New Eye Correction Techniques

Technological advancements and improvements in surgical technique have had a tremendous impact on vision correction. Laser technology, used for an ever-growing number of purposes in the medical field, is now used for eye-correction procedures. According to DocShop.com, LASIK eye surgery, which millions of Americans are having each year, is the most popular eye surgery for vision correction, as of 2009.

Get the Details on the Eye Condition from the Optometrist

• To take advantage of new eye-correction techniques that have made vision improvement a safe, fast and effective process with lasting results, an optometrist must assess the eye condition in detail. A vision deficiency means that light does not properly reach the retina (the back of the eye that sends the visual message to the brain), due to some abnormal corneal shape with too much or too little tissue. The cornea is the clear front "window" of the eye that light passes through to reach the retina. Nearsightedness implies that the cornea is too steep, and farsightedness implies the cornea is not steep enough. LASIK surgery, which adjusts the cornea tissue with laser technology, is a favorable solution for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. However, not everyone is a candidate for LASIK surgery, and exclusion is usually due to the condition of the cornea. The understanding of the eye condition must be as specific as possible--nearsighted, farsighted or prescription strengths are general descriptions that will not determine candidacy for new eye-correction techniques. The optometrist will usually recommend an ophthalmologist, based on the diagnosis. The ophthalmologist will look at the eye again and determine which type of surgery is best.

Take the Ophthalmologist's Advice

• The ophthalmologist determines candidacy for LASIK surgery first. While it's normal for the patient to want the latest in laser-vision correction, some patients have corneas that are too thin to undergo LASIK surgery. LASIK surgery procedures involve cutting a flap on the front of the cornea, beneath which the surgeon adjusts the corneal tissue. If the cornea is already excessively thin, LASIK becomes an option with risks and complications. Patients who are too young (under 18, according to DocShop.com's report on LASIK surgery) often must wear contacts or glasses until their eyes have matured. Patients over 40 must be carefully considered. LASEK or PRK surgery is an alternative for adults who do not qualify for LASIK surgery.

Be Aware of Side Effects, and Have Realistic Expectations

• AllAboutVision.com's in-depth report on LASIK surgery lists the 2008 results of a worldwide study that concluded that the satisfaction rate of LASIK patients around the globe is 95.4 percent, and fewer than 1 percent of patients have experienced serious complications as a result of laser surgery. New eye-correction techniques relieve most patients of the need for corrective eyewear, and most patients experience instant vision improvement. This improvement will be at the best possible level the patient achieved with prescription glasses or contacts. Expectations cannot exceed this "best vision" level, meaning that if prescriptions did not achieve 20/20 vision, neither will LASIK or other new eye-correction types of surgery. If the "best vision" was 20/40, then 20/40 is the goal of laser surgery. According to AllAboutVision.com, LASIK and other laser-eye techniques yield the best results on patients with mild to moderate vision deficiency, and may not work as well on those with severe vision problems.

  LASIK's near-flawless track record does not mean an absence of side effects. Inconsistent vision is one common side effect, which typically lasts from a few days to a few weeks after surgery, but can also go on for months, during which the patient experiences fluctuating blurriness, vision strength, halos and starbursts, double vision or "ghosting," and dry, sensitive eyes. If inconsistent vision persists beyond three months after surgery, an enhancement procedure may be required.

Remember that Enhancement Procedures are Not Uncommon

• Many new eye-correction procedures require enhancements. Laser surgery often requires enhancements for undercorrection, or for continual inconsistent vision caused by the wrinkled or misplaced corneal flap of the first procedure. While new eye-correction techniques are more precise than older procedures, due to laser technology, surgeons lean toward undercorrection, rather than running the risk of overworking the eye's tissues, since enhancement procedures are "easy," according to AllAboutVision.com. Enhancement procedures are almost identical to the first surgery, but with rapidity, due to the surgeon re-using the flap made in the initial surgery, which significantly cuts down the time. AllAboutVision.com also suggests that a surgeon should not be judged on how many enhancement procedures he has performed, but should be asked whether this surgery will have a cost if needed, since many doctors offer it free.