Sunday, November 21, 2010

A Better Understanding of Houston Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery is a procedure that was designed to reduce a patient’s overall dependency on corrective lenses. Many patients undergo this procedure every year with many positive results. Finding a surgeon for Houston Lasik eye surgery is not difficult but there are certain things that you will need to keep in mind when determining whether or not this procedure is best for you. You should understand the overall basics of Lasik surgery. Lasik is actually an acronym that stands for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a procedure that changes the shape of the patient’s cornea which is the clear covering of the eye. The cornea is reshaped using an excimer laser.


During the procedure a bladed device or a laser device is used to cut into the cornea and create a flap. On one end of the flap a hinge is created. The flap is the folder back to reveal the middle of the cornea called the stroma. Pulses created by a computer controlled laser device then vaporizes a portion of the stroma and the surgeon then replaces the flap. This is the procedure that is most commonly referred to as Lasik surgery and what most patients will undergo when option for this surgery for vision enhancement.


A better understanding of Lasik surgery will help you to determine whether or not the procedure is a good fit for you. You can speak with your eye care specialist about the pros and cons of the procedure and whether this surgery will help to improve your eyesight.


 

Sunday, November 14, 2010

General Factors Affecting Laser Eye Surgery Cost

You may find that there is a wide range of costs related to laser eye surgery. Determining exactly what your own surgery will cost depends on several factors such as the specific surgeon that you choose, the type of equipment that he or she uses and the time that your procedure takes. Other factors are also considered when determining laser eye surgery cost so you will need to check with your own surgeon to get an estimate. Generally, the cost of laser surgery varies from just under $1,000 to more than $3,000 for each eye. When you begin comparing prices you need to compare what specifically is included in the cost.


Speak with the surgeon who will do your laser surgery. The actual surgeon’s feel will depend on the expertise of the surgeon and how long they have been doing the procedure. The equipment costs range widely from area to area. Eye care centers that have the latest and most up to date equipment will likely be a bit higher in cost than those that use less expensive equipment. Find out what technology is used at your eye care center. Your cost will also be affected by your specific prescription. The worse your vision is the longer the procedure will take which will in turn affect the overall cost for the procedure.


Talk with your eye care specialist or surgeon when you plan your procedure. They can tell you what specific factors are calculated into the cost and a rough estimate of what you will be paying for your laser surgery.


 

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Pros and Cons of Intacts and What You Should Know Before Surgery

Intacts are corneal implants that are used to correct vision. They are used to correct astigmatism and nearsightedness that are associated with keratoconus. This is a degenerative eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and protrude in a cone shaped manner. As the disease becomes worse, the quality of vision will significantly deteriorate. Contact lenses are often not effective in clearing up vision for patients with the disease and may in fact become too uncomfortable to wear as the disease continues to progress.  The only options at this point are to continue to have poor vision or to opt for corneal implants or intacts.


Intacts are surgically inserted into the cornea and help to improve eye strength and reduce the cone. As with any Lasik surgery procedure there are pros and cons to receiving intact implants. Many patients feel discomfort for a few days after the procedure and may also notice a vision fluctuation for several weeks afterward as well. Most patients who receive intacts however, feel that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. The pros of intact implants are that the surgery is completely reversible should the patient need this option in the future. In addition, most patients find the intacts to be much more comfortable than traditional contact lenses and their vision highly improved after the procedure.


Whether or not intacts are right for you will depend on several factors. You should discuss this option with your eye care specialist to determine if Intacts can provide advantages to you and correct your vision.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Understanding the Visian Eye Surgery Procedure

If you are planning to have visian eye surgery done you may have many questions. Generally speaking this is the safest and most effective of all eye surgeries today. The procedure is completely reversible because it involves implanting a contact lens behind the patient’s iris. The success rate is nearly 99 percent and the entire procedure takes only around fifteen to thirty minutes for each eye. Before you decide on having the procedure done you will need to speak with your eye care professional and inquire about your candidacy for Visian surgery. Your eye doctor can help to determine if the procedure is right for you.


If your Houston eye doctor agrees then you will be given an appointment for the procedure. Before the surgery you should be given drops of a local anesthetic. This will numb your eyes. A sedative may also be administered in order to help you to relax through the procedure. Again, the procedure itself takes only about fifteen minutes from start to finish for each eye so you should be in and out of the operating room within a half an hour or so. Your surgeon will provide antibiotic eye drops that also help to ward off inflammation after the procedure.


Visian eye surgery is an outpatient procedure so you will be permitted to leave shortly after the procedure. You will need someone to drive you home and expect to take it easy for the rest of the day after your surgery. Most patients are completely back to normal within just a few hours of the procedure.


 

Friday, October 22, 2010

Understanding the Problem behind Low Lasik Eye Surgery Cost

If you have done any research at all on Lasik eye surgery cost then you will know that there are widely varying differences in cost for different eye care centers. The thing that you need to understand about these differences is that not all cost quotes will include all of the services that you need for the procedure. The average cost for Lasik surgery is around $2,000 per eye. While the actual cost may be a bit higher or lower, this is the median starting point. If you have been quoted a price that is significantly lower than this then you need to check with the eye care center to see just what services are actually included in your price.


You may find that the price you were quoted only covers the surgeon’s fee or may cover the other services such as facility fee and not cover the fee from the surgeon. There are many people who make appointments for Lasik surgery because they believe that they are getting a really good deal, only to learn when they show up for the procedure that the cost is nearly tripled what they were quoted. This is where it becomes very important that you use only a reputable eye care center for this procedure.


Wherever you decide to have your Lasik procedure done, be sure that you check all of the fine print and terms and conditions of the procedure to ensure that there are no hidden costs that you will incur.


 


 

Friday, October 15, 2010

The Benefits of Lens Implants

Correcting your vision is something that really needs to be done whether you prefer glasses, contacts, Lasik surgery or lens implants. Many patients are beginning to realize the benefits that implanted lenses have and this procedure is becoming more and more popular. Those who suffer from dry eyes may find contact lenses very uncomfortable and may not be good candidates for Lasik surgery. Implants however, can help those patients to have perfect vision without the worries that are normally evident with extreme dry eyes. The implant is not noticeable because it is inserted behind the iris. No one will even know that you have the implants.


Another benefit of lens implants is that they stay put. While contact lenses may shift around on the eyes and glasses are simply not an option for overly active people, lens implants are very secure and much more convenient for those who are really active. They do not require the daily maintenance that traditional contact lenses require and the recovery time for lens implant surgery is fast. This procedure is much less invasive than Lasik as they eye itself remains fully intact. None of the tissue within the eye is removed and the overall shape of the cornea does not chance.


Lens implants are simply a much better option for those who are not qualified for Lasik or who prefer not to wear glasses and/or contact lenses. The surgery is completely reversible and the lens itself is comfortable and is typically not noticed by the wearer. Read more about lens implants.


 

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

What Should You Expect After Your Houston Lasik Eye Surgery

Many people today are choosing Houston Lasik eye surgery for their vision correction. Over the years the procedure has changed dramatically and today the after effects of the surgery are much improved over what they were just a few years ago. There are still chances of experiencing side effects from Lasik, although the reports of these effects are few and far between. Side effects from the procedure include scratchiness in the eye as well as dryness, sensitivity to light, pain and mild discomfort and blurry vision. You may also experience red or pink blotches in the white part of the eye.


Again, these side effects are very rare. Most patients have no adverse effects whatsoever after having the Lasik procedure performed. In order to reduce the risk of serious side effects and to help your eyes to heal more quickly, your surgeon will have a list of things for you to do and things for you to avoid after your Lasik surgery. He or she may ask that you wear a transparent eye patch for a few days after the procedure. You will need to revisit your surgeon within 24 to 48 hours after the procedure in order to have the patch removed.


You will also be given instructions to contact your surgeon if you experience symptoms of discomfort such as blurry vision or burning and itching in the eyes. Your surgeon will likely give you a more detailed list of side effects and instructions on what to do if you experience them.


Read more about Houston Lasik eye surgery