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Benefits of Lasik Surgery Tips
Poor Candidates for LASIK
While LASIK can produce incredible results in terms of vision correction, not all patients with poor vision are good candidates for the procedure. Patients who are considering LASIK should consult with their eye surgeon to determine whether or not they are an ideal candidate for LASIK surgery.
Some of the conditions which may make a patient a poor candidate for LASIK include the following:
Thin cornea
A cornea with an abnormal structure
Pregnancy
Cataract
Corneal Dystrophies
Ocular Herpetic Keratitis
Diabetic Retinopathy
Severe dry eye
Patients with the above conditions may not be ideal candidates for LASIK but may find that other types of vision correction may be beneficial.
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Benefits of LASIK Surgery
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: Patients who are considering undergoing a LASIK procedure typically do so because of the many benefits of LASIK surgery. The most obvious benefit to this type of procedure is improved vision. LASIK surgery is a procedure in which a laser reshapes the cornea of the eye resulting in clearer vision. In many cases, the vision will improve to a level of 20/20. However, this is not the only benefit to this type of procedure. Increased convenience and more recreational and career opportunities are two other very important benefits.
Many LASIK patients enjoy the increased convenience which comes from no longer having to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction. Both eye glasses and contact lenses can be uncomfortable at times. Additionally, there are expenses involved with both types of vision correction. New eyeglasses and contact lenses must be purchased regularly and contact lenses require the purchase of cleaning solutions on a regular basis. With the improved vision associated with LASIK surgery, patients are able to save money on these products.
Patients who undergo LASIK surgery for vision correction also have the added benefit of recreational activities being more convenient and careers involving perfect vision becoming a possibility. Activities, such as cycling and swimming, can be difficult for those who rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses for vision correction. However, those who have undergone LASIK surgery and no longer need these items for vision correction find these activities to be more enjoyable. Additionally, some career opportunities are only available to those who have perfect vision without the aid of corrective measures. These include careers in law enforcement, the military or aviation just to name a few.
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LASIK Statistics
Patients who are interested in learning more about the benefits of LASIK should pay particular attention to the statistics regarding the results of the procedure. In reviewing these statistics, a patient should be sure to consult with an eye surgeon for information on whether or not he is likely to achieve these same types of results through LASIK.
The American Association of Professional Eyecare Specialists has published statistical information stating approximately 55 percent of all LASIK patients obtain results of 20/20 or better while approximately 92 percent of LASIK patients obtain results of 20/40 or better. However, other data seems to indicate the percentage of patients who wind up with 20/20 vision or better may be significantly higher with some data suggesting approximately 85 percent of patients achieve this degree of visual acuity.
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Increased Confidence with Vision Correction Surgery
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: For some patients, vision correction surgery such as LASIK can have a positive effect on the patient’s confidence. This phenomenon may not exist for all patients who opt to undergo a vision correction procedure but for those who find poor vision or the need to wear eyeglasses to be a source of embarrassment and frustration, LASIK surgery can have a confidence increasing effect.
Patients who need to wear eyeglasses before vision correction may be particularly susceptible to feeling self conscious about their appearance. They may feel as though the eyeglasses either hide them or simply do not flatter them. In these situations, vision correction without the need for eyeglasses makes these patients feel more comfortable and confident.
Even patients who wear contact lenses may suffer from diminished confidence as a result of their poor vision. Even if they currently correct their vision with contact lenses as opposed to glasses, they may still feel unsure of themselves because the vision is not extremely sharp in situations, such as dimly lit rooms. However, patients who have undergone LASIK surgery to correct their vision often see much better in these situations and as a result are less likely to feel awkward or self conscious.
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Long Term LASIK Results
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website, it is important for those who are considering LASIK to realize long term data is not available for this type of procedure. While initial LASIK results are overwhelmingly positive, the first laser approved for use in the procedure was in 1998 and as a result there has not been sufficient time to evaluate the long term LASIK results.
The results of LASIK surgery are considered to be permanent. However, as of now there is no long term data to support this consideration. Over time the long term results will be more fully analyzed and patients will have more information to use for the purposes of evaluating the long term LASIK results.
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LASIK Benefits for Patients with Astigmatism
The-Lasik-Directory.com Tip: Patients with astigmatism may mistakenly assume LASIK is not a viable option for them. However, it is important to note LASIK benefits can be obtained by patients with astigmatism. Astigmatism is essentially a result of a misshapen cornea and can be evident in conjunction with both nearsightedness and farsightedness. LASIK surgery is a procedure in which a laser is used to reshape the cornea so in many cases the astigmatism can be corrected during the vision correction procedure.
However, it is important to note that LASIK benefits, such as improved vision, may not be possible for all patients with astigmatism. This is because the degree of the astigmatism can make it much more difficult for the surgeon to correct the problem fully. For this reason, it is very important to have a thorough examination to determine the degree to which the procedure is likely to be effective in your particular case.
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Useful LASIK Surgery Statistics
LASIK surgery statistics can prove to be an excellent source of information for patients who are considering the procedure. This is because statistical data can be used to support the patient’s decision to undergo the procedure. Some of the LASIK surgery statistics a prospective patient may find useful include:
LASIK surgery was performed on approximately 1.3 million Americans in 2005
LASIK surgery takes approximately 10-15 minutes for both eyes
Custom, wavefront-guided procedures accounted for approximately 50 percent of all LASIK procedures performed in the United States in 2005
Bladeless, all-laser procedures accounted for approximately 25 percent of all LASIK procedures performed in the United States in 2005
In 2005, the average cost of LASIK surgery ranged from $2,200 to $2,400
Before committing to undergo a LASIK procedure, prospective patients should take the time to thoroughly research the LASIK surgery statistics which are most important to them specifically. Your eye surgeon may be able to provide a great deal of worthwhile statistical information but it is also important to do independent research on the subject, as well as relying on your surgeon to provide this type of data.
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Evaluating LASIK Success Rate Statistics
LASIK success rate statistics presented by eye surgeons can often be deceiving and difficult to understand. The national success rate for LASIK patients indicates approximately 92 percent of patients obtain a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. However, many individual surgeons boast success rates which are significantly higher than this with some claiming to have a 99 percent success rate for patients obtaining a visual acuity of 20/20 or better. This is often because the surgeon may have only performed the procedure on a relatively small number of patients and may have also only performed the procedure on patients requiring a small amount of vision correction.
When evaluating LASIK success rate statistics and comparing data for two or more surgeons it is very important to consider how many patients the surgeon has performed the procedure on. This is important because it is a good indication of the experience level of the surgeon.
It is also important to carefully examine the LASIK success rate statistics as they apply to patients with surgical requirements similar to your own needs. This is important because LASIK surgery is highly customizable and the more experience a surgeon has with similar situations, the more likely he is to be able to treat your unique situation successfully.
