Laser Eye Surgery: Delivering Spot On Vision To Folks Who Have To Wear Glasses by Andy Guides Jr

Laser eye surgery, also called LASIK surgery can correct less than normal vision. In most cases the surgery is successful and the individual can see well without the aid of glasses or contact lenses. This type of surgery was developed in 1990 and has become increasingly popular.

Laser surgery has worked well with people that have myopia and hypermetropia. In perfect vision light goes into the eye through the lens. It is refracted or bent to fall on the retina, which focuses the image. When you wear eyeglasses the lens work with the natural lens of the eye to make the light refract and focus in the retina right where it is supposed to be.

The light overshoots the retina with people that have myopia. Instead the light hits the cornea, which cannot sharpen the image. When laser surgery is applied the cornea is reconfigured so that the light gets to the retina and focusing will no longer be a problem. The material in the center of the cornea is thinned out and removed. In hypermetropia the light is unable to get as far as the retina. In this case material is removed from the edges of the cornea and it allows the light to reach the retina.

When surgery is performed pain medication is given to the patient being put directly on the cornea. Tape is used to stop the eye lids from shutting and a speculum is screwed on to make sure the eye lids never close during surgery. A cut is made in the corner to make a small flap. Then the laser moves in to remove material from the cornea. Once that is done the flap is replaced and it is all over. It only takes a few minutes to perform the procedure and the only thing the patient might feel is a bit of discomfort. The laser is automated and the perimeters are entered into it prior to surgery so there is very little chance anything can go wrong.

Only those people whose eyesight has been relatively the same for a long period of time are appropriate for the surgery, which generally leaves out patients that are very young. There may be some problems with those people that have a thin cornea. If there is not enough material to remove to reposition the focus, the procedure cannot be done. Most of the time these are patients that have very bad eyesight. People with astigmatism or presbyopia (relating to age vision conditions) are usually appropriate for the procedure.

Health Insurance will not support laser procedures and the patients have to pay for it themselves. There are those doctors that will take payments but most want to be paid completely up front. When you pick a doctor make sure to get one that has done this surgery time after time. A doctor that charges a cheaper price but is not experienced is not a good idea. Expect to pay anywhere from USD $1500 to $3000 for the surgery. If you find someone to do it cheaper make sure to see their policy on add on charges. You will find that every little thing will be charged and not included on the quote that was given to you to begin with. Make sure the price they request is the only thing you will have to pay for.

Laser eye surgery is major surgery and should not be taken lightly. There are many preparations that must be done such as avoid wearing contact lenses for a period of time before the surgery and eye make up must be avoided. Depending on the type of lenses you wear it could be several weeks of preparation. After surgery eye makeup needs to be avoided for a period of time and you must wear an eye guard when you sleep. Eye drops need to be administered and antibiotics taken. It might take awhile to be able to see well after surgery but in most cases vision is improved right away and about 90 percent of those that have surgery are successful at having perfect vision without the aid of glasses or contacts.