Astigmatism is caused by the irregular shape of the cornea, that part of the eyeball in front of the iris and pupil. Normally the cornea is round. When it is not, then light refracts irregularly and thus does not focus properly on the retina in back. This condition is called corneal astigmatism. The irregular shape of the lens that is just behind the pupil can also cause astigmatism. This is called lenticular astigmatism. An irregular lens cannot be corrected but adjustments to the cornea can still compensate for this.

A person could have myopic astigmatism (astigmatism with nearsightedness), hyperopic astigmatism (astigmatism with farsightedness) or a mixture of both vocal problems plus astigmatism. If a person opts to correct this problem with contact lenses, the lens must be weighted so that it always stays upright.

Astigmatism is also classified as regular or irregular. Most people have regular astigmatism, that is, a predictable misshape of the cornea. In this case the cornea is actually shaped like a football instead of round. Irregular astigmatism means the cornea does not have a predictable shape. This condition could be congenital, but it can also be caused by an eye injury or from keratoconus as well. Keratoconus is a disease that causes the gradual thinning of the cornea. LASIK surgery cannot help someone with this condition. Irregular astigmatism might also be the result of a less than perfect job of LASIK corrective surgery.

Astigmatism in many cases can be corrected with LASIK eye surgery. LASIK is an acronym that stands for the medical words describing the procedure. In just minutes a .001 mm deep flap is cut in the middle of the cornea and then an eximer laser is computer directed to correct the irregular shape of the cornea or lens. The actual reshaping takes less than a minute. Healing is usually well under way in one to three days and a patient can drive within a week.

Regular astigmatism is the easiest to correct. An irregular cornea requires more work and is less likely to be a total success. However, many are greatly helped with this vision problem. The procedure usually costs two to three thousand dollars for each eye and is not without risks. Before you proceed, check out the credentials of the physician. This will not guarantee success, but will ensure the greatest possible success with the least likelihood of complications.

Lasik Astigmatism is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

First, to keep things in perspective, only one to three percent of patients experience any lingering complications from LASIK surgery. Most enjoy better vision and are totally free from the need for corrective lenses in the future. However, we are all aware that we might be one of those in this small percent group. What might we face if we are?

The most common problem with all laser eye surgery is dry eye, the inability of the eye to keep itself lubricated. This could be short-lived or a continuing problem. Another complication especially experienced by LASIK patients is that one eye functions better than the other. Perhaps the surgery was more effective in one eye, thus causing blurred images.

Tiger Woods had LASIK surgery and was paid two million dollars to say he was glad he did. However, several years later, he said that his vision was changing and the surgery was deteriorating. Some say this is the reason his golf game also deteriorated and why he had his famous car accident. Tiger later had a second surgery. The point is, for some, LASIK surgery regresses especially for farsighted people.

Others experience scarring or infection following the surgery. This can usually be treated with medication. Of course, it is possible that the doctor makes a mistake and the surgery does not work at all or not enough and glasses or contacts are still needed. Perhaps vision is under-corrected or over-corrected. Sadly some have worse vision after the surgery than they had before. These LASIK complications may lead to the need for further surgery later on, after the eye heals.

Other problems include excessive corneal haze or a halo effect in the field of vision. Again, this can be temporary or permanent.  Further, some people’s cornea is too thin for further surgery and, thus, they must live with the complications of the first surgery.

A final problem unique to LASIK involves complications with the flap that is cut in the cornea. This flap is supposed to heal over without problems. Sometimes it does not heal, or it comes loose after you thought it had healed. Sometimes it also infects. This and dry eye are the most common complains for LASIK patients.

The list seems staggering but remember, only a small percentage of people actually experience any problems. Why are some more prone to complications? First, their cornea may be thin or unresponsive to the surgery. The skill of the surgeon is also a factor. Check out his credentials and track record and don’t be in a rush to get this procedure done. A little caution could save you many complications in the future.

LASIK Complications is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

The first possible problem that could result from laser eye surgery is infection caused by the surgery itself. Though every effort is made to keep this from happening, it is still possible to have post-operation infection. Usually this is not serious and can be treated with medications.

A laser is pure light at a given frequency. For this reason it is usually hot and the heat can cause scar tissue that can certainly hinder vision in a variety of ways. If this becomes a problem, most scar tissue can be removed with further surgery.

Some have experienced extreme pain following surgery because some dust particle or, more seriously, some type of bacteria gets into the open wound. Hopefully this problem will only be temporary, but it can still cause pain. It may also cause blurry vision.

One of the greatest problems following laser eye surgery is disappointment. The surgery simply did not measure up the highest expectations of the patient. A patient has invested a lot of money and taken a risk that this is a good investment. However, he or she soon finds out that he faces new problems, perhaps even greater than those he had before. “Why did I ever go ahead with this? Why wasn’t I content with my lot in life?” he asks himself. This problem is amplified when the surgery actually makes his vision worse! If the surgery was designed to correct nearsightedness, for example, perhaps he now needs even stronger glasses or contacts. Yet he is still out the several thousand dollars it cost. This is both disheartening and frustrating. Sometimes additional surgery can correct the problem, but this is even more expense.

The most common complaint following laser eye surgery is a condition called dry eye. Tears do not form as before to lubricate the eye. This produces pain and requires the person to manually lubricate his eyes every few minutes. It is a condition far more demanding than keeping track of his eyeglasses or contacts.

To keep these risks in perspective, perhaps one to three percent of patients who have had laser eye surgery face complications of some sort. In other words, it is a pretty good bet that nothing will go wrong. But this is not a guarantee. Carefully consider these and other possible post-surgery complications before proceeding with laser eye surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery Risks is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

For centuries, either glasses or squinting were the only options to correct for blurry vision. Then contact lenses replaced the heavy frames pressing on the nose. But contacts could be lost or broken easily. Today, thanks to laser light, corrective lenses can, for many, be eliminated entirely. This is true for people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism and presbyopia.

If you are interested in this possibility, what are the options before you? The best known option for eye surgery is called LASIK. This stands for Laser-Assisted in SItu Keratomileusis. The procedure involves cutting a flap in the cornea just .001 mm deep. Then an excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea to compensate for the irregularity. It is quick and relatively painless and the patient usually experiences marked improvement in vision within twenty-four hours.

However, not everyone qualifies for LASIK surgery. For example, someone with a thin cornea may not be able to have a flap cut into the eye. The good news is that other options are available. For example, another procedure called LASEK may accomplish the goal by sidestepping the disqualifying problem. LASEK stands for Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis. As in LASIK, a flap is cut into the cornea and an excimer laser is used to reshape the corneal tissue. However, the LASEK flap is only half as deep because it does not go past the epithelial (outermost) layer. This procedure is usually more painful than LASIK and takes longer for full healing.

A third option in laser eye surgery is called PRK, short for PhotoRefractive Keratectomy. With PRK no flap is cut in the cornea at all. Instead, the epithelial layer of the cornea is removed and then sculpting of the cornea is done below this layer. Since the outer layer is actually removed in the center of vision, the patient wears a contact lens for one to three days after surgery while healing begins. This option eliminates the complications that sometimes accompany the first two options including the flap getting out of place or hazy vision. However, since the pain nerves of the cornea are in the epithelial layer, PRK is usually much more painful and takes longer than the other two options to heal.

For every one patient who elects to have LASEK surgery, seven choose the more established LASIK surgery. However, as we noted, some people do not qualify for LASIK surgery. The other two options, along with variations of these, may be the only choice.

Which option is best for you? This article is designed only to introduce you to the options. You will need to visit a laser eye surgery center to discuss your personal options with a reputable eye specialist or ophthalmologist.

Eye Surgery Options is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

PRK is an acronym for Photorefractive keratectomy. To understand the difference between these two, we need a brief examination of LASIK eye surgery. LASIK surgery is very quick and precise. The surgeon cuts a flap of tissue in the cornea approximately 100 to 180 microns or micrometers thick (.001 mm!). The excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea to correct the problems of farsighted vision, nearsighted vision, as well as astigmatism. The sculpting is done below the nerve endings in the cornea so the procedure is relatively pain-free. Glasses are often put in a drawer after 24 hours and full healing is expected in one to three months. The natural pressure of the eye keeps the flap in place without the need for stitches.

This flap, however, has been known to cause problems with LASIK surgery in about 1% of the patients. Hazy vision and/or a dislocated flap are two other common problems. The LASIK surgery might also miss the exact center of vision thus causing double vision.

PRK, on the other hand, also involves sculpting the cornea but without cutting a flap. Instead of a flap, the outer layer (the epithelial layer) in the front of the cornea is removed. The sculpting is then done to the cornea just below this removed layer. This eliminates the problems associated with the flap. However, PRK surgery will be more painful since most of the pain receptors are in this removed surface layer of the cornea. This also means that a longer recovery time should be expected. Three to four months is common. A contact lens is placed on the eyeball for two to five days after surgery to protect the cornea as it begins to heal and regenerate.

Some people have a very thin cornea so that cutting the flap with LASIK is not possible. However, the shallower PRK surgery might accomplish the goal. This does not mean that everyone qualifies for PRK laser surgery. It is especially helpful for nearsighted people. The patient must be at least 18 years old, have a stable refraction error (eyes aren’t changing), and must be free of diseases such as glaucoma, vascular disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis.

Though PRK patients do not face the flap problems, other risks should be considered. The most common complication for PRK and, in fact, all laser eye surgeries is dry eyes. The needed lubricating tears just stop being produced. Other people complain of glare, wrong correction, halos, reduced ability to see in low light, or chromic pain. One to three percent of patients on an average have worse vision following surgery than they had before it.

To know if PRK surgery is right for you, consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist who is trained in these procedures. Risk is a factor in all surgeries but now, after thousands of successful PRK procedures, the risk seems to be small.

PRK Surgery is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

When most think of a laser eye center, they think of LASIK surgery. This is by far the most common laser eye surgery and is performed over four million times a year in America. LASIK uses the excimer laser to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. It involves reshaping the cornea to correct for focal abnormalities.

Sister surgeries to LASIK include LASEK and PRK. These also involve reshaping the cornea but with slight differences. LASEK surgery involves cutting a flap in the cornea as with LASIK, but the flap is not as deep. PRK (and the similar PTK- Phototherapeutic keratectomy) surgery actually reshapes the surface of the cornea so no flat is cut at all. Laser Thermal Keratoplasty uses a holmium laser to burn concentric rings on the cornea six to seven millimeters in diameter. This makes the eye focus better on near objects.

Laser eye centers treat other eye problems besides focal clarity. For example, Laser Coagulation or Laser Photocoagulation involves the use of a laser to cauterize blood vessels to deal with various problems. A specific application of this is used to deal with a torn or detached retina. The surgeon will in essence “rivet” the retina to the eyeball with tiny coagulations. It is relatively painless and the patient can have a serious threat to vision remedied in seconds.

Of course, it goes without saying that not all laser eye centers are created equal. Some are high quality and can be trusted with your precious gift of sight. Others, however, are interested in an easy income and will not have the care and professionalism you will want. Therefore, it is good to proceed with care in selecting a laser eye center.

Consider these points in choosing a laser eye center. First, whom does your regular doctor recommend? Doctors know their field and know who is the best. Second, if you know someone who has had laser eye surgery, find out who did it and if your friend was pleased with the service. Third, do not determine a laser eye center based solely on price. Some offer cut-rate treatment but will often cut service and follow-up. Your eyes are priceless; treat them as such.

It would be good also to learn of the center’s reputation and track record. Ask the doctors there how many laser surgeries they have performed and what percent were followed by complications. A bonus would be if the eye doctor is a member of a reputable surgery group demanding the highest of standards.

Laser Eye Center is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery is a lucrative business. It is quick and often costs as much as $3000 per eye. For this reason, many doctors are getting into the practice and, of course, some are not sufficiently experienced to be entrusted with something as precious as our eyes.

To protect against fraudulent cut-rate laser treatment mills, some laser eye centers are franchising. A good reputation is first earned by the parent clinic and then passed on to those who bear its name. The Berkeley Eye Center has earned a reputation for trust over its fifty years of existence and it will not willing relinquish this. Therefore they maintain the highest of standards for each of their campuses.

Of course, when Berkeley Eye Center began, laser eye surgery did not exist. This fact underscores the need for eye centers to continually train their staff and to provide the best in modern equipment. This is all part of earning and maintaining a name of trust.

The parent clinic, the Berkeley Eye Center in downtown Houston, Texas, is a full service eye center. They are able to do LASIK surgery to correct for nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia. They are also licensed to handle cataract surgery (at the Caplan Surgery Center), to prescribe and fit a patient for glasses or contacts, to treat dry eye syndrome, glaucoma, and a variety of other eye problems. Their website states, “The goal for Berkeley Eye Center is to provide you with affordable, superior eye care and unparalleled customer service.”

If you live in the greater Houston area, there is probably a Berkeley Eye Center not far away.
Besides the Greenway Plaza center downtown, full eye centers are also located at Katy and The Woodlands, as well as to the south in Corpus Christi. Eye Care centers without laser capability are also located near Spring and in Clear Lake, Dayton, El Campo, Kingwood, Memorial City, Pearland, Huntsville, and Tomball. Each center is staffed by an experienced eye doctor who must meet the stringent requirements laid down by Dr. Berkeley and his other associates.

The Berkeley Eye Center website had an additional feature for those interested in understanding more detail about eye anatomy and how various eye problems are diagnosed and treated. This is a series of short videos that explain the function and malfunction of the human eye. If you are interested, go to their home page (http://www.berkeleyeye.com) and click in the box containing the words “Advancing Education 3D-Eye Online.” Over forty of these fascinating videos are available here.

Berkeley Eye Center is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

For those not familiar with this procedure, LASIK stands for Laser Assisted in SItu Keratomileusis. The entire procedure is over in fifteen minutes, and those with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are often glasses-free as a result.

In LASIK, an ophthalmologist cuts a flap in the cornea and then a cool light excimer laser, guided by a computer, sculpts the cornea tissue to correct for the focal problem. The actual sculpting process only takes one minute. Experience has shown that when this sculpting is done into the stroma (supportive) tissue below the epithelial (outer) layer, healing is quicker and pain is minimal.

About 3,800 surgeons throughout America perform LASIK every year. If you are interested in pursuing LASIK surgery, choosing a doctor for this procedure is your most important first step. Some are more experienced than others. And, as in every profession, some are not qualified to be trusted with something as valuable as your eyesight. A doctor’s experience and track record are very important to learn.

Of course, no surgery is totally safe. Working on the eye in this way requires special training and equipment. For this reason, TLC was formed to assure perspective patients that they are in good hands. Those doctors affiliated with TLC must have regular screening and training and the latest equipment. The TLC website states, “The TLC staff must meet rigorous hiring guidelines, participate in continuing education and complete required certification and training.” About 700 eye specialists are members of the TLC constituency nationwide.

One big problem with cut-rate LASIK eye surgery is a lack of follow-up after the procedure. In contract, TLC members must agree to the TLC lifetime commitment. This involves sufficient follow-up after surgery to assure that the patient has no lingering or recurring complications. It also means that if at any time an enhancement is needed, the patient will be treated without additional charge.

Significantly, TLC claims that more than 4,000 doctors, including 2,000 eye doctors, have chosen TLC laser centers for their own eye surgery. The TLC website provides a search capability to find a TLC Laser Center surgeon nearest the interested inquirer. The search is based on the zip code.

LASIK surgery is not without problems. Besides recovery time, a small percent of people complain of various side effects following the surgery. The procedure is constantly being improved. It gives peace of mind to know that the doctor you choose is both qualified and equipped to do the best job possible. This is the purpose of TLC LASIK eye surgery.

TLC LASIK Eye Surgery is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

LASEK is a similar laser eye surgery. LASEK stands for Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis. It is also designed to correct the same refractory errors as LASIK. LASEK also involves cutting a flap in the cornea and then sculpting the cornea to correct the refractory error. But with LASEK, the thickness of the flap is only half that made in LASIK. A finer blade is used to cut so that the outer epithelium is cut but none of the stroma. As with LASIK, an excimer laser is then used to reshape the corneal tissue and the flap is replaced.

Both procedures take about fifteen minutes total with actual sculpting taking less than a minute. Both procedures involve cutting a flap in the cornea. The main difference, as mentioned above, is the depth of the cut to form the flap. Both require screening to see if the patient qualifies for the procedure. Conditions such as being too young or too old (usually 18 to 40 is recommended), an abnormal degree of refractory error, other eye problems or diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, or diabetes, a thin cornea, insufficient amounts of tears, or being pregnant will likely disqualify someone from either procedure.

LASEK is especially good for patients whose cornea is too thin for LASIK surgery. It usually causes fewer problems with haze. It also offers less risk of dry eye and of complications with the flap before it heals.

LASEK takes longer to heal. While LASIK patients are allowed to drive in one to three days after surgery, LASEK patients are not allowed to do so for about a week. LASIK involves less discomfort and less pain than does LASEK.

Both procedures are relatively safe with a serious consequence arising in only one percent of the cases, and a less serious complication for three to five percent of those undergoing either procedure. Risks can be reduced both before and after surgery. First, choose an experienced surgeon. Check out his track record. Those doctors who have done at least a thousand treatments are far less likely to see complications in their patients. Second, insist on a thorough qualification test to be sure your eyes will most assuredly benefit from the procedure. Third, follow the doctor’s orders exactly. Don’t think you know more than he does about what is best. Fourth, avoid strenuous exercise after the surgery. Also avoid allowing your eye to come in contact with contaminated water such as in lakes or swimming pools. In addition, avoid rubbing your eye for at least two weeks.

Whether LASIK or LASEK is right for you will be a mutual decision between you and your ophthalmologist. If you qualify, the surgery may give you the freedom from glasses that you have longed for.

LASEK vs. LASIK Eye Surgery is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery

LASIK surgery involves cutting a flap of tissue in the cornea approximately 100 to 180 microns or micrometers thick (.001 mm!). The laser is then used to reshape the cornea to correct the problems of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. The procedure is relatively pain-free because the sculpting is done below the nerve endings in the cornea. Full healing is expected in one to three months. Stitches are not required because the flap is kept in place by the natural pressure of the eyes.

This flap, however, is the main disadvantage of LASIK surgery. This is because it can affect the correction and can cause hazy vision. The flap can also be dislocated, thus causing the need for further repair. This happens in about 1% of the patients. It has also been a problem in the past that LASIK misses the exact center of vision, causing double vision. Because the sculpting is done within the cornea, healing is quicker.

PRK, on the other hand, similarly involves sculpting the cornea but on the outside. Thus no flap is cut into the cornea. Instead the outer layer of the cornea, called the epithelial layer, is removed. A contact lens is placed on the eye for two to five days after surgery to protect the cornea as it begins to regenerate. Because no flap was cut into the cornea, the problems mentioned above are eliminated. However, with PRK there will probably be more pain since most of the pain receptors are on the surface of the cornea. Also, expect a longer time to recover from PRK. Full healing usually occurs in three to four months.

Most nearsighted people qualify for PRK laser surgery, but not all. Some criteria include age 18 or more, stable refraction error (eyes aren’t changing), free of diseases such as glaucoma, vascular disease, diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis, and freedom from other eye diseases.

PRK is not without risk either. The most common complication is dry eyes. This is the most common complication for all laser eye surgeries. Others include glare, halos, wrong correction, reduced ability to see in low light, or chromic pain. About one to three percent of patients have worse vision following surgery than they had before.

To know if PRK or LASIK refractory corrective surgery is right for you, consult an optometrist or ophthalmologist who is trained in these procedures. Risk is a factor in all surgeries, but now after more than ten years, the risk if small.

PRK VS. LASIK is a post from Lasik Eye Surgery