Most corrective eye surgery is technically known as refractive eye surgery, an elective procedure intended to correct common eye disorders, or refractive errors, such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism (distorted vision).
Where does laser eye surgery come in?
Laser refractive surgery is rapidly becoming the most technologically advanced and popular method available today to correct refractive errors, primarily because it provides near-total precision and predictability. However, there are still a relatively small number of ophthalmologists in the US who are trained in laser refractive surgery and in the calibration and operation of the laser.
The excimer laser, which is used in this type of surgery, received FDA approval in 1995 for correcting mild to moderate nearsightedness. At present, the excimer laser is approved for use in procedures called photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK).
Photorefractive Keratectomy
Performed with local anesthetic eye drops, PRK is a refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea by removing tiny amounts of tissue from the outer surface with a computer-controlled ultraviolet beam of light. The beam is so precise that it can notch a strand of human hair without breaking it. The procedure is the commonest form of laser eye surgery, takes only a few minutes, and you can get back to normal life in a couple of days.
Is Laser Surgery for You?
Millions of patients have experienced total freedom from any kind of eyewear after laser surgery, but there are cons too, as with every surgical procedure. It is best to find out whether you are eligible for laser eye surgery. Here's a checklist so you don't end up with worse eyesight than you had before you went in:
- People who are slow healers or have ongoing medical conditions like glaucoma or diabetes are not good candidates for laser surgery
- Those with uncontrolled vascular disease, autoimmune disease, or people with certain eye diseases involving the cornea or retina are also poor candidates, so make sure you have a long chat with your doctor before you opt for surgery
- Pregnant women should avoid refractive surgery of any kind because the refraction of the eye may change during pregnancy
Facts you should know
- You needn't worry if your pain threshold is low, since there is hardly any discomfort during surgery. Once the anesthetic wears off, the degree of pain varies from individual to individual, but any irritation is minor and usually vanishes within hours
- Worried about when you can return to work? Usually in one to three days post-surgery, but a better idea is to wait until you feel up to it
- Convalescence is minimal, and usually you can be driven home about 30 minutes after surgery. Typically, your eyesight improves within 3 to 5 days
- According to numerous surveys in the U.S. and worldwide, the effects of surgery appear permanent. As people age, however, their vision deteriorates naturally, so re-treatment may be necessary
- Laser surgery does not really restrict your activities, except you should not rub your eyes after surgery. Other than that, you can do whatever work you feel up to provided you follow doctor's orders
The risk factor
In one word, minimal, but there have been a handful of cases where complications resulting from laser eye surgery have resulted in corneal transplants. So here goes:
- There is about a 0.1 percent chance of the cornea becoming infected after PRK, which usually means added discomfort and a delay in healing, but no long-term effects within a period of four years
- It is as yet not possible to definitely predict how your eye will respond to laser surgery. As a result, you may still need lenses after surgery for good vision. In some cases, a second procedure can improve the initial result
- Some patients find that their best vision with corrective lenses is worse than it was before the surgery. This is a result of either irregular tissue removal or development of corneal haze
- However, corneal haze is part of the normal healing process after PRK. In most cases, it has little or no effect on the final vision. However, some cases of excessive haze interfere with vision. As with under-correction, this can often be corrected by additional laser treatment.
- In some patients the effect of surgery gradually fades over several months. In such cases, a re-treatment is once again usually sufficient
- Some patients experience the halo effect, an optical effect noticed in dim light. As the pupil enlarges, a second faded image is produced by the untreated peripheral cornea. This can interfere with night driving. However, recorded cases are extremely rare.
As of now, a number of other lasers for eye surgery are being tested to determine their safety and efficacy. Such tests may allow for clinical studies involving the excimer laser and the correction of farsightedness, provided the FDA grants approval, which is something a potential patient should always check.
The popularity of laser correction surgery is growing for some very good reasons! For those of us who wear corrective eyewear, the benefits of ditching your glasses simply can't be exaggerated. For a few thousand dollars, most people can have the procedure performed and walk away with perfect vision. Here's our first hand experience of what it's like, without the heavy medical jargon you'll find elsewhere.
Laser eye correction might just change your life. Literally. My experience seems typical of so many patients who chose to take this route. Thanks to Lasik MD of Windsor, Canada, I now live a life completely free of vision correction. It's an amazing experience to say the least. While I was quite impressed with the clinic that did our procedure, this is by no means an advertisement for them. This is simply my testimony to how big of a positive impact this procedure could have on your life.
With a corrective near-sighted prescription of -2.75 and -3.25, glasses were not an option in my life, they were an absolute necessity. I couldn't drive, read, watch television, or clearly recognize a face from ten feet away. Any activity that caused sweat caused irritation, glasses sliding down my nose and slipping from my ears. The battle of the contact lens was a ritual whenever we planned outdoors summer activities. It was simply a part of life and those of you who need to wear glasses know exactly what I'm talking about. Up until recently, it was just something I had to deal with.
The decision to weigh out the risk involved was a short one for me. Sure, you could go blind. You could end up having worse vision. But, we face risk everyday. This is a small risk I was going to face. I had heard from plenty of folks who were thrilled with the results to convince me I was going to do it, once I had the funds. With any surgery, there are possibilities for complications. After calling a few clinics in Michigan, I quickly found that there were a wide range of prices available, but generally speaking, it was quite a bit cheaper to have it done in Canada. If you're considering surgery, be sure to look into this option before signing up anywhere in the states. Both eyes ended up costing me about $1,500 USD. Of course, you need to consider the costs of travel, hotel, and follow-up care in your budget process. They even take Visa!
I set up my appointment two weeks in advance, and found Lasik MD to be quite flexible in terms of times available. I scheduled my screening, surgery, and immediate follow up care in one three day span of a Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Upon arrival, the Lasik MD offices were surprisingly professional, clean, and inviting.
One thing I found was that thinking about the surgery was much worse than the actual procedure. The procedure itself lasted about 15 minutes total. It's somewhat of an uneasy thought of having someone do anything to your eyes, but again, I had some confidence because of so many positive testimonies from friends. The craziest sensation during the whole process was when they made the initial incision into my eye on the second day. If you've ever looked into a kaleidoscope as a child, this is the real thing ~ an odd feeling but completely painless.
I'd have to say the first few days after surgery were a little concerning, as intermittent cloudiness was how my vision went. But after several weeks, this almost completely went away. The halo effects lingered for awhile (you see a glare around lights noticed mostly when driving at night) but this also went away after a couple months.
Today, my vision is officially 20/20. I went out and bought a pair of expensive sunglasses. You know the significance of this if you're vision impaired! I see absolutely perfectly six months later and have had no regrets at all. In fact, I'd pay $10,000 for the surgery if I had to. It's that awesome! If you're interested in reading a more detailed version of our experience, including the disappointment my wife faced with this process, feel free to check out the link to our full detailed version below.
Both Marcus Grant & Michael Kerry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.