LASIK Laser Eye Surgery Blog

Things To Know for Lasik Surgery

2009-12-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

One of the most important steps in the process of undergoing any surgery, is choosing the right surgeon. Below are a few important guidelines provided by Orange County LASIK Surgeon, Dr. Mark Schneider, to help you in your search for the right LASIK surgeon:

1. Get referrals from other patients, friends, and family.

2. Beware of advertisements pushing "low cost" surgery. Discount surgery is just that. The quality of care and technology IS NOT the same. The potential savings are not worth the risk in receiving less than expert care.

3. Don't be fooled by fancy advertisements about a particular laser center. Investigate the doctor, not the center. Find out who will actually do your procedure, then ask about that particular doctor's qualifications. (board certification, specialized training, etc.)
How many actual LASIK procedures has the surgeon performed himself? Choose a doctor who has done at least 5,000 LASIK procedures.

Refractive Eye Exchange

2009-12-09T10:36:00.000-08:00

There are various procedures that can be used to treat eye conditions. For example, one popular procedure is known as the refractive lens exchange. In refractive lens exchange (RLE) eye surgery, your eye's natural lens is replaced with an artificial one to achieve sharper focus.
While RLE technically does not have approval from the FDA, some surgeons in certain circumstances will use the procedure off label. This type of use is perfectly legal and sometimes a practical option for elective vision correction surgery, particularly for older people and younger people in some circumstances.

Nutrition and Your Eyes

2009-12-03T10:47:00.000-08:00

Nutrition is an important element in maintaining your eyesight as you age. As we grow older, we tend to lose the accuracy of our vision which hinders us from seeing things clearly. With the proper nutrition we can succesfully maintain our vision through the years. Here are some useful tips for nutritional purposes to help gauge the best foods to improve and maintain your vision.

Vitamin A: cod liver oil, liver, carrots, sweet potatoes, butternut squash.

Lutein and zeaxanthin: spinach, kale, collard greens.

Vitamin C: sweet peppers (red or green), kale, strawberries, broccoli, oranges, cantaloupe.

Bioflavonoids: citrus fruits, cherries, grapes, plums.

Vitamin E: sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts.

Selenium: brazil nuts, yeast, seafood.

Zinc: oysters, hamburgers, wheat, nuts.

Fatty acids: cold-water fish (salmon, mackerel, trout).

Know Your Surgeon

2009-11-26T09:25:00.000-08:00

While today most LASIK eye procedures go on without a hitch, in the early days there were manby complications. An April 2008 FDA hearing lends a cautionary tale.
By all accounts, Dominic Morgan should never have had LASIK. At birth, he had retenoplathy of prematurity. This condition limited his vision to about 20/50 (not good enough to drive in most states), and even with eyeglasses and before he ever underwent LASIK. Using a unapproved laser, Dominic's surgeon performed his LASIK procedure in 1998. Pressure from the eye suction ring used in the procedure effectively destroyed his fragile retinas leaving him legally blind. Make sure you have a trusting and safe relationship with your doctor. It can simply mean everything

The Ishihara Color Vision Test

2009-11-19T10:15:00.000-08:00

In the early days the Ishihara Color Vision Test was the most widely used screening test for
The most widely used screening test for color blindness is the Ishihara Color Vision Test. The test is named after Japanese ophthalmologist Shinobu Ishihara (1879-1963), who devised the procedure and first published a description of it in 1917.

Consisting of a booklet, the Ishihara Color Vision Test features each page containing a circular pattern (or "plate") comprising many dots of various colors, brightness and sizes. The seemingly random colored dots are arranged in such a fashion that a person with normal color vision will see a single-digit or two-digit number within the array of dots, while a colorblind person will either be unable to see a number or will see a different number than the one seen by a person with normal color vision.

When is LASIK Surgery Not for me?

2009-11-18T11:27:00.000-08:00

Today we will be discussing a few reasons why people should not choose LASIK surgery. One of the main issues that may hinder people from choosing LASIK surgery is the huge risk that one takes when choosing to go under the knife. If you are not a risk taker, then LASIK surgery may not be for you. For others, their career may be jeopardized by the possible surgery. Some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. Be sure to check with your employer/professional society/military service before undergoing any procedure. For others, cost is an issue. Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery. Although the cost is coming down, it is still significant. While there are various financial loans that can be taken out for LASIK surgery affording the surgery is the greatest hurdle for many.

Financing LASIK Surgery

2009-11-13T09:44:00.000-08:00

For many people LASIK eye surgery is the process to receiving the vision they've always wanted. We're not all born with perfect 20/20 vision, so for some LASIK surgery is a necessary procedure to give people clear vision. With LASIK costing a few thousand dollars per eye, having laser eye surgery may sometimes seem more of a financial decision than a medical or lifestyle choice. However, financing options mean that cost need not be a reason to avoid LASIK.
With a little research, you may be able to find an affordable way to pay for the LASIK procedure even if you are concerned about cost. Payments range and vary from $200 to $500 monthly, depending on the type of financing decide to go with. For those that feel that correcting their vision is a necessity, there are options out there for you to do it, just make sure that you can afford the steady payments.

LASIK Eye Care Needs

2009-11-12T11:16:00.000-08:00

Here are some important necesseties to consider when choosing LASIK eye surgery. If all things are in order, than you give yourself a greater opportunity for the surgery to go off succesfully. If these things are not kosher, than you may want to reconsider the plastic surgery procedures.

1. Your eyes must be healthy. If you have any condition that can affect how your eyes respond to surgery or heal afterwards, you must wait until that condition is resolved. Examples are chronic dry eyes and any injury. Some conditions, such as cataracs that interfere with your vision, and glaucoma, may disqualify you completely.

2. You must be an adult. By law, certain procedures require you to be 18; others, 21. Younger patients can be treated as an exception.

3. You must have stable vision for at least a year. Many young adults experience changes in their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions in the teenage years. Vision stabilizes most often sometime in their 20s. Usually, it is nearsightedness gradually becoming worse, but there may be other changes as well. They are not good candidates until their eyes have "settled down" into one prescription. Your doctor can tell you whether your prescription is stable.

Color Blind Tests

2009-11-10T10:17:00.000-08:00

There are two ways for doctors to detect a diffiency with ones eyes. Today there are two types of tests that are used to test

The most widely used screening test for color blindness is the Ishihara Color Vision Test. The test is named after Japanese ophthalmologist Shinobu Ishihara (1879-1963), who devised the procedure and first published a description of it in 1917.

The Ishihara Color Vision Test consists of a booklet, each page containing a circular pattern (or "plate") comprising many dots of various colors, brightness and sizes. The seemingly random colored dots are arranged in such a fashion that a person with normal color vision will see a single-digit or two-digit number within the array of dots, while a colorblind person will either be unable to see a number or will see a different number than the one seen by a person with normal color vision.

Is LASIK Right For You?

2009-11-09T13:31:00.000-08:00

Plastic surgery is an important and monumental decision for anyone considering going under the knife. Below we've presented a few cautionary situations that will hopefully allow you to make a more educated decision about whether or not LASIK surgery is right for you:

- You are not a risk taker: Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of patients, and there are no long-term data available for current procedures.

- It will jeopardize your career: Some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. Be sure to check with your employer/professional society/military service before undergoing any procedure.

- Cost is an issue: Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery. Although the cost is coming down, it is still significant.

You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing: Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.

If any of these situations apply to you, maybe you should reconsider choosing LASIK surgery as the procedure for you.

3 Tips For Computer Eye

2009-11-09T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today we will touch on 3 tips for combatting the dreaded computer eye:

1. Get a computer eye exam.
This is the most important thing you can do to prevent or treat computer vision problems. According to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), computer users should have an eye exam before they start working on a computer and once a year thereafter. Be sure to tell your eye doctor how often you use a computer at work and at home.

2. Use proper lighting.
Eye strain is often caused by excessively bright light either from outdoor sunlight coming in through a window or from harsh interior lighting. When you use a computer, your ambient lighting should be about half that found in most offices.

3. Minimize glare.
Glare on walls and finished surfaces, as well as reflections on the computer screen can also cause computer eye strain. You may want to install an anti-glare screen on your monitor and, if possible, paint bright white walls a darker color with a matte finish. Again, cover the windows. When outside light cannot be reduced, consider using a computer hood.

Cataracts at a Glance

2009-11-06T12:34:00.000-08:00

Today we will be discussing the anatomy of the eye. It is important to understand the basis of the eye, so that one can tend to it properly. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The lens works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is mostly made of water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. For anyone interested in more information on the topic of eyes, make sure to ask you doctor about possible procedures and practices to maintain healthy eyesight.

The Development of LASIK

2009-11-04T09:40:00.000-08:00

Today we will touch on the development of eye care from it's creation to where it is today. Many people are unaware that until contact lenses were popularized in the 1950s, eyeglasses for at least the past seven centuries had been the only practical way to correct refractive vision errors. Today, several modern approaches to corrective eye surgery range from laser reshaping of the eye's surface in procedures such as LASIK and PRK to surgical insertion of artificial lenses to correct eyesight. In LASIK, PRK, and similar procedures, laser energy reshapes the curvature of the eye's clear front surface (cornea) to alter the way light rays enter the eye. Artificial lenses surgically inserted into the eye also can refocus light rays to sharpen vision.

Glaucoma 101

2009-11-03T09:28:00.000-08:00

Glaucoma refers to a category of eye disorders often associated with a dangerous buildup of internal eye pressure which can damage the eye's nerve that transmits visual information to the brain. With untreated or uncontrolled glaucoma, you might eventually notice decreased ability to see at the edges of your peripheral vision. Progressive eye damage could then lead to blindness. In fact, glaucoma creates at least some vision loss in more than half of the approximately 2.5 million Americans estimated to have the eye disease and is the second leading cause of blindness.

Computer Vision Syndrome 101

2009-10-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

For many of us who use the computer often, we have to be sure that our eyes are still in good shape as we go about our daily lives. For many students, and professionals, computer use is prevalent from 2 to 6 hours a day. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a very real problem for many people who spend hours daily in front of a computer screen. Sometimes, simply rearranging your work environment to create better ergonomics is all you may need to do to reduce eye strain and other vision problems related to CVS. In some cases, a good pair of computer eyeglasses may help you see better at just the right distance range needed for viewing a computer screen.

Six Guidelines For LASIK Surgery

2009-10-30T09:00:00.000-07:00

Laser eye surgery isn't for everyone. here are six general guidelines for determining if LASIK or PRK is for you.

- You may also obtain a personalized evaluation of your candidacy for LASIK through our online LASIK screening.- Your eyes must be healthy. If you have any condition that can affect how your eyes respond to surgery or heal afterwards, you must wait until that condition is resolved.

-You must be an adult. By law, certain procedures require you to be 18; others, 21. Younger patients can be treated as an exception.

- You must have stable vision for at least a year. Many young adults experience changes in their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions in the teenage years. Vision stabilizes most often sometime in their 20s. Usually, it is nearsightedness gradually becoming worse, but there may be other changes as well. They are not good candidates until their eyes have "settled down" into one prescription.

- Your doctor can tell you whether your prescription is stable.

The Basics of Lasik Surgery

2009-10-29T09:00:00.000-07:00

Today we will break down the basics of LASIK eye surgery, answering the who, whats and when's about the procedure. For those interested in the surgery I hope this post will provide you with a basic understanding of the processes behind the procedures.

LASIK eye surgery is a treatment that reshapes the cornea in order to produce clear vision.Used to correct refractive errors, the LASIK refractive eye surgery procedure can treat myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism, and reduce patients’ dependency on contact lenses and glasses. Because refractive errors impede the focusing ability of the eye, patients who suffer from these conditions experience blurred vision. LASIK eye surgery provides these individuals with an effective treatment option, where a predetermined amount of corneal tissue is removed. This reshaping of the cornea improves the eye’s focusing power and enhances patients’ visual acuity.

Six Guidelines For LASIK Surgery

2009-10-28T11:12:00.000-07:00

Laser eye surgery isn't for everyone. here are six general guidelines for determining if LASIK or PRK is for you.
- You may also obtain a personalized evaluation of your candidacy for LASIK through our online LASIK screening.

- Your eyes must be healthy. If you have any condition that can affect how your eyes respond to surgery or heal afterwards, you must wait until that condition is resolved.

- You must be an adult. By law, certain procedures require you to be 18; others, 21. Younger patients can be treated as an exception.

- You must have stable vision for at least a year. Many young adults experience changes in their eyeglass and contact lens prescriptions in the teenage years. Vision stabilizes most often sometime in their 20s. Usually, it is nearsightedness gradually becoming worse, but there may be other changes as well. They are not good candidates until their eyes have "settled down" into one prescription. Your doctor can tell you whether your prescription is stable.

What Is Lasik Surgery

2009-10-28T09:00:00.000-07:00

For those that have maybe heard something about LASIK but have yet to fully delve into the process, this post might be for you. LASIK is an ambulatory procedure; you walk into the surgery center, have the procedure and walk out again. In fact, the actual surgery usually takes less than five minutes, and you're awake the whole time. Occasionally, the surgeon will give a mild oral sedative beforehand. Even though the procedure is relatively quick, this does not minimize the importance of having it performed by a highly skilled surgeon with proper equipment because LASIK is a very delicate procedure. You also should have someone accompany you to drive you back home afterward. Make sure you find a highly trained surgeon to perform the procedure, or else you may end up with worse eyesight than you started with.

Prices For Lasik Surgery Procedures

2009-10-27T10:04:00.000-07:00

Lasik surgery has been rising in popularity over the years. One of the best ways to correct vision, Lasik surgery has become a valid and popular method for corrective surgery. Although a fantastic surgical procedure, the surgery does have its costs. Provided below is an account of some of the prices you can expect to pay for the Lasik surgery. All prices are on average:

$2,140 for all laser-based vision correction procedures (including LASIK) in which a single price is quoted.

$1,748 for non-customized LASIK using a bladed instrument (microkeratome) and excimer lasers that are not guided by wavefront analysis.

$2,314 for wavefront-guided LASIK using a laser-created flap.

Hopefully these prices will help you better budget for Lasik surgery to enable you to receive the eye sight you've always desired.

Eye Surgery Online Resource - Corrective Eye Surgery

2009-10-21T08:00:00.000-07:00

Eye Surgery USA is your ultimate resource for Laser Eye Surgery, LASIK / LASEK Surgery and the highly qualified, experienced Licensed Eye Correction Specialists who perform them. At Eye Surgery USA, you can find an Eye Correction Specialist in your area, learn more about eye diseases and the treatments available, information on the latest technologies and advances in techniques and much, much more.

Find a LASIK Surgeon in your area.

Read helpful articles written by Eye Surgeons featured on Eye Surgery USA.

Research the latest advances in Eye Correction treatments.

Thanks for visiting Eye Surgery USA!

LASIK Terms Defined - Eye Correction Glossary

2009-10-20T11:05:00.000-07:00

Have you been searching the Internet for high quality, experienced LASIK eye surgeons in your area? If so, then you've probably come across terms and words that you don't recognize.

What is keratectomy?

What is the Vitreous Humor?

What's the big deal about LASIK, anyway?

Look no further! Eye Surgery USA has developed a free, user-friendly glossary of laser eye surgery terms to help potential patients get through the unfamiliar eye surgery jargon.

Eye Surgery USA is your ultimate resource for certified and qualified eye surgeons in your area.

LASIK Explained

2009-10-20T11:01:00.000-07:00

LASIK is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that reduces and in most cases eliminates the dependency on vision assisted appliances such as glasses and contact lenses.

LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma or the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser cut a portion of the stroma and the flap of the cornea is replaced. There are other techniques related to LASIK, some that do not involve cutting.

Who can benefit from vision correction surgery?

2009-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

People with most common vision disorders can be treated effectively by laser eye surgical procedures. Common disorders include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (age-related trouble focusing) and astigmatism.

Am I a candidate for vision correction surgery?

Possibly. Most people who wear corrective glasses or contact lenses may be suitable candidates. A thorough evaluation by a vision care expert is necessary to determine your suitability. Careful assessment of your overall eye health must be performed before any decision can be made regarding your treatment.

These answers provided by Paul J. Dougherty, MD of Los Angeles, CA
Click here to send an email to Paul J. Dougherty, MD

Find the BEST LASIK Surgeons in Your Area

2009-10-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

When considering LASIK, always get a second opinion. Some doctors have more or less experience with newer and older technologies. The results from LASIK vary with every little detail, from the individual patient, to the doctor, to the procedure being performed and even the equipment being used.

Find Licensed LASIK Surgeons in your area!