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Guest Blog: Lasik Surgery – Do You Need It?

Often called the windows to our soul, eyes are the first thing that almost everyone notices when they meet someone. Whether you are meeting for the first time or have known them for years, your eyes will meet theirs while having a conversation. Besides that, they are one of the basic senses that you need to function properly. This is why the majority of the people take great care of their eyes to maintain their health.

While corrective lenses and glasses have been the norm of treating near or far-sightedness, a more permanent solution has become popular globally. Lasik eye surgery has seen a surge since many doctors and professionals have reported the great success of the procedure.

LASIK Surgery
LASIK or Laser-Assisted in-Situ Keratomileusis is a corrective eye procedure that uses a laser to treat vision problems such as astigmatism, nearsightedness and/or farsightedness. It is administered by ophthalmologists to reduce the patient’s dependency on prescription lenses or glasses.

It involves the surgeon creating a flap in the cornea with a laser to raise and then fix it through reshaping. There are different techniques and detailed procedures that are used to treat specific vision problems.

It is one of the most famous eye surgeries performed across the world among the various types of refractive surgeries. Its popularity is credited to its list of accolades and successful cases. In fact, the majority of the patients who receive the surgery have successfully achieved a 20/25 or better vision.

While it is a famous treatment choice among many patients with vision-related problems, it is still not applicable to everyone. There are certain requirements that make you eligible for the surgery. As for the ones who can’t get the procedure, there are only very few exceptional cases who are rejected for the LASIK procedure.

The following few points will help you decide if you are a candidate for the surgery and if you should start asking about how much LASIK surgery costs.

AGE
Your age is an important consideration when determining your eligibility for the LASIK procedure. Usually, if you have a good ocular health overall and are in the age range of 18-65, you are eligible for the corrective eye surgery. But remember that the case for you might be different depending on various other factors. For example, there are certain instances where kids under 18 can receive the surgery. It is better that you ask a surgeon to evaluate your ocular health and make a more informed decision.

Your Ocular Health
Ocular health or general state of your eyes will greatly impact the decision of your eligibility for LASIK. According to Mayo Clinic, patients with low to moderate level of refractive vision problems with no other vision errors are best suited for LASIK. Any disease that holds the potential to get worse as a result of the surgery will eliminate your chances of getting LASIK. These diseases include cataracts, large pupils, glaucoma, lid disorders, keratitis, uveitis and a few others.

Your Overall Health
Besides particularly ocular health, your overall health also impacts your chances of being eligible for LASIK. There are certain medical conditions that might have negative impacts on your eyes if you get LASIK. These diseases include diabetes, severe depression, certain chronic pain conditions and disorders related to the immune system that makes you prone to infections like lupus, HIV, arthritis among other autoimmune diseases.

While these might be able to give you a general idea about what you need to be eligible for the LASIK surgery, but it is better that you get a professional evaluation.

Guest Blog: 7 Reasons Why You Should Go Ahead with LASIK Eye Surgery

Tired of using eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct poor vision? Maybe it is time for you to consider LASIK surgery. However, many people are hesitant and scared to go ahead with the surgery for different reasons. Some are afraid of staying awake during the surgery while others fear pain or discomfort.
Here are 7 reasons why you must book that surgery instead of letting fear get in the way.

1. Simple and Quick Procedure

LASIK eye surgery is a simple procedure where you do not need general anesthesia. The entire process is extremely quick and the surgery is completed in a matter of minutes. Typically, it takes around 5 to 10 minutes per eye, after which you may return home to begin the recovery.

You may experience hazy or blurred vision immediately following the procedure but you need not worry about that. It is normal and you should begin to experience clearer vision within hours after the surgery.

2. Painless Surgery

Does LASIK eye surgery hurt? No, it does not. The entire procedure is completely painless. The surgeon will numb your eyes using eye drops, after which you will not feel a thing.

However, if the idea of staying conscious during the surgery makes you anxious, you can ask the doctor for a sedative to calm your nerves.

3. QuickRecovery

LASIK surgery recovery can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. There is a chance that you may experience dry eyes and sensitivity to light. However, these symptoms do not last long and the recovery period is minimal. Most patients notice that their vision improves almost immediately.

4. Gives Immediate Results

Most patients experience a 20/20 vision almost immediately after the surgery. Rest the eyes for a little time after the surgery, take a nap and you will wake up with almost a clear vision.

5. Minimum Pain or Discomfort

You won’t feel any discomfort due to the eye drops that anesthetize the eyes. It is normal to be concerned about complications that may arise due to blinking or moving the eye during the surgery. However, the numbing eye drops will decrease the natural urge to blink.

The surgeon uses aneye lid separator as well to prevent you from blinking. He then uses the laser to create a corneal flap on the eye. As scary as that sounds, in reality there is little to no pain and discomfort during the process.

You might experience mild irritation after the procedure for the first 4 to 6 hours.

6. No Complications

You may worry about losing your eyesight completely due to the surgery. However, according to FDA data, there are zero cases of blindness resulting from the surgery.
Even the occurrence of complications after the surgery is very rare. If they do occur, they can be resolved easily with medication or another treatment.

7. Experienced Surgeons and Latest Technology

Only the most experienced LASIK surgeons carry out this process. They take the time to discuss the case with each patient before the surgery. They welcome questions and put the patients at ease by answering all the questions.
During the corrective eye surgery, the doctors use the latest technology. They use a LASIK eye tracker that constantly measures where the eye is. The tracker uses infra-red cameras to track eye movement during the procedure at a rate of 200-500 frames per second. This ensures that the laser treatment is precise.

Final Words

As you can see, the procedure is rather painless and barely takes 20 minutes. In just a few minutes, you can enjoy clear vision and say goodbye to your glasses and contact lenses.

Author Bio:

Aaron Barriga is the online marketing manager for Insight Vision Center. With a knack for understanding medical procedures, and an interest in eye and vision health, Aaron loves to share what he knows and what he learns. He blogs to inform readers about the latest eye care technology and other topics related to eye care, especially LASIK. Aaron loves collecting coasters from the different bars and restaurants he visits during his travels.