Laser Eye Surgery – An Affordable Solution by Kathryn Dawson

Laser eye surgery is used to treat many forms of vision problems. Macular degeneration affects mainly people over the age of 50, resulting in blurred vision and the gradual loss of eyesight. However, this can be treated successfully with laser eye surgery.

Macular degeneration can be either dry or wet. Dry macular degeneration is when the cells that are sensitive to light in the macular area of your eye break down and cause blurred vision. These symptoms occur slowly over a long period of time and are the most common form of macular degeneration occurring in about 90% of all known cases.

Wet macular degeneration is when abnormal blood vessels grow and then leak. This causes the retina of your eye to lift away, with swelling and impaired vision the result. Sometimes the symptoms can make straight lines suddenly appear to be wavy and an appointment with a doctor should be made immediately. Wet macular degeneration causes vision loss that cannot be repaired and must be treated with urgency. This is the rarest form of macular degeneration with only around 10% of all known cases attributed to this type.

Cataracts form gradually over a long period of time often being treated with contact lenses or glasses. After a while they grow and blurred vision increases. This is when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, like a pane of frosted glass. Cataracts tend to be suffered more in the elderly, although those with underlying medical issues such as diabetes can get cataracts at a much younger age.

Cataract treatment is very common even in the elderly and thanks to improved technology the recovery period for those undergoing this operation is very quick, usually just a few days. Consultation with the eye doctor will be needed within a few days of the surgery to assess recovery and the results of the operation.

Cataract treatment may involve laser eye surgery or it may use ultrasound. Ultrasound energy is used to break down the frosted layer of lens so that it can then be replaced with a clear synthetic lens which helps to improve your vision greatly.

Although this surgery sounds painful, it is widely reported that the whole procedure is pain free. If you are one of the many people who are due to have this operation, don’t worry as it is performed under a local anaesthetic, meaning you are awake and aware of the motions, but cannot feel the actual procedure taking place. The surgery takes less than 30 minutes on average and is done on an out-patient basis.

There are many advertisements on television and in magazines promoting various eye hospitals and if you feel you may need treatment with one of them, booking an appointment with one of their specialist eye doctors is simple. Checking their website may be a good idea as you will want to make sure they have state of the art equipment and highly experienced doctors specialising in eye conditions and surgery.

Having vision correction using laser eye surgery is practical for several reasons. You may be able to stop buying those monthly contact lenses or no longer need to wear glasses. It can save money and time in the long run and you will have no need to hunt down that missing pair of glasses first thing in the morning, as your vision should be greatly improved all day, every day.

Eye surgery comes in many forms (such as the different types of lens implants for cataract treatment and severe macular degeneration) and a consultation with a specialist eye doctor who will assess your particular needs and also explain which procedure will be right for you is always necessary; before any surgery is performed.

If your prescription is small or you have very little wrong with your vision then LASEK laser eye surgery may be the answer. For those with bigger prescriptions or eye problems such as astigmatism, then LASIK laser eye surgery will probably be advised.