Archive for November, 2007

Measures to Take For Safe Eye Surgery

Monday, November 19th, 2007
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Safety Measures to Take Towards Safe Laser Eye Surgery

If you are considering having laser eye surgery performed, it is important to remember that this is a surgical procedure. As such, even though the success rate is extremely high, there is the potential of something happening that is either unforeseen or due to human error.

That is why, in order to have safe laser eye surgery performed, it is critical that you are completely comfortable with the laser clinic that you have selected, the staff and the surgeon who will be performing this procedure. To minimize your risk, it is therefore important that a number of processes be accomplished to check the experience and reputation of the clinic.

First of all, it is important to know that safe laser eye surgery is the common experience for many who undergo this procedure. However, a checklist evaluating the clinic and staff would include asking for referrals and asking the staff a number of questions that will increase your level of comfort with those that will be attending you.

The Safety of Laser Eye Surgery

One of the common concerns expressed by those who are considering laser eye surgery is the potential of losing their eyesight. It is important to understand that there have been significant strides in laser eye surgery. It has been recently reported in various medical journals that the incidences of complications has been reduced significantly.

The reality of safe laser eye surgery has become so commonplace that the miniscule percentage of patients experiencing difficulties were reduced from a reported five percent down to one percent of patients who received the surgery. Furthermore, those complications were not permanent and negative results were resolved through additional treatments. Additionally, it is important to note that permanent or partial loss of eyesight, due to complications, was exceptionally rare.

The Key to a Positive Experience

Choosing the right surgeon to perform the operation is the foundation to a safe laser eye surgery experience. Selecting the right surgeon can be accomplished through a number of processes. These processes include the use of referrals from your regular eye doctor, friends, neighbors and business acquaintances who may have undergone this successful procedure.

In addition, when investigating the various surgeons available, there are numerous web sites and associations that can be contacted that will provide a list of certified surgeons that can perform safe laser eye surgery. Also, a reputable surgeon will take you through the various steps that will explain the procedure and your being a good candidate for the Lasik surgical procedure.

Another key aspect to safe laser eye surgery is being comfortable with the staff at the eye care clinic. The technicians and other supporting staff should give the air of professionalism. Also, you should be comfortable with their knowledge and expertise in the familiarity with the equipment that will be used in the performance of the surgery. It is highly recommended that, because it is your precious eyesight, that you ask numerous questions. These questions should be answered to your satisfaction and should leave no doubt in your mind and heart as to the capability of those that will be assisting in the surgical procedure.

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Laser Eye Surgery Risks are Usually Low

Saturday, November 3rd, 2007

Laser Eye Surgery Risks are Usually Low

There are reports emanating from consumer experts that suggest that patients who undergo laser eye surgery are not being informed about the risks that accompany such treatment methods. In spite of this, laser eye surgery continues to rise in popularity and an associated risk with laser eye surgery is that the doctor performing the surgery may begin operating after just a few days of training and does not require any specialized courses or degrees.

Since the laser eye surgery procedure is perceived by patients as being simple and quick and has also received many celebrity endorsements it is quite popular in spite of the accompanying laser eye surgery risks that may not fully be taken into account when making a decision on the type of treatment required.

Low to Negligible Risks

There are different perceptions about laser eye surgery risks and these vacillate between non-existent to relatively low risk. There are however, in some rare cases, the risks of complications arising which may lead to corneal ectasia in which fluid pressure mounts in the eye and patients may require a corneal transplant to rectify the situation. A serious laser eye surgery risk, indeed!

Laser eye surgery very often may cause the patient to feel a certain amount of discomfort and also have blurry vision for the first couple of days following surgery. However, these laser eye surgery risks are generally not serious problems. Common laser eye surgery risks include lasik and damage to the corneal flap, PRK and infection, under-correction, problems with night vision, no improvement in condition after the surgery as well as long term complications.

Minor laser eye surgery risks include dry eyes or problems related to night vision that may result in not being able to drive or work in the evening or even in low lighted conditions. A major cause for concern in laser eye surgery risks is that the use of such surgeries have not been known for very long and so there are not adequate studies that can help define what the attendant laser eye surgery risks really may be. As with any surgical procedure, patients should be told that there is bound to be some amount of risk associated with laser eye surgery as well.

In the case of lasik, the laser eye surgery risk is very slight and is as low as one in five hundred who might need to have their corneal flap to be cut off or it may become damaged as a result of the surgery. In approximately six percent of patients the surgery may result in under-corrected vision and the operation may need to be performed again. It has also been noted that as few as four to as high as 30 percent of patients may still have problems with night vision.

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