus light clearly on the retina, the cornea (outer window of the eye), must be of the proper curvature. Using a “cool” light beam from the Excimer laser, very minute quantities of corneal issue are removed, predictably altering the shape of the cornea and in turn correcting the refractive error.

Both eyes may be completed on the same day on an out-patient basis and the entire procedure only takes about 15 to 20 minutes per eye.