LASIK Eye Surgery: A Clear Choice?

LASIK eye surgery is becoming more and more popular as it demonstrates itself to be a safe and effective alternative to the hassle contacts and eyeglasses present. Not only that, it often corrects vision to better than 20/20, and has demonstrated that the theoretical best vision of 20/6 can, in a few rare cases, be improved upon.

Not everyone achieves perfect vision, and not everyone will be able to go without corrective lenses after the surgery as noted by the top LASIK surgeon in Bethesda Maryland (Dr. Alberto Martinez). Some people simply don't have enough lens to reshape into one that can let them see perfectly. Other procedures like a total lens replacement with an artificial lens, as what happens with some cataract patients who don't get donor lenses, may be worth talking to your doctor about if you have really bad vision.

LASIK Eye Surgery and Laser Eye Surgery Procedures

The Lasik surgeon peels back the cornea of the eye (after applying anesthetic of course) and reshapes the lens with a laser. The cut in the cornea is made either with a laser or a very fine blade called a microkeratome. There is no real difference in the result, only the preference of the surgeon, though blade users insist there's less complication in healing, and laser users insist there's less pain after the procedure.

The astigmatism laser eye surgery isn't entirely without risk, though. A very few patients have gotten infections in one or both eyes and lost their sight, though those results have been linked to the patient not using the prescribed antibiotic eye drops after the surgery. And some patients have experienced halos (rings of light around light sources) in their night vision as a result of eye laser treatment. The effect was limited to people with pupils larger than the earlier machines could accommodate, and has largely been corrected in newer laser vision correction hardware.

People with less than perfectly healthy eyes tended to have the most complications with LASIK surgery. Those with glaucoma or high blood pressure or diabetes tended to have far more complications than people without those conditions. As such, eye surgery has been contraindicated in many of those cases (i.e. surgeons won't even attempt the procedures because of the risk to the patient)

If you decide you want Lasik eye surgery, know that newer eye treatment equipment seems to make more of a difference in the results than a super experienced surgeon, even though a surgeon with a lot of experience and last year's equipment will cost more. As for cost, expect to pay it all out of pocket as many insurance companies consider Lasik not only elective, but fairly risky surgery yet financing is available at most of the top clinics. And regardless of who ends up doing your surgery, follow their recovery instructions exactly for the best results.