A Guide to LASIK and Laser Eye Surgery

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is the most common type of laser eye surgery. As a relatively straight-forward procedure, LASIK eye surgery has helped to restore vision to those suffering from a range of eye conditions.

Anyone with eyeglasses or contact lenses will no longer need to rely on eyecare to see properly after undergoing LASIK eye surgery

How Does It Work?

This form of laser eye surgery works by using a laser to correct the irregular shape of the patient’s cornea (the surface of the eye). To do this, a surgical tool known as a microkeratome is used to create a small flap on the cornea, after which the laser is used to reshape the corneal surface.

As an irregular cornea causes light to enter the eye incorrectly, the surface must be reshaped during surgery to help make it more even, allowing light to enter properly. This restores vision and removes the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.

Other Types of Laser Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is the most common form of laser eye surgery, although there are several other options available too. This includes:

LASEK – Similar to LASIK surgery but designed for patients with thin cornea. While the corneal surface is still corrected, it requires a thin layer of tissue covering the cornea (the epithelium) to be temporarily removed to one side before correcting the cornea. A microkeratome isn’t used either, with a tool known as a trephine used to create the flap instead.

PRK – One of the first forms of laser eye surgery, it is not unlike LASEK surgery, with the main difference being the epithelium is completely removed rather than partially removed. This epithelium grows back naturally over time, although the procedure is now less commonly used in favour of LASEK eye surgery.

IntraLASIK – Almost identical to LASIK surgery, with the main difference being a laser is used to create the flap rather than a microkeratome.

Eye Conditions Treated by LASIK Eye Surgery

There are a host of eye conditions that can be effectively treated with LASIK and other forms of laser eye surgery. This includes:

Myopia – Commonly known as short-sightedness, the condition makes it difficult to focus on objects from longer distances. It can make tasks that require distance vision difficult, such as driving.

Hyperopia – Commonly known as long-sightedness, this condition results in nearby objects being out of focus. This makes things like reading small text quite difficult, and many sufferers strain their eyes trying to read, leading to headaches.

Astigmatism – A common condition where blurry vision is caused by an irregular shaped cornea. Quite common for those that requires eyeglasses, and the condition is caused at birth so can only be permanently removed through laser eye surgery.

 

Benefits of LASIK Eye Surgery

Most people will get LASIK surgery as it offers the quickest recovery period of all other treatments, minimising any disruption from the surgery.

Of course, the most obvious benefit is you no longer require eyeglasses and/or contract lenses. This is very relieving for many people, especially those with several types of eye conditions. You can do many things that were once impossible to do due to poor vision.

LASIK eye surgery – and all laser eye surgery – is one of the safest surgical procedures available. It requires no anaesthetic and is virtually pain-free, meaning you don’t have to spend hours recovering from surgery.

Michigan Lasik also known as Rohr eye and laser center offers 3 different types of LASIK eye surgeries. To find out which option works best for you, give us a call at 977-579-0202. We are an eye treatment center located in Grand Blanc, Michigan. You can also visit our website at michiganLasik.com

Learning About Cataracts

A Cataract is a medical condition that slowly clouds the eyes lens, which causes blurred vision. This can ether severely reduce your vision or just cause some blurriness. An example would be looking through a fogged up windshield. This can make it hard to do daily activities like driving, playing sports and reading. Most of the time cataracts will develop slowly and you won’t notice it right away. As time goes on you might notice your vision getting weaker/blurry. You might even get some cheater glasses (readers) and this will help for a little bit. But, again time will not be on your side with cataracts.

Once your vision affects daily life, it might be time to go see an eye doctor. The good news is cataracts can be treated by a medical professional! The bad news is it won’t go away on its own and you will need surgery. This is generally a safe and effective procedure.

Cataract surgery consists of removing the clouded cataract and replacing it with a clear lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL stays permanently in your eye. About 95% of all patients get an IOL, the other 5% will need to wear glasses or contacts. Overall this is a short and painless procedure that usually takes around an hour. You do not need to stay at the hospital when this is done, but you would want someone to drive you home. If both eyes have a cataract, it is recommended to wait at least one month between surgeries.

As we get older this increases our risk for cataracts, here are some other risk including:

  • Diabetes
  • Excessive sunlight
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • High blood pressure
  • Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
  • Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

 

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

How to Prepare For Lasik Eye Surgery

If you are preparing for your LASIK eye surgery, there are a few things to keep in mind to have the best experience possible. Although nothing can replace the consultation of your eye surgeon, listed below are some items that can help you before and after your operation. The Lasik procedure is extremely precise, and it removes a small amount of corneal tissue to help provide you with the best vision possible.

Knowing both of the surgery’s advantages and disadvantages and getting a comprehensive evaluation, it is also necessary to know some details of the surgery itself. Getting ready for any surgery is a tedious process and preparing for LASIK is no different. One must ensure that everything is ready and that you look good. While preparing for laser eye surgery isn’t as difficult as with some other surgeries, there are still a few things you need to take care of before you go in for eye surgery.

However, if you are toying with the idea of getting this surgery done, then here are a couple of things you need to know.

  1. Stop using contacts

Abstain from wearing your contacts: For at least three days before the LASIK surgery, you should not wear your contacts. Depending on the types of lenses you wear, however, the period could be longer. It is best to ask your doctor what he feels is an ample amount of time.

  1. Do not eat too much

Usually, before bodily operations, you are required to refrain from eating for about one day (a full 24 hours). However, before this procedure, it is recommended to have a light meal before coming into the office, as well as any prescribed medications that you may be taking. Again, ask your eye doctor what he/she recommends.

  1. No more makeup

Yes, you will need to stop using perfume or makeup or even cream bases the day before LASIK surgery. With these products, debris can cause inflammation, which can lead to haze or scarring. It is best not to wear any mascara, foundation, or any other make-up that may descend into the eyes or obstruct the doctor’s movements.

  1. Avoid caffeine.

Another thing you should take note before going for your Lasik is to stop drinking/taking soda or caffeine instead try and drink water. Taking caffeine will make your eyes feel dry, and this will make it hard for you to fully relax after receiving your LASIK surgery. Caffeine also makes some people jittery; we want you to be fully relaxed during the eye surgery.

  1. Come with a responsible driver.

Overall, you will feel normal after your LASIK procedure is complete. However, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Before LASIK, ask a responsible friend or family member to be your post-op chauffeur and help you to bed after getting home.

These are the five steps that will surely assist you with preparing for your corrective eye surgery. Preparation is necessary to have a successful operation. Always remember that those who are well prepared will have a better possibility of success.

If you are looking to reduce or even get rid of your eye glasses and/or contacts let us at Rohr Eye & Laser Center help you! We offer several types of LASIK eye surgery including PRK, AK, CK, Cataracts surgery and more. We perform all these eye laser treatments with state of the art equipment. We are a leader in laser vision correction, and our goal is to help you achieve superior vision. Contact us today or view our website http://www.michiganlasik.com/  to schedule an appointment.

Lasik Eye Surgery Over 40

The laser assisted in situ keratomileusis surgery, also known as LASIK surgery is a laser eye surgery employed in the treatment of astigmatism (blurred vision), hyperopia (farsightedness) and myopia (nearsightedness)

It is a type of refractive surgery and the procedure entails the reshaping of the cornea with a laser or microkeratome for better positioning. This ensures that light entering the eye correctly focuses on the retina and the result is an improved and clearer vision. It is an outpatient procedure that takes about 10 minutes for each eye. Results are often visible within the next 24 hours after surgery while vision takes between few days and several weeks to stabilize.

LASIK is much preferred because it reduces and in many cases eliminates the need for glasses or contact lenses. But, the LASIK eye surgery is not for everyone. Your optometrist will examine you and decide this based on certain factors that will determine if you are a good candidate or not.

A lasik candidate needs to be at least 18 or 21 years old, depending on the laser to be used. The age limit is a necessary precaution because for candidates younger than 18 years of age, growth is still occurring in different parts of the body as well as the eye. It is only in extreme cases that candidates below 18 are considered for the lasik eye surgery. This rarely occurs though as there is an increasing necessity for this surgery by candidates aged 40 years and above due to eye-related problems associated with middle age or developments due to lifestyle.

The older a patient is with any of the listed eye problems, particularly farsightedness, the higher the tendency for worsening if nothing is done about it. Lasik eye surgery offers men and women over 40, a chance to see better without having to depend on contact lens or glasses for their daily activities.

In fact, once you are over 40, you need to see your doctor for periodic tests as some of the considerations for the surgery, such as presbyopia, hyperopia and myopia, crop up with age and are true even for those who have had seemingly perfect vision all their life.

This is to be expected though because certain features of the eye such as the lens, change with age and cannot be expected to function optimally as in the past.

The lasik eye surgery is a painless and safe procedure with immediate results. It is a selective procedure and may not be the go to option if you have any eye defect other than loss of reading and distance vision

It is however prospect to be expected and okay to consider it as a better option and permanent solution than glasses and contact lens once you’re over 40. You however need to see your doctor first or a Lasik surgeon before you decide and once you reach a decision, go through the options and processes available for you together.

Thanks to an advance research and technology, high tech lasik technology is in use today with remarkable results to show for it.

Learn more about laser vision surgery from our professional ophthalmologists including correction for glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, dry eyes, and more.  To contact an eye doctor near you to discuss corrective eye surgery visit our website at http://www.michiganlasik.com/ or call us to make an appointment at 877.579.0202.

Mistakes to Avoid After Laser Vision Correction

Immediately after laser vision correction surgery, your eyes will feel gritty and watery for about three or four hours. During this time, while you are conscious of your eyes, it’s easy to remember that you have just come out of surgery and you should be taking extra care of them.

You will have been told to go home and rest your eyes during this period, and you will probably have been given anesthetic eye drops to administer should you feel any discomfort.

The eyes recover quickly, however, and it becomes easy to forget that they are still in the healing stage. Once a few hours have passed your vision will be starting to improve, and you will be able to return to work within the week, if not the next day.

Even though it may feel like your eyes are fully recovered, they are still healing, so it’s important you don’t make the following mistakes during this period.

During the first 48 hours after eye surgery, you should avoid touching your face, and also avoid getting water on them so as to prevent infection.  You are at greater risk of rubbing the eyes during sleep. be sure to wear protective eyewear when sleeping or napping.

The bright light of outdoors can be painful for a few days after eye surgery so always have a quality pair of sunglasses on hand for a few weeks.

The first week is critical to the healing process so all forms of sport should be avoided (especially swimming). Once the first week has safely passed, you are now good to go and can safely return to all of your normal activities.

It is advisable that over the next four weeks you use goggles for swimming and avoid steam rooms and saunas. More than a few surgeries will recommend that you avoid swimming altogether for the first four weeks.

Learn more about laser vision surgery from our professional ophthalmologists including correction for glaucoma, cataracts, astigmatism, dry eyes, and more.  To contact an eye doctor near you to discuss corrective eye surgery visit our website at http://www.michiganlasik.com/ or call us to make an appointment at 877.579.0202.