LASIK surgeries are the most common of all eye surgeries performed today. More than a million United States citizens have the procedure done on their eyes each year. Of those a fair portion resides in, or near Austin, Texas. It is often called LASIK Austin due to the growing LASIK industry preceding it.
Why LASIK?
Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgeries can work to correct farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism, but are most common in those suffering from the latter two. This provides many patients to ability to live with much reduced glasses prescriptions, or entirely free of the corrective lens all together.
Who is the Ideal Patient?
Those who suffer from near-sightedness may want to consider a LASIK procedure to correct their vision. However, there are other criteria that your surgeon will consider before moving forward with it. First and foremost, your eyes must be healthy. There are some conditions such as uncontrolled glaucoma and forms of macular degeneration that could prevent you from being considered an acceptable candidate for the procedure. However, less severe conditions such as conjunctivitis or dry eye syndrome can be treated or controlled in order to prep your eyes for the surgery. Those with the latter will likely be prescribed eye drops in order to ensure no complications arise post-surgery.
Because Lasik eye surgery treats vision, you will also be declined the procedure if your eyes are still fluctuating in eyeglass prescription level. Therefore, younger adults and children are not always considered good candidates for the surgery, simply because their eyes are still changing at such a rapid rate. The ideal person will have stable vision for at least one year. In other words, your eyeglass prescription has remained the same for that length of time. This prescription will also have to fall within a certain level. Too severe or too mild a vision problem may be declined. Though, for those suffering from extreme nearsightedness, there may be other options, so if in the Cedar Park or Georgetown vicinity, please contact us for more information.
Woman who are pregnant or have very recently given birth are likely to be declined because hormone levels can cause changes in vision and the medications that may be used during or after surgery could be considered a risk for an unborn child or an infant that is nursing.
Finally, certain diseases can rule out this procedure, simply because they make it too risky. Rheumatoid arthritis, type 1 diabetes, HIV and AIDS are some of the examples that may be considered automatic disqualifiers.
Who performs the surgery?
To find out more about the procedure, to determine if you qualify for it and to have all your questions answered, you will want to speak to a licensed ophthalmologist. These are specialists with Doctorates of Medicine. They have spent eight years schooling and at least four years thereafter in internships and residencies in ophthalmology to be fully equipped to handle your eyes. They are licensed and equipped to test for serious eye conditions and diseases, such as Macular Degeneration treatment, as well as performing LASIK and other eye surgeries, such as implanting a Toric Lens. Ophthalmologist also have other duties that are performed regularly, these could range from a corneal transplant to glaucoma surgery and even things such as dry eye treatment.
What should I except from the procedure? This surgery does not require a stay in the hospital in the vast majority of cases. In fact, it typically takes less than an hour, after which patients are able to return home- though will require someone to drive them.
The eye is prepped with numbing drops prior to the surgery beginning. This reduces any discomfort related to the procedure. The lids are propped open with a special device, while you lie back and then he or she will mark the cornea with a special marker to give direction as the surgery progresses.
In most cases today, the cataract surgeon uses a laser to create a flap in the cornea to help improve macular degeneration. The laser is positioned and suction cupped to the eye to ensure that the eye does not move during the laser cut. This flap is then folded back, so the surgeon can reshape that portion of the eye by removing some of the tissue with another type of laser. The ultraviolet beam allows the doctor extreme control as he or she makes the judgment regarding which, and how much, of the tissue needs to be displaced For those suffering nearsightedness, the steepness of the cornea must be reduced, while just the opposite is necessary for those with farsightedness. Astigmatisms require that irregularities of the cornea be smoothed. The newly shaped cornea will better focus light onto the retina allowing it to send better messages to the brain, thereby providing the person a clearer picture of the world. Once the reshaping is complete, the flap is laid back in place.
What are the risks?
Though complications are rare, there are some risks that should be discussed between you and your surgeon. Many of these issues can be avoided if a proper eye examination, including a medical history review, is performed prior to the procedure. However, some, regardless of how ideal a candidate they may seem, will still suffer a negative side effect or complication. The FDA reports that fewer than five percent of patients could experience increased glare or sensitivity to light, visual fluctuations, or halos around natural or generated light sources. Approximately three percent of those that receive the surgery have reported that their vision became worse as a result of it.
Will insurance cover the procedure?
Unfortunately, most insurance will not cover the cost of Lasik surgery, unless special circumstances led to the need of the surgery. If you reside in the Round Rock area, contact us for more information regarding these special cases. For all others, this means that LASIK must be pair out of pocket. Though the cost will range drastically depending on the area where you live, there average prices for this country run between fifteen hundred and two thousand dollars per eye. You may find prices significantly less than this, but you will want to take special care to read fine print and to fully research the doctor performing the procedure. Remember, these are your eyes- your window to the world- that you are entrusting to another person.
About the Author: Mark Masters has authored may pieces on the eye care & surgery industry and enjoys keeping his readers up to date in this field
