Lasik vs. Lasek Eye Surgery

Posted on January 28, 2012 by JaneWhite

Lasik vs. Lasek Eye SurgeryLASIK and LASEK eye surgery may sound similar but there are differences between the two laser eye surgeries. One is for those with very thin corneas and is safer, while the other is a popular eye surgery that most people can have done. It is important to know the differences between the procedures so you know which surgery is right for you and your current condition.

What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery can be used to correct your vision and decrease your dependency on glasses or contact lenses.  The most popular procedure is LASIK the second most popular being PRK, and a surgery called LASEK that is for those who can not have LASIK. These surgeries reshape your cornea and refocus it. It takes about 15-20 minutes for both eyes. The cost is normally between $1,800 and $2,600. However, a cosmetic eye surgery can cost up to $3,219.

What is LASIK?

LASIK surgery is used to correct refractive problems such as astigmatism, or Myopia. In this surgery your surgeon will use one of two lasers to create a flap with the outer tissue of your cornea. Then he or she will perform the procedure on the flap as well as the soft tissue under the flap. This surgery is currently the most popular laser eye surgery for correcting vision. However, there are many risks that come with this procedure such as the need for enhancement surgeries because of overcorrection. Other risks might also be the risk of a protective coating growing over the cornea. This is actually a cell growth that can be easily scraped away, but requires another surgery. LASIK often costs between $1,800 and $2,800 per eye, and possibly another $500 for the surgeon and $300 for the Anesthesia. Overall this is a costly and possibly risky surgery.

What is LASEK?

LASEK eye surgery is a surgery similar to LASIK. However, this procedure is often done on people who have very thin cornea or would have problems with the LASIK surgery. This is because the laser makes the flap with a thinner layer of cornea unlike thicker flap made by a LASIK laser. It also doesn’t go very deep into the tissue to perform the surgery which makes it safer than many other laser eye surgeries. However, you may need to go back in as little as three years for another surgery, and this procedure has a long uncomfortable recovery time. LASEK costs about $1,700 to $2,360 per eye. Add the surgeon and the Anesthesia and it comes up to be a little cheaper than most other eye surgeries; however it still costs a lot of money.

What Are The Differences Between LASEK and LASIK?

LASIK and LASEK surgeries may sound similar but they have a few differences that you need to know about.

  1. LASEK is safer- The laser doesn’t go as deep into the tissue of the cornea unlike LASIK. Therefore LASEK surgery can be safer.
  2. LASIK has a more comfortable recovery- LASEK surgery can have a very uncomfortable recovery time.
  3. LASEK is better for those with thinner corneas- LASEK surgery only takes a very thin layer of cornea to create the flap, therefore making it ideal for those who may have thin corneas and can not have much of their cornea taken to create the flap.
  4. LASEK is Cheaper- LASEK could be a few hundred dollars cheaper than LASIK. For some people this is a big decision decider for them.
  5. LASIK has Enhancement surgeries- Because of overcorrection you might need to go back to your surgeon for Enhancement surgeries. Those who do not want to do more surgeries tend to consider LASEK.

Side-effects of LASIK and LASEK

The side-effects of LASIK and LASEK can also help you decide which surgery would better suit your situation. The side-effects of LASIK include:

  • Night Glare
  • Dry Eye
  • Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis-An inflammation condition that is sight threatening and needs to be dealt with immediately
  • Haze
  • Halos
  • A Protective Covering Developing on the Cornea

The side-effects of LASEK:

  • Cloudy or Hazy Vision for about 6 or 9 months
  • Dry Eye for about 6 months
  • The Sensation of Having Something in your Eye for about 4 to 6 days
  • Loss of Vision for up to 12 months

In the end knowing the difference between LASIK and LASEK laser eye surgery can be a deciding factor for which surgery you get. You are the patient and it is your job to know what the surgery options are available for your condition, and help decide what procedure is best for you. Remember to always be an informed patient, and talk to your surgeon about the risks and benefits of any surgery.

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PRK vs. Lasik Eye Surgery

Posted on January 21, 2012 by JaneWhite

PRK vs. Lasik Eye SurgeryPRK and LASIK laser eye surgery are both laser eye surgeries that are used to correct something wrong with your eye sight. Although both eye surgeries essentially do the same thing there are many differences between the two. You need to know their vast differences to choose the correct laser eye surgery for yourself.

What is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser is a medical procedure that is done by an eye surgeon. This kind of procedure is often used so someone doesn’t have to wear glasses or contact lenses. Laser eye surgery reshapes your cornea, and the front part of your eye. This makes your eye refocus, hopefully giving you vision that is less dependant on glasses or contact lenses. There are currently two very popular laser eye surgery procedures: LASIK (Laser-assisted in Sitsu keratomileusis) and PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy).

What is PRK Laser Eye Surgery?

PRK is the second most popular laser eye surgery available. This surgery reshapes the cornea of your eye with the help of an Excimer laser. In this procedure, the surgeon will remove the outer most layer of the cornea, and then the surgery is preformed on the tissue underneath. The laser used in this procedure (Excimer) is a small ultra-violet laser light. This laser is cool to the touch, and reshapes the cornea with accuracy. When you reshape the cornea you should hopefully have better vision. Most patients that come out of PRK surgery don’t have 20/20 vision. This is however, a good way to regain eye sight that has been lost because of age or problems with your cornea.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

The LASIK eye surgery procedure is the first most popular laser eye surgery available. This procedure also reshapes your cornea with the help of the laser you and your surgeon choose. There are exactly two lasers that can be used with LASIK surgery which are both labeled LASIK A and LASIK B. In this procedure the thin outer layer of the cornea is lightly lifted up, and the surgery is performed on both parts of the tissue of the cornea. Most people who come out of LASIK surgery don’t have 20/20 vision, because this surgery is only supposed to help you be able to see clearer without a very strong prescription for glasses or contacts.

What is the Main Difference between PRK and LASIK?

The main difference between LASIK and PRK eye surgery is how the cornea is re-shaped. When you have LASIK surgery they create a small flap with the outside layer of your cornea, and do the procedure on that tissue as well as the tissue underneath the small flap. In PRK laser eye surgery a thin layer of cornea is scraped away and the procedure is done on the tissue underneath that thin layer of cornea.

What Are the Risks of LASIK?

Like any surgery a laser eye surgery has its own unique list of risks. This list of risks that are involved with LASIK eye surgery should help you decide which type of procedure you want done on your eyes. Risks include:

  • Infection
  • Refractive Problems
  • Night Glare
  • Problems or infections in the cornea
  • Pain
  • Protective growth on your cornea flap
  • Prolonged healing process
  • The need for reading glasses or bifocals on people over the age of forty

 

What are the Risks of PRK?

The PRK laser eye surgery has its own set of risks that come along with it. No surgery especially on something as delicate as your eye is 100% effective or safe. Risks of PRK eye surgery include:

  • Infection
  • Glare
  • Seeing Halos
  • Dry Eyes
  • Seeing Badly in Dim Light or at Night
  • Long time Halos around images

How do you Decide What Laser Eye Surgery is Right For You?

Once you have decided with your doctor that your sight can be repaired with laser eye surgery you have to discuss which surgery is the right one for you. First you need to discuss the risks and benefits of each surgery with you eye doctor and the surgeon performing the procedure. They are the expert, and they know what they’re doing. Next, you should ask the advice of your eye doctor. The doctor can tell you which surgery h or she thinks is best based on your medical history. Remember; also take time with your decision. Unless you need an eye surgery done right away it is a good idea to sit and think about each surgery option. Don’t rush the decision, this is your health and you need to not be pressured into making a decision too early. Some facts to help make your decision are listed below:

The LASIK eye surgery is the procedure with the most to date technology with the PRK procedure just a year or two behind. Truthful both surgeries should do the same job, but the LASIK surgery has a better success rate.

  • The PRK surgery is a cheaper option, and some insurance won’t pay for LASIK.
  • LASIK has a few long-term side-effects that could damage the health of someone with diabetes or heart problems.
  • PRK also has long-term side effects such as not being able to see well in dim lighting or the dark. This could be a problem for people who must drive very late at night or early in the morning.

Hopefully you can make the correct decision about your eye surgery. Both LASIK and PRK surgeries are FDA approved, and almost any eye surgeon can perform at least one of the procedures. Both surgeries will also hopefully help you lose some of the dependence for thick glasses or contact lenses.

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Lasik Eye Surgery Side Effects

Posted on January 14, 2012 by JaneWhite

LASIK, PRK, and cosmetic eye surgery all have risks and side-effects. As a patient, it is useful if you know about the side effects of you upcoming procedure. This way you will be prepared for the days following the procedure when you need to recover.

Lasik Eye Surgery Side EffectsBig Side Effects or Risks

There are many small side-effects that can be caused by your eye surgery. However, laser eye surgery also has a few big side-effects that could permanently damage your health. Some of these side-effects include:

  • Possible Blindness
  • Glare at night, and the possibility of not being able to drive at night or in dim light.
  •  Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)
  • Protective Cornea Coating

Possible Blindness

In some patients there is a possibility that you will be blinded by laser eye surgery. At least 10 out of 10,000 people who have cosmetic eye surgery go blind and only 1 out of 10,000 go blind if they have a LASIK or PRK procedure done. It is more common for those over 35 to go blind as well as those having unneeded cosmetic eye surgeries.

Glare at Night

Because of the procedure people who wear glasses or contacts will often experience a night glare after laser eye surgery. This is because the pupil’s dilate in dark or dim light, and rays of light will shoot off of lenses causing a glare.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis

DLK is a condition that can occur after LASIK eye surgery and sometime s after a PRK surgery. This is an inflammation condition also known by the name Sands of theSahara. It is characterized as white grains appearing in your sight a few days after a LASIK or other laser eye surgery. This is a sight-threatening condition and needs to be dealt with efficiently and immediately. Your doctor or surgeon cans prescript a topical steroid for the condition.

Protective Cornea Coating

This growth is caused when certain cells get trapped under the corneal flap formed during LASIK surgery. These growths can be easily scraped away by your surgeon.

Common and Minor Side-Effects

There are many minor side effects that often occur after any type of laser eye surgery. These are things you may want to be aware of, and adjust your home and life to fit these side-effects for the recovery time. These side-effects include:

  • Loss of Crisp Vision
  • Dry Eye
  • Halos
  • Starbursts
  • Overcorrection

Loss of Crisp Vision

This is often described as the loss of sharp vision. A few weeks after surgery you may not be able to see things as defined as you would like to. For a few weeks you may not be able to see things such as fine print, hanging food menus, the guide on your TV, and small details. This often disappears about three weeks into recovery. For older patient it may be up to six weeks.

Dry Eye

Dry eye is one of the most common side-effects that people will experience after laser eye surgery. This will more than likely go away about six weeks into recovery. However, you can buy artificial tears or lubricating eye drops to keep your eyes moist. Dry eye mostly causes discomfort but is not fatal to your sight in any way. However, some older patients may need to use lubricating eye drops for a few months after surgery to ensure that the dry eye doesn’t return.

Halos

Halos are described as rings of light or circles of light that you see around objects. These will normally disappear about two weeks into recovery. However, they may not disappear at night for about six weeks. If halos do not disappear you may want to see your surgeon or eye doctor, and they will check your eyes.

Starbursts

Starburst are almost identical to halos except they are seen only at night, and they look like light exploding around an object. These starburst normally go away about three weeks into recovery. However, some people will experience mild starbursts around bright lights or LED lights at night for a few months after their eye surgery.

Overcorrection

Some nearsighted and farsighted people will experience overcorrection. Sometimes this is done intentionally to compensate for swelling in your eye during the surgery. This can be corrected by resetting the laser to another setting and simply going back in for another surgery. This is not an uncommon side-effect, and is experienced mostly by farsighted people.

It is a surgeon’s job to perform your laser eye surgery. It is your job as a patient to know the side-effects of that surgery. If you know what the side-effects will be of you procedure the more likely you will be comfortable during your recovery time. Remember to see your eye surgeon for follow up appointment and listen to his or her advice about Enhancement surgeries. They are the experts. However, it is good to inform yourself in the best way that you can.

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