In the modern world, laser eye surgery is one of most widely performed procedures every year. Since it was first performed in the United States in 1991, more and more people looking to rid themselves of expensive and inconvenient eyeglasses and contact lenses, have turned to corrective eye surgery to achieve their goals.
Today, more than one million people in the U.S. alone have undergone the procedure ? most with no complications and amazing success. In fact, only 3-6% of those who have undergone the procedure have reported any long term complications associated with it, making safe laser eye surgery what most people have come to expect. But in order to really ensure your safety when it comes to laser eye surgery it is imperative to act as an advocate for yourself and take the steps necessary to protect your health and your eyesight.
Laser eye surgery utilizes laser technology to resurface the cornea ? the thin, transparent covering of the eye. During the procedure, the surgeon will make a small incision in the top layer of the cornea in order to create a flap. Once the flap is folded back the mid-section of the cornea is revealed and the surgeon can then use a low-powered laser to resurface the cornea ? clearing the way in which light is refracted in our eye and thus improving vision.
The patient's eye is numbed the entire time during the procedure and most who have undergone laser eye surgery report little to no pain associated with the procedure. Nonetheless, there is risk associated with every surgery. And when it comes to laser technology used in and around the eye, it is absolutely imperative to ensure that you are working with skilled and reputable surgeons and a surgery center that is committed to patient care through safe laser eye surgery.
The burden of finding this information is up to you ? the patient ? but is well-worth the time it will take to ensure a positive experience. Begin your search for safe laser eye surgery by researching the laser eye surgery centers in and around your area. Talk to friends and family who have undergone the procedure to assess their experience; and get recommendations from your general eye doctor and even your primary care physician. Recommendations are key to narrowing your search for a reputable surgery center.
Once you have narrowed your search through recommendations it is crucial that you conduct your own research by examining each surgery center's history, surgical and patient care philosophy, reputation in the industry, and financial options that will be available to you. Follow-up this research by visiting the surgery centers yourself to assess cleanliness of the facility, professionalism of the office and medical support staff, and commitment to safe laser eye surgery through the level of technology being used.
Finally, meet with the surgeon who would perform your procedure to determine his/her experience and strategy for patient care and safety procedures. Any surgeon in which you are interested should perform laser eye surgery on a daily basis and have an overall dedication to safe laser eye surgery and successful results.
That is why, in order to have safe eye surgery performed, it is critical that you are completely comfortable with the laser clinic that you have selected, the staff and the surgeon who will be performing this procedure. To minimize your risk, it is therefore important that a number of processes be accomplished to check the experience and reputation of the clinic.
First of all, it is important to know that safe laser eye surgery is the common experience for many who undergo this procedure. However, a checklist evaluating the clinic and staff would include asking for referrals and asking the staff a number of questions that will increase your level of comfort with those that will be attending you.
The Safety of Laser Eye Surgery
One of the common concerns expressed by those who are considering laser eye surgery is the potential of losing their eyesight. It is important to understand that there have been significant strides in laser surgery. It has been recently reported in various medical journals that the incidences of complications has been reduced significantly.
The reality of safe eye surgery has become so commonplace that the miniscule percentage of patients experiencing difficulties were reduced from a reported five percent down to one percent of patients who received the surgery. Furthermore, those complications were not permanent and negative results were resolved through additional treatments. Additionally, it is important to note that permanent or partial loss of eyesight, due to complications, was exceptionally rare.
The Key to a Positive Experience
Choosing the right surgeon to perform the operation is the foundation to a safe laser eye surgery experience. Selecting the right surgeon can be accomplished through a number of processes. These processes include the use of referrals from your regular eye doctor, friends, neighbors and business acquaintances who may have undergone this successful procedure.
In addition, when investigating the various surgeons available, there are numerous web sites and associations that can be contacted that will provide a list of certified surgeons that can perform safe laser eye surgery. Also, a reputable surgeon will take you through the various steps that will explain the procedure and your being a good candidate for the Lasik surgical procedure.
Another key aspect to safe laser eye surgery is being comfortable with the staff at the eye care clinic. The technicians and other supporting staff should give the air of professionalism. Also, you should be comfortable with their knowledge and expertise in the familiarity with the equipment that will be used in the performance of the surgery. It is highly recommended that, because it is your precious eyesight, that you ask numerous questions. These questions should be answered to your satisfaction and should leave no doubt in your mind and heart as to the capability of those that will be assisting in the surgical procedure.
Both M. Jedediah & Scott Fromherz 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.
M. Jedediah has sinced written about articles on various topics from Family, Finances and Computers and The Internet. http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on. M. Jedediah's top article generates over 74000 views. to your Favourites.
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