Health Chats
Eye Care: LASIK Surgery
Tuesday Feb 16, 2010, 05:00PM - 06:00PM (EST)
At Lasik<b><i>Plus</b></i> we know your vision changes throughout your life. But the importance of caring for your eyes and maintaining your sight never goes away. With constant advances in technology, more people can now be considered excellent candidates for laser vision correction than ever before. Whether it’s the hassle and expense of glasses or contacts, health issues, or the desire to focus on what’s most important to you, you have your own unique reasons for considering laser vision correction. <br><br>
Everyone’s eyes are different, and not every procedure is appropriate for everyone. Having helped a million people nationwide through this process, we at Lasik<b><i>Plus</b></i> have a lot of information to share with you. <br><br>
If you are considering LASIK surgery, or just want to learn more about the procedure, join Omar E. Awad, MD as he answers your questions regarding laser eye surgery. You can also call one of our Lasik<b><i>Plus</b></i> specialists anytime at 1-866-921-2179 or visit us on the web at <a href="http://clk.atdmt.com/CHI/go/147163270/direct/01/" target="_blank">www.LasikPlus.com</a>. We look forward to hearing from you!
MedHelp:
Hello Everyone! The health chat is going to start at 2pm pacific standard time. Please feel free to start submitting your questions.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Welcome to the MedHelp webchat! We will be discussing one of my favorite topics - LASIK laser vision correction!
parthyadav:
hi sir , i have heard that there are side effects after LASIK surgery like excessive dryness in eye,is it true? my eyesight is -(minus) 9,how safe is the surgery for me?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Any surgery can have side effects. Dryness of the eyes can occur after LASIK but is usually temporary, and is treated with eye drops.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
At minus 9 (-9 diopters) you are still within the treatable range for LASIK, but you would need a LASIK pre-operative examination to determine if you would be a candidate.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
LASIK surgery is very safe, particularly when done with the all-laser LASIK technique. I would recommend a visit to your local LASIK center to see if it would work for you.
michaelengels:
Is there any real benefit to having Intralase? Are the complications fewer with Intralase?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Excellent question! I believe Intralase has many benefits over the older style of cutting the flap with the microkeratome.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
The complication rate with traditional LASIK is low, but it is significantly lower with Intralase.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
The Intralase can create a flap with far superior precision in terms of the depth and size of the flap.
ElizabethZ300:
What sort of improvement should I expect in my vision, and how long will it last?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
I would expect that you will see at least as well as you do with glasses or contacts.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Many patients report seeing even better after LASIK than they did with their contacts or glasses, thanks to the lastest technology used by the lasers.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
The effect of the laser is permanent, so it should last a lifetime. Of course, there are other factors that can cause your eye to change, such as age.
jedidiah50:
I recently had to have cataract surgery on both eyes. I chose the lens that would make me see far away and chose to use reading glasses for close up. The eye prescription that I had prior to surgery was very light. The right eye came out just great. I can see really well. My optometrist told me it was set to infinity. My left eye was done on 12/14/09. When they put the lens in they tore a capsule located at the top of my eye when the were removing the plastic film on my eye. The surgeon has scheduled me for a laser treatment to get rid of the capsule.He said it will improve my vision. My optometrist told me that my left eye is set to 7 feet and that this laser procedure will not change my vision that much. Right now I cannot see anything close up or far away that is not blurry. The eye hurts all the time. Pressure headaches.. Is this normal to get one eye at infinity and the other at 7'. Did they put the wrong lens in ? Can this be fixed without glasses?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
It sounds like you had a very successful cataract operation on the right eye, but the left had a complication.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
The laser to the capsule should improve the clarity of vision, if it is the capsule that is cloudy. Please note, this is a different type of laser treatment than the lasers used in LASIK.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
If your left is is nearsighted (set at 7 feet away), you could potentially have a LASIK procedure to correct that and set the focal point to infinity. I would recommend allowing the eye to fully heal first. You should be able to discuss this with your cataract surgeon. Best luck!
thepcmanger:
How long is a typical lasik procedure and what are the post-lasik procedures?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
The LASIK procedure itself is very quick nowadays, often about 15 minutes or less for both eyes.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
After LASIK, we recommend taking a nap or resting your eyes for at least a few hours. The eyes heal very quickly, but will heal best with they are closed.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
You will likely have some eye drops to use after the procedure as well - an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and lots of lubricating (artificial tear) drops.
bubbles1976:
Hi sir, my 7 year old son is due for surgery next week, its for as bad turn in his eye, he has a optic glioma also due to having neurofibromatoses type 1,,, his eye sight is now at 6/38 in both eyes, can you please tell me what to expect?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Is the surgery for the turning of the eye, or for the glioma?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
It sounds like it is for the turning of the eye. If so, he will likely be given a general anesthetic (put to sleep), then the surgeon will move the attachments of the eye muscles so that the 2 eyes are straight - kind of like a re-alignment of the eyes. This is a very common operation, and I would hope that it will go smoothly for you.
aksquestion100:
How big is the risk of laser surgery? I have a friend that cannot see out of one eye and is nearsighted in the other. Would she be able to get laser surgery to correct her nearsightedness or is it too risky?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
Any surgery can have risks - important to remember. The risks with LASIK surgery are very small, but it is important to understand what they are and be certain that both you and your surgeon are comfortable with the small risks.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
One of my staff members has vision in only one eye and she wanted LASIK surgery so she would not need glasses for driving. She had the procedure a few years ago and did great - so it is possible to do the surgery if you are motivated to do so.
Omar E. Awad, MD:
I would recommend a visit to your local LASIK center to learn more about the risks and find out if you are a candidate. You can also learn more at the LasikPlus website www.lasikplus.com.
SFmonsterdark:
I'm currently treating a mild case of pink eye, is it ok to have my LASIK procedure while I'm battling Pink Eye?
Omar E. Awad, MD:
I suppose it depends how mild the pink eye is, and whether your doctor feels it is contagious. In general it is better to wait until the pink eye is resolved before having a LASIK procedure.
ziptwo:
What questions can I ask a Lasik Dr. to make sure he or she is qualified and experienced?
