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LASIK:
This is a fairly simple procedure used to correct refractive
errors like Myopia, Hypermetropia and Astigmatism. LASIK, also
known as laser vision correction, is a surgical procedure that
can reduce a person’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses
by permanently changing the shape of the cornea. LASIK uses
an Excimer Laser (an ultraviolet laser) to precisely remove
corneal tissue to correct the shape for better focusing.
What are the guidelines and recommendations for having the Lasik
Procedure?
 The candidate
should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers), since
the vision of people younger than 18 usually
continues to change. An exception is the small child with one
very nearsighted and one normal eye. The
use of LASIK to correct the very nearsighted eye may prevent
amblyopia (lazy eye).
The candidate
should not be pregnant or nursing because these conditions might
change the measured refraction of the eye.
The member
should not be taking certain prescription drugs, such as Accutane
or oral prednisone.
The candidates eyes
must be healthy and their prescription stable. If the member
is nearsighted, he/she should postpone LASIK
until their refraction has stabilized, because myopia
may continue to increase in some patients until their mid to
late 20s.
Candidate
should be in good general health. LASIK may not be recommended
for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis,
lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts.
Weigh
the risks and rewards. If the candidate is happy wearing contacts
or glasses, they may want to forego the surgery.
Understand the
expectations from the surgery. Are they realistic?
For patients
with presbyopia, LASIK cannot correct their vision so that one
eye can see BOTH distance and near. However,
LASIK can be used to correct one eye for distance and the other
for near vision. If he/she can adjust to this
correction, it may eliminate or reduce the need for reading
glasses. In some instances, surgery on only one eye is required.
What is the age limit for LASIK?
The minimum age limit for LASIK is 18 yrs. There is no maximum
age limit for the procedure.
What are the prerequisites in terms of eye power for LASIK?
Any one with a stable refraction i.e. no change in spectacle
power for the past one year can undergo LASIK. Myopia up to
the power of -15 can be treated safely by the procedure.
Is the surgery painful?
The surgery is done under topical anesthesia, (drops) the actual
surgical procedure takes less than 15 minutes and the Laser
acts in each eye for less than 15 seconds, you will feel only
a mild discomfort and there is no actual pain felt during the
procedure.
Are both eyes done at the same time?
Some patients may prefer to have each eye done on different
days. In most cases, however, both eyes are done on the same
day. This avoids the period of imbalance that occurs if one
eye still needs correction while the other one doesn't.
Will I recover my vision immediately?
Yes!! You will recover your vision instantaneously.
How long should I take rest after the procedure?
You will have to take rest for 48 hrs and can resume normal
activities in 2 days after the procedure.
What is custom Lasik treatment?
Custom LASIK generally refers to individualized visual diagnosis
with technology called “wavefront,” which allows for customized
treatment with the excimer laser. There has never been a combination
of technologies that have allowed for this type of personalized
vision correction. The most exciting part is that while the
patient has the opportunity for an optimized visual result,
it can be done with unprecedented safety and precision. Every
patient’s eyes are different and therefore need to be evaluated
independently and treated uniquely. Now all steps of the laser
vision correction procedure may be personalized to the individual:
custom diagnosis with wavefront technology.
Will insurance cover LASIK?
Most insurance companies do not cover LASIK. Some special employee
programs, however, do cover a certain percentage. Patients should
inquire with their insurance representatives to determine benefits
and coverage.
What is the success rate?
Success depends on several factors, the most important being
the degree of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
Depending on the prescription, the surgeon can help determine
the likelihood of reaching 20/40 or greater vision. Approximately
95 percent of eyes treated with LASIK reach 6/6 or better vision
with one procedure. If a patient does not achieve his or her
goal with one procedure, additional correction often improves
their vision to a satisfactory level.
Uma Eye Clinic- introduces Intralase Bladeless Lasik.
Uma Eye Clinic has introduced newly developed
technology called IntraLase which enhances
the safety of LASIK vision correction by using laser energy
instead of a microkeratome, a cutting tool with a metal blade
used in traditional LASIK procedures.
In LASIK, the microkeratome is used to cut a hinged flap in
the cornea. The flap gets folded back, and an excimer laser
is used to remove (or "ablate") some tissue from the
newly exposed surface. Then the flap is put back in place, resulting
in a reshaped cornea that produces better vision.
With IntraLase, a special laser is used instead of a blade to
create the flap. Then the usual excimer laser does the ablation.
So in the IntraLase procedure, two different lasers are used,
which is why LASIK surgeons sometimes call it "bladeless"
or "all-laser" LASIK.
As in typical LASIK, the flap then is replaced to serve as a
type of natural "bandage" for healing.
While LASIK complications are relatively rare, they are sometimes
associated with the oscillating blade used with traditional
microkeratomes. Metal blades might create uneven flap edges,
resulting in abnormal corneal surfaces and vision defects such
as irregular astigmatism.
Metal blades also have been associated with formation of incomplete
or improperly formed "buttonhole" flaps that can cause
vision-threatening scars. Many eye surgeons report these types
of complications are far less likely with laser-created flaps.
As a replacement for microkeratomes, IntraLase creates flaps
through infrared laser energy that inserts a precise pattern
of tiny, overlapping spaces just below the corneal surface.
The IntraLase laser operates at extremely high speeds (pulses
of one quadrillionth of a second), allowing tissue to be targeted
and divided at a molecular level without heat or impact to surrounding
tissue.
Uma Eye Clinic on its constant endeavor to give the best treatment
to patients, has introduced this latest technology.
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Lasik 