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If you are considering lasik then one of the most important steps is finding a suitable center and surgeon. Many seem to pay scant regard to this step but unless you do some diligent intel it could prove a costly experience for you.

Lasik eye surgery centers are increasing in numbers and that means the competition between them is pretty intense. Does this mean your costs will be reduced? Well, while cost id an important consideration of lasik to select a surgeon or center simply because they are much cheaper than another is not really recommended.

More important are the reputations of lasik centers and their surgeons and even if you are on a tight budget, before considering price, make sure the first two points are looked at. Lasik is an extremely safe procedure and the risk is minimal but it’s there nevertheless. Don’t increase it by being reckless in your choice of laser eye centers.

Pre-screening For Lasik

Did you know that you don’t automatically qualify for lasik? It’s a fact and one of the most encouraging aspects of a reputable lasik eye surgery center is the stringent pre-qualification they conduct.

Those who have constantly changing vision correction requirements for example, may not be candidates for the procedure. Having this explained at lasik eye surgery centers may be disappointing, but they will not want to take the person’s money and perform a procedure that will not result in success.

Once you have a shortlist of centers then you need to conduct furhter intel. The decision you make will affect their vision in the future and although very few operations go wrong, having an experienced surgeon as well as an understanding staff should be important to everyone considering the operation.

Laser Eye Surgery Equipment

The type of laser equipment being used may be important to some, but more importantly is the experience of the surgeon in using that equipment. Following the operation patients will probably have limited contact with the surgeon and the staff at the lasik eye surgery centers will become an important part of their visual future.

Having staff that is willing to take your calls and answer any questions during the recovery period will be a major consideration. All of the laser eye surgery centers should be available to answer questions as well as respond to any emergencies that may arise after the surgery.

If possible, talking to others who have undergone the surgery at different lasik eye surgery centers will help you make a more informed decision. In other words, don’t make a hasty decision in selecting the most suitable lasik eye surgery center for you.

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Laser Eye Surgery is a subject that is being heard discussed more and more frequently and which is gaining a great deal of attention in the media these days. While this high-tech corrective eye surgery is becoming better known, there is still a gap for many people in understanding exactly what it is and the various types of vision conditions it can correct. Below is some general information on the topic that can provide the basic essentials to understanding this modern, medical marvel.

The most common type of Eye Surgery is called Lasik eye surgery and it does have some aspects that set it apart from other types of surgery to correct vision problems. The main distinction is that the Lasik procedure does not require the doctor to actually cut the cornea surface. This means that there are generally few complications with this kind of eye surgery and the risks to the patient and their vision is also very low.

Lasik is actually an abbreviation of the phrase “Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis.” This is a procedure that uses a beam of light from a laser, which allows the laser eye surgeon to make corrective adjustments to the eye while leaving the eye’s surface unharmed and intact. This approach to laser eye surgery offers a great advantage over the more traditional eye surgery methods, which could often damage the surface of the lens by the use of surgical instruments.

Laser Eye Surgery has become one of the most widely used and popular methods to correct vision problems. This corrective eye surgery is best suited for those who are near-sighted, who are far-sighted, and for those who have an astigmatism, which are all vision conditions that affect a significant portion of the aging, baby boomer population.

Lasik eye surgery is able to reshape the cornea of the eye, which is the outer layer, or covering. When this is done properly by the Lasik eye doctor, the light which passes through the cornea is better focused onto the retina at the back of the eye, which is essentially where the vision “signals” are interpreted.

In addition to being overwhelmingly effective, another advantage of this remarkable procedure is that the patient who undergoes the treatment experiences very little discomfort. Also, after the Lasik corrective eye surgery, the vision is noticeably improved almost instantly and there is no need to have the eyes bandaged, nor is there any need for stitches.

All of these factors combine to offer the Lasik patient a very fast recovery time, while also keeping the risk of infection or other serious complications to an absolute minimum. Before laser eye surgery was available, patients had to endure much greater pain, slower recovery and often had very serious problems afterward. While Lasik can be rather expensive, often in the neighborhood of $2,000 to $2,500 for each eye that is corrected, many of the better vision insurance plans provide at least partial coverage. However, even those who have to pay for the corrective eye surgery out-of-pocket are quick to say it was worth every penny.

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Even though laser eye surgery is considered one of the safest surgical procedures available, it won’t necessarily qualify you for surgery and doesn’t mean there are no risks involved.

Candidates should pay particular attention to laser eye surgery reviews because there is a difference between thinking you may need the procedure and understanding exactly what is involved. It’s the latter where many face frustration because many simply believe they automatically qualify. This is not the case.

Firstly, finding a suitable surgeon is a major step. Knowing as much about the skill and experience about the person you’re trusting to perform surgery on your eyes makes sense. And it’s skill plus experience which should be strongly considered.

But even if you find the perfect surgeon candidate, the tough part is about to commence and that involves the pre-screening process which will determine whether you are a suitable candidate or not.

Should You Take Notice Of Laser Eye Surgery Specials?

While the cost of laser eye surgery hasn’t skyrocketed in recent years it’s still an expensive process for most and the temptation to look for shortcuts is high. One warning, avoid being attracted towards cheap price advertising and if you do, read the fine print carefully. Laser eye surgery should never be determined on price alone.

Medical procedures performed mainly for cosmetic purposes are not usually covered and potential patients should consult their carriers to determine if lasik eye surgery insurance is part of their plan. Even without insurance picking up part of the tab, lasik eye surgery reviews show the surgery is still a popular alternative to wearing corrective lenses. Although there are a few circumstances in which insurance will cover the procedure.

The Procedure

Not all of the lasik eye surgery reviews should focus on the surgeon and staff. The procedure itself should be fully understood before going under the proverbial knife. While most times lasik surgery will correct a person’s vision in only one procedure, there have been times, outlined in lasik eye surgery reviews when a person has had to have two or more procedures to correct their vision effectively.

Once a patient has been examined and declared a good candidate for the procedure, they will be instructed on what to expect during the operation as well as what to expect following their day in the operating room.

According to most reviews of lasik eye surgery the patient will be allowed to go home at the end of the process, however they will not be able to drive themselves and will need someone to take them home.

The eye patch they will wear home from the surgery will remain in place for at least a week, following their initial visit the following day. Once the retina has had a few days to begin the healing process the patch can come off but hands must be kept away from the eyes for several more days.

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As the years roll on, dry eyes are a common fact of life for many people aged over 40. Blurred vision, gritty scratchy eye wear, burning sore eyes; these are all common symptoms that are used to describe the misery and irritation that accompanies age related dry eye syndromes. For large numbers of dry eye sufferers however the symptom that bewilders them the most are not the soreness or grittiness but how watery there eyes get with the most trivial of causes. A little bit of glare or the slightest of winds and they find tears racing down their cheeks. If their eyes are so dry why in the heck do they water so much?

The secret to understanding the dilemma of eye wear lies in understanding the nature of the tear film on the front of the eye and some of the more common causes of age related dry eye problems. Although tears look like water they are vastly more complex in nature. Anyone who has ever cried knows from the taste that they are slightly salty but what else do they contain?

Tears have three layers all with different important functions. Coating the front of the eye is a thin mucus layer. This mucus helps the second or watery layer stick close to, and spread evenly over, the eye’s surface. The middle layer is a thicker watery layer that gives tears their salty taste. It contains micro nutrients and special defensive enzymes that keep the eye moist and healthy. The outer or surface layer of the tear film is a very thin layer consisting mainly of lipids (oils). It’s main purpose is to keep the tear film intact as long as possible by slowing down evaporation.

Dry eye problems have many causes ranging from natural aging and hormone changes to the side effects of common medication and inflammatory conditions. One of the more frequent types, KeratoConjunctivitis Sicca (KCS) occurs when the middle watery layer is too thin or missing, usually due to poor production from the main tear producing gland, the Lacrimal gland. Another common type is due to evaporative tear loss. Any obstruction or malfunction of the Meibomium (oil) glands in the lids often means no oily top layer to the tear film and tears easily and quickly evaporating.

Any problems with the top two tear layers quickly cause intermittent blurred vision and the gritty sore eyes commonly associated with most types of dry eyes. When the main Lacrimal gland is not working there is little excessive tearing as tear production is cut significantly (e.g. Sjogrens Syndrome). However when the top lipid layer is missing there may be plenty of watery tears but they evaporate quickly and are too thin to lubricate the eye properly.

When eyes are poorly lubricated they become irritated very quickly and the brain sends out a signal for extra ‘emergency’ tears that overflow the system. These extra tears however are still too thin to lubricate the eye properly and ocular discomfort quickly escalates. This increasingly poor lubrication at the front of the eye from the missing lipid layer is the answer to the mystery of why some dry eye sufferers have the added misery of excessive tearing.

Most chronic dry eye wear problems cannot be cured, but they can be managed with the right combination of artificial tear supplements and ocular lubricants. Talk to your eye care practitioner about any prolonged eye discomfort and remember it’s perfectly possible to have ‘dry’ eyes that water like crazy!

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A lot of people wear Coloured contact lenses.  contact lenses are a way for people who regularly wear glasses to be free of the glasses and still see just as well, if not better, than with their glasses.  Many years ago, contact lenses were hard and uncomfortable, often popping out unexpectedly and landing on the floor, much to the dismay of the wearer.  But, times have changed.  Contacts have become comfortable to wear, and available even as bifocals or for people with astigmatism. 

contact lenses are even available in a variety of colours, for those who wish to see themselves with a different eye colour than they were born with.  These Coloured Contact lenses can be made for the wearer’s prescription just as regular contact lenses are. 

Coloured contact lenses are available from a person’s optometrist or ophthalmologist’s office, or to save money, prescriptions can be taken to many large stores or better still ordered from one of many online suppliers.  Be sure to check carefully before ordering online, to make sure the supplier you order from is legitimate.  The Better Business Bureau has a list of real companies, so you can check their website (www.bbb.org) before placing any online or telephone orders.

The contact lens wearer should be aware of some important things about Coloured contact lens use.  All Contacts need to be cleaned with a cleaning solution, and should not be worn overnight.  The eye needs oxygen, so lenses should not be kept in the eye over an entire 24 hour period.  Eyes that are deprived of oxygen for too long can get infected, and the vessels in the eye can swell for lack of oxygen.  This swelling can lead to permanent eye problems.Remember, make sure you clean your Colour Contact Lenses frequently and give your eyes rest when sleeping.

Besides oxygen, the eye needs moisture.  Modern contact lenses are designed to act like sponges, retaining essential moisture in the eye.  Still, the Coloured contact lens wearer may experience dryness from staring at a computer screen, working in air conditioned places, or strain from reading.  There are many eye drop products that can help moisturize the eye while wearing Coloured contact lenses in these situations.

There are different types of Coloured contact lens.  Extended wear lenses can be used for a long time with regular cleaning and daytime only use.  Disposable lenses are thinner and therefore more comfortable, but accumulate dirt particles quicker and tear more easily.  They are designed to last for 2 weeks and then be replaced with a new, clean pair.  They are cheaper than extended wear, which need to be replaced every 3-6 months.The more recent lenses have a much higher water content in them , so will be able to wear them longer and feel more comfortable.  Still, cleaning is essential to avoid infection.

If your eyes do become very irritated or infected while wearing your coloured contact lenses, give your eyes a few days to rest, and throw away your lenses to avoid re-infecting the eye.  It may be necessary to see your ophthalmologist for some antibiotic drops.  Contact lenses can be enjoyable and freeing to wear, when done responsibly for the eye health of the wearer.

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