For Your Eyes Only !
No More Glasses, No More Contact Lenses !
by Babette Boiser-Orlich RN
Imagine being able to work, drive, read the clock, play sports, ride
horseback, or do just about anything
without always having to reach for your glasses or contacts!!! A new eye
treatment called LASIK (Laser-in-
sity keratomileus) could make this a reality for you. The result can be a
dramatic improvement in your vision
and life style . The success of LASIK depends mainly on your eyes. You maybe
a good candidate for
LASIK if your vision is stable, you have myopia (nearsightedness), without
astigmatism (irregular
curvature of the cornea), and you have no other eye problems. You also need
to understand the possible
risks and be
realistic as to what to expect.
- LASIK works well for most people, but there is no guarantee that you’ll have
perfect vision or never
need distance or reading glasses again
- It takes just several days to a few weeks for your eyes to heal and your
vision to clear
- You’ll feel minimal discomfort
during and after the procedure
Your eye doctor will examine your eyes to make sure LASIK surgery is right for
you. Your eyes will be
dilated and your refraction measured. Your doctor will take computerized
measurements
(corneal topography) of the shape of the cornea, and measure the thickness
of the cornea using
ultrasound. You will be asked to sign a consent form and your eye doctor
will discuss other possible risks
of LASIK to you.
- There is a very small risk of infection, which could scar the cornea and
decrease vision
- Some people become more sensitive to glare or see halos around lights, bit
this usually clears up
The corneal flap may be knocked out of position and lost requiring
repositioning or replacement
Very rarely, a haze may develop in the cornea during the first few weeks after
surgery. Normally this clears
quickly . Rarely the vision may be cloudy for a month or more.
You are awake during the procedure. Your eyes are numbed with drops so
you don’t feel t any pain
but may feel pressures during the procedure. Your eyelid is held open with a
special instrument and a
small suction device steadies your eye while the microkeratome separates the
surface layers of the cornea.
The laser treatment typically takes less than one minute and you’ll
probably be in and out of the doctor’s
office or surgery center in about an hour.
After treatment, your eyes need to heal. Your vision will probably be a little
blurry at first but it should clear
in a few days. Your doctor will monitor your recovery during the next few
weeks . You can expect
maximum improvement in your vision within three weeks after your Lasik
treatment.
|
FYI: Ness Perry had Lasik surgery . She wore glasses/contact lense for 15
years and was almost blind as a bat in night
driving . Prior to LASIK her
eyesight was: L 20/575 R 20/475. Today she enjoys a vision of R
20/15 L 20/25 and no more glasses/ no more contact
lense!
|
|
Get your own Free Home Page