What One Needs To Know If They Wish To Have The Lasik Eye Surgery St Louis Health Centers Offer

Many patients have benefited from Lasik eye surgery St Louis residents included

. The technique is used to treat conditions that cause refractive errors in vision. These include hyperopia (or long sightedness), myopia (short sightedness), presbyopia and astigmatism. It is similar to another procedure known as PFK (photorefractive keratectomy) but causes less pain and results in quicker recovery.

Patients with the above conditions have poor visual acuity. This means that the sharpness and clarity of their vision is decreased. Wearing glasses or contact lenses may solve this problem but these are often uncomfortable to many. The Lasik technique reshapes the cornea so that the refracted rays of light falling on the eye converge on the retina forming a sharp image whether the object is near or far.

As for any medical procedure, the first step is for the physician to take a comprehensive medical history and to conduct a physical exam. Emphasis, in this case, is laid on the ophthalmic examination. Both the thickness and surface topography of the cornea are determined and documented by use of special instruments. The areas that need reshaping are noted. The use of wavefront technology has greatly refined this procedure.

A few weeks before surgery, one is asked to stop using contact lenses. This is usually about three weeks for soft lenses and six weeks for the hard lenses. If this is not done, then there will be a prolonged duration of inflammation and consequently healing will be delayed. This is because lenses hinder oxygen supply to the cornea and thus delay healing.

The reshaping process involves removal of some tissue from the cornea. With the eye immobilized a flap is created from the cornea. This flap is peeled back to expose the middle section (stroma). An instrument known as an excimer laser remodels the stroma by vaporising tissue. Once the desired amount of tissue has been removed, the flap is returned to its position. This is done carefully to avoid trapping air bubbles and debris within the cornea. Healing then proceeds through the natural process. The procedure takes about thirty minutes.

Patients are usually discharged on the same day and given antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medication. These should be continued for several weeks so as to provide protection against infections. Patients are also asked to get enough rest. A darkened pair of shields and goggles helps to protect the eyes as they heal. Initially, the vision is blurred but it improves with time. It stabilizes within two to three months.

Dryness of the eyes is the most frequently reported complaint after operation. This symptom is treated with punctal occlusion, prescription tears or artificial tears. These, however, fail to work in some patients. Other complications include infections, double vision, light sensitivity, visualization of halos, and lid edge irritation among others. Patient satisfaction has been put at 95% in spite of these complications.

As for the outcome of Lasik eye surgery St Louis patients should know that it is variable. The success is determined by, among other things, the initial state of vision and the skill of the ophthalmologist. All factors held constant, patients with mild visual impairment tend to benefit more compared to their counterparts with greater degrees of visual abnormalities.

by: Tracy Narvaez

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