By: Nicola Kennedy

Refractive surgery is a general term referring to the collection of many different surgical procedures, all with the key intent to fix the refractive error of the eye. Refractive surgery is the preferred treatment for rectifying a variety of vision impairments. Its popularity is owing to the fact that it produces efficacious and predictable vision improvement without any major side effects.

Essentially speaking, refractive surgery is any eye surgery employed to improve visual acuity and decrease dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The refractive surgery field encompasses operative procedures for all types of refractive errors, be it myopia, hypermetropia, astigmatism or presbyopia. The most common procedure is to use lasers to reshape the corneal tissue.

Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure. Especially recommended for treating nearsightedness, it consists of cutting a flap in the cornea in order to carve the tissue underneath and give it the desired shape. The eye surgeon may either use a microkeratome (a precision surgical instrument) or a laser to cut a flap of the corneal tissue. Then onwards, the underneath tissue is reshaped with the aid of the excimer laser (a high-precision ultraviolet chemical laser).

Other refractive surgery procedures include Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelium Keratomileusis (LASEK), EPI-LASIK, Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), Radial keratotomy (RK) and arcuate keratotomy (AK), among others. Cataract extraction and intraocular lens implants may also be considered as types of refractive surgeries, since the key intent is to extract the lens with a refractive error and replace it with a new lens that provides clear and improved vision.

As of now, LASIK is a clear winner among the available eye corrective surgical procedures. All the above listed refractive surgery procedures have potential complications. However, LASIK has a minimal complication rate of a mere 5%. With the technology in hand and with proper pre-operative examination, your laser eye surgery would go as smooth as a walk in the park.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=38180&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By: Stephen Fasenfeld

Clear unrestricted vision is a dream for those with long standing visual deficiencies. With lasik eye surgery in ireland, that dream is becoming a reality for millions. It’s not for everyone. Among factors to consider are age, career, activities, cost, risks and other health issues.

Consider Mandy. In reviewing all the options, she chose lasik. Although she’s young, she’s beyond the lower age limit of 21. She’s not into contact sports, so those risks are negligible.

Mandy’s insurance would not cover lasik procedures, but she lives frugally and had saved the money for it. She estimated that the costs of lasik surgery would be cheaper than other solutions when considered over a ten-year period.

Her vision had stayed at the same prescription for over a year, so her visual stability was good. Mandy wasn’t pregnant and expect to be in the next year, so her hormones should not cause her visual stability to fluctuate. She had no problems with dry eyes, nor did she have any previous incidences of eye disease or injury.

Lasik was perfect for her. Mandy had the procedure on a Thursday and was back at work on Monday. Even better, she was delighted with the results.

Then there’s Emma who’s also been thinking about lasik. She’s 32, and her insurance covers the procedure. With her perfect medical history, she has the sick time available and should be able to recover at home for a few days before returning to work. And, fortunately, there are no restrictions on lasik corrections in her type of job.

Trouble is, she just found out that she’s pregnant. That immediately rules out lasik for her right now, because pregnancy hormones can cause visual instability. Her optometrist recommends she wait at least a year after completing breastfeeding. Since this is her first child, and she wants other children, she’ll try for lasik eye surgery again in about five years.

Now, let’s talk about Andrew. He’s 45 with vision in only one eye. His astigmatism is such that his lasik surgery would be more extensive than usual. Furthermore, his vision has not been stable lately; he’s becoming more farsighted. And, the results of the surgery could diminish rapidly over the next few years, because of his increasing farsightedness.

Right away, he determined that lasik is not an option for him. Besides, the risks are just too great if you are already blind in one eye. His optometrist recommends contact lenses and reading glasses for close work.

Finally, there’s Sarah. She’s nearsighted, with no astigmatism. At forty, she’s not pregnant, not into contact sports, and has no restrictions on the procedure due to her visual health. So, she’s a good candidate for the lasik procedure, but she’s concerned with the relative newness of lasik eye surgery in Ireland.

Her insurance will not cover the procedure, and her financial situation won’t cover the cost right now. With her stable vision, she’s setting aside lasik for now and looking into contact lenses.

Lasik eye surgery in Ireland is becoming more popular. It isn’t for everyone, but many have gone through with the procedure and are happy with the outcome. Others have considered it, rejected it, and in so doing, have discovered new options for their visual health.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=202877&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

By: Peter Rankin

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, it could be that you are completely bored of putting them on every morning. It could be that you have started with another accessory – a chain round your neck for your glasses as you are in the habit of constantly misplacing them. The worst of all is when you are fed up of ‘wearing your eyes’ to see anything ! if you are in agreement with one or more of the statements mentioned here, it is high time that you tried an option which takes care of most of your problems. Do away with glasses or contact lenses. Go for Lasik surgery – a brand new technology which can repair your eyes surgically. There are many whose vision was restored to the 20/20 level. There are more who have had even better results.

But the sheer thought of a doctor focusing a laser beam into the eye and blinding it permanently is surely a scary thought. But getting properly educated on Lasik Surgery could eliminate many of the fears. One of the proven ways to overcome this phobia is to watch a Lasik surgery done on someone else. If this also does not help, contact your eye doctor who can refer you to a clinical psychologist, who can help.

Most doctors allow prospective patients to sit and watch a Lasik surgery done to another patient. Either it is video taped which you can watch or you may like to sit and watch the procedure live, of course with the patients’ consent. Once you experience the simplicity, painlessness and the convenience of the whole surgical process, you may feel comforted. More over, you may ask the patient questions like, what it felt when the surgery was in progress, how it feels now or any other questions you may have.

Information is power. So true in this case. The more information you gather, the more you learn about the pros and cons of lasik surgery the more equipped you are to face the surgical procedure, when it happens to you. Intensive and extensive knowledge about lasik surgery can put you at ease and prepare you to face the situation. Watching it happen to others is a wonderful way to learn. With eyes open all the time, the procedure is carried out – yet you cant see a thing because your head and eyes are kept fixed in one position. If this is scary news to you, watch it happen to some one else. It will put you at ease.

In case witnessing a surgery done on some one else is not quite your cup of tea, you can try getting a psychological counseling. Professional psychologists can cure any phobia. Some try it with hypnosis, some with visual aids to get the fear out of your system. And they do this pretty fast. If you think a good psychologist is expensive, you could try another method to overcome fear. Try meditation.

Meditation helps in soothing and calming the mind and body. It can help you lose weight, give you relief from stress and anxieties and help you overcome phobias. Once you know enough about lasik surgery, you could do some research on meditation and see how meditation helps in soothing battered nerves. “Meditation for Dummies” is a good book which teaches you a lot about mediation, the techniques and also what you can expect from it.

While all these are good ways to get fear out of your system, it could well be that you need a combination of several of these. Only you can tell, what is good for you to get over your phobias. But if you overcome your phobias and get the surgery done, you will be the one who will have the last smile. Because you would have got a better quality of life post-surgery.

The most important thing to remember is that if you don’t get over your fear you will be wearing glasses for ever (and keep on losing them also). Hopefully this should give you the right motivation to go ahead and kill that fear bug inside you.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=95220&ca=Advice

By: Nicola Kennedy

In order to understand the effectiveness of wavefront-guided LASIK, we must first have a quick roundup on the natural imperfections of the eye. The cornea and the crystalline lens are not perfect, and light rays passing through the eye are subject to being distorted due to these imperfections. These distortions are termed as “aberrations”, which are categorized as lower order and higher order aberrations.

Lower order aberrations constitute a major chunk (90% or more) of these aberrations, and lead to the more prevalent refractive errors, such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. These vision anomalies can be compensated for by corrective eyeglasses and contact lenses, or can be treated through conventional surgical procedures like PRK, LASIK or LASEK. However, the remaining 10% optical aberrations, also known as higher order aberrations, give birth to anomalies that cannot be cured via conventional LASIK.

Such a scenario necessitates the use of wavefront-guided LASIK.

Since higher order aberrations are entirely unique to a particular patient, much like fingerprints, a wavefront analysis system (known as an Aberrometer) is used to measure these aberrations. The Aberrometer is digitally interfaced with a sophisticated, computer controlled laser, which is directed in a precise manner over the cornea. In essence, the laser custom sculpts the cornea – a completely customized reshaping of the corneal surface.

The procedure employed by the wavefront analyzer to measure higher order aberrations would appear quite complex to a layman.

At first, a ray of light is passed through the eye and is reflected off the retina as an outgoing wavefront. This wavefront is compared against a planar wavefront, in order to determine both lower and higher order aberrations. These aberrations are displayed on a monitor screen in the form of precise 3D images. This information is then used for a custom ablation of the cornea, with the aid of an excimer laser eye surgery system interfaced with the Aberrometer.

On the whole, the conventional LASIK procedure would suffice for the treatment of common lower order aberrations, such as myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism.

However, higher order visual defects normally call for a much advanced surgical procedure like wavefront-guided LASIK.

If you find a LASIK doctor that you are confident about you will be able to get more information about wavefront guided LASIK.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=49427&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By: Nicola Kennedy

Traditional LASIK surgery achieves a simple correction of focusing power by reshaping the cornea with the aid of a laser. Wavefront LASIK is a variation of that conventional procedure and accomplishes a spatially varying correction based on readings from a wavefront sensor. In essence, a wavefront sensor measures the eye itself. It detects any aberrations by directing a weak laser source into the eye, and by sampling and processing the reflection off the retina.

Wavefront measurements reveal the irregularities of the lens, which cause optical aberrations (any deviation from a desired perfect planar wavefront). Wavefront custom sculpts the cornea to accomplish corrected vision. In many ways, Wavefront offers better results than traditional LASIK. The procedure is carried out by an ophthalmologist, with the aid of sophisticated computer-controlled equipment.

LASIK has certain potential side effects including halos or glare, which are caused due to induced spherical aberration. Wavefront has helped reduce instances of such cases where patients complain of post-operative halos or glares. A drop in such complaints is owing to the precise measurements provided by the wavefront sensor.

Thus Wavefront can help achieve a more optically perfect eye, since the corneal tissue area to be carved is measured more precisely using advanced technology and tools. But, wavefront aberrations are not the sole cause for all types of vision impairments. Therefore, Wavefront LASIK should not be treated as a panacea for all kinds of vision defects. However, eye surgeons claim that a great deal of success has been accomplished in patient satisfaction, relative to earlier refractive surgery procedures.

Though wavefront technology has been used for years by astronomers who require adjusting their telescope optics, its application to human vision has been discovered only recently. It’s true that Wavefront is a superior procedure, but it’s certainly not required by or suitable for everyone. It is imperative that you go through an elaborate wavefront diagnostic to determine if you are a potential candidate for it.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=39948&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By Leslie Burke

Can-C eye drops safely reverse cataracts and are approved by the IVP (Innovative Vision Products)for use on cataract suffering adults and backed by veterinarians for use on the common condition in senior dogs or canines. The new treatment avoids the need for surgical removal of cataracts and high priced private surgery while offering affordability and acknowledged proven results.

Dr. Mark Babizhayev Ma, PhD has patented a clinically trialled eye drop (Can-C)that has been proven to reverse cataracts without the need for surgery. It uses the raw material N-Acetylcarnosine to reverse the damage of cataracts by simply applying several drops into the eye each day.

Statistically the United Kingdom has over 500,000 cataract suffers waiting for surgery at any one time. Just one London Hospital carries out 250 - 500 cataract surgeries every week. Can-C N-Acetylcarnosine eye drops is a safe and effective way to treat cataracts without the need for surgery.

As expected people in the international market place saw the opportunity to capitalise on this breakthrough and started to offer similar products that came with very poor results. Dr. Babizhayev voiced his concerns by saying “these companies often reference my research in their marketing efforts even though they have no affiliation with me and are definitely not offering my proprietary N-acetylcarnosine (Can-C) formulation which the research was based upon.”

Fortunately there is a simple way for consumers to Verify if they have purchased the “Clinically Proven Formula” because each product has the statement “Approved by Innovative Vision Products (IVP).” printed directly on the box!

IVP is a Pharmaceutical and Nanotechnology Development Company with a portfolio of patent protected innovative chemical entities, drug delivery systems, and unique medical devices to target specific biomedical applications. Do Not be fooled by random formulations and claims from other companies.

Remarkably the success is not limited to humans as Can-C eye drops are available for Canine or Dog cataracts too. Happily, many dog owners are using this product to effectively address their pet’s cataract condition including veterinarians.

Jack Stephans DVM of Pets Best Insurance said “as a veterinarian I want to let you know that I am recommending N-acetylcarnosine (Can-C) for the treatment of canine or dog cataracts. After applying Can-C eye drops to my 15 year old miniature pinscher, “Skeeter”, for one year, the cataract in his right eye has diminished! Your cataract eye drops are a modern scientific miracle for our pets.”

Like Dr Stephans we all love our pets and would do most anything to help them enjoy their more senior years. Administering Can-C is safe, affordable and has no reported side effects backed by controlled clinical trials.

If you would like to read more about Dr. Mark Babizhayev, his research, testimonials or are a Physician, Veterinarian or Alternative Health Care Practitioner wishing to find out more then please visit the N-Acetylcarnosine (Can-C) Cataract Eye Drops website where there is detailed information and full scientific explanations on how Can-C works.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=204117&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By M. Jedidiah

In the modern world, laser eye surgery is one of most widely performed procedures every year. Since it was first performed in the United States in 1991, more and more people looking to rid themselves of expensive and inconvenient eyeglasses and contact lenses, have turned to corrective eye surgery to achieve their goals.

Today, more than one million people in the U.S. alone have undergone the procedure – most with no complications and amazing success. In fact, only 3-6% of those who have undergone the procedure have reported any long term complications associated with it, making safe laser eye surgery what most people have come to expect. But in order to really ensure your safety when it comes to laser eye surgery it is imperative to act as an advocate for yourself and take the steps necessary to protect your health and your eyesight.

Laser eye surgery utilizes laser technology to resurface the cornea – the thin, transparent covering of the eye. During the procedure, the surgeon will make a small incision in the top layer of the cornea in order to create a flap. Once the flap is folded back the mid-section of the cornea is revealed and the surgeon can then use a low-powered laser to resurface the cornea – clearing the way in which light is refracted in our eye and thus improving vision.

The patient’s eye is numbed the entire time during the procedure and most who have undergone laser eye surgery report little to no pain associated with the procedure. Nonetheless, there is risk associated with every surgery. And when it comes to laser technology used in and around the eye, it is absolutely imperative to ensure that you are working with skilled and reputable surgeons and a surgery center that is committed to patient care through safe laser eye surgery.

The burden of finding this information is up to you – the patient – but is well-worth the time it will take to ensure a positive experience. Begin your search for safe laser eye surgery by researching the laser eye surgery centers in and around your area. Talk to friends and family who have undergone the procedure to assess their experience; and get recommendations from your general eye doctor and even your primary care physician. Recommendations are key to narrowing your search for a reputable surgery center.

Once you have narrowed your search through recommendations it is crucial that you conduct your own research by examining each surgery center’s history, surgical and patient care philosophy, reputation in the industry, and financial options that will be available to you. Follow-up this research by visiting the surgery centers yourself to assess cleanliness of the facility, professionalism of the office and medical support staff, and commitment to safe laser eye surgery through the level of technology being used.

Finally, meet with the surgeon who would perform your procedure to determine his/her experience and strategy for patient care and safety procedures. Any surgeon in which you are interested should perform laser eye surgery on a daily basis and have an overall dedication to safe laser eye surgery and successful results.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=162731&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet

By Remy Jirek

Does laser eye surgery work for every person, all of the time? Anyone who is thinking about getting laser eye surgery is worried that his or her surgery will be the one that the surgeon messes up on. No one wants to go in for laser vision correction surgery and come out unable to see. It is important to understand the risks involved with this type of surgery.

Laser surgery is not guaranteed to work every time and on every person. The surgeon’s job is to inform you of the possible risks and different outcomes that can occur with the type of surgery you will be having done. At the consultation, if you come prepared to ask questions, your doctor will be happy to answer them to the best of their ability. Your doctor wants you to feel comfortable with having the surgery, but they also want to know that you are fully informed about all the possible risks.

Although laser eye surgery is a fairly new surgical technique, thousands of doctors are doing this type of surgery on millions of patients every year. This is a rapidly growing field with a new clinic in almost every major city across the country.

The Consultation

Before your surgery and even before your consultation you should do some research of your own. Take some time to research the procedure you are thinking of having done as well as the ophthalmology surgeon.

Your surgeon is required to have attended specialized training on corrective eye surgery. You can ask the clinic to forward you the training information on your physician and also ask them for the contact information necessary to verify his licensure.

Trust

Many people do not want to be seen as not trusting their doctor so they do not look into their surgeon’s education or references. But it is important for you to do this. Although most laser eye surgeons are very reputable and extremely well trained, there are plenty of surgeons that are operating without the proper training.

Your surgeon does not mind you checking into their education and training. That is to say, a good surgeon will not mind. A good surgeon may even offer you this information up front without you ever asking. Just make sure and verify all the licensing and training information on your surgeon before the day of your operation.

Lawsuits

You can also ask your surgeon or just call the clinic and ask if they have any pending lawsuits against them. Because of the risks associated with this surgery it is extremely important for you to know how often your surgeon is being sued for something going wrong during the surgery process.

Even though laser eye surgery is extremely common practice you should still take the time to investigate if the surgery is right for you. You should be informed about the risks of the surgery as well as the possible benefits. You should also be informed as to your physicians history, education, and licensure before you decide to have laser vision correction surgery.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=111222&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By Gabriel Adams

Laser eye surgery is becoming more and more popular as more research is conducted and more sophisticated procedures are being developed. Laser eye surgery is the best alternative to glasses or contact lenses, as it removes the need to don any object in order to improve upon one’s sight. Laser eye surgery is now much more safer and less expensive then it was ten years ago, and no one can foresee the advances that scientists will make in the field in ten years.

Specialized doctors all across the nation are now involved in this field. The business is lucrative, as many people are interested in the procedure, as well as prestigious. The service is even being advertised heavily on TV now, and there are many establishments completely devoted to laser eye surgery.

As stated, laser eye surgery is very cheap (relatively) nowadays. Some companies who have put their businesses online proclaim they will perform the procedure for less than three hundred dollars. On television, advertisements for laser eye surgery have deals such as, “Pay $2,000 for one eye, and get the second eye half off!” Some people have even pondered about getting one eye done and then having the other done months or even years later, just to save money.

Some of the long term effects of laser eye surgery are not yet known. A humorous look at a possibly “blinding” effect is your eyes falling out after ten years (Simpsons). Of course, that is extremely unlikely, if not totally impossible, as an effect that extreme. However, it is truly unknown about some of the lesser serious long term effects laser eye surgery, but that small possibility should not stop anyone from receiving the procedure, if they need it.

It might be better to wait a few more years before having laser eye surgery, as so far the research has been exponential and it become even more safer and effective then it is now in just a few years. Still, the technology today is still amazing, and it is definitely worth having the procedure done now.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=104053&ca=Medicines+and+Remedies

By Lee Dobbins

Electing to have corrective surgery on your eyes can be a great way to free yourself from the daily grind of constantly cleaning off and adjusting your glasses or cleaning contact lenses. This type of corrective surgery is quite common these days and considered safe. Before you decide to have this procedure, you should do some research on both the type of surgery and the doctor who you want to perform it.

Types Of Laser Eye Surgery

Before you pick your Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Newark location, you should look at the different types of procedures. Three type of surgery you may want to consider include:

• LASIK or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis is the most well known. This surgery cuts a flap in the cornea and reshapes it by removing tissue. It is a fast procedure with healing in a day or 2 and immediate improvement in eyesight.

• PRK or Photo Refractive Keratectomy is the procedure that has been around the longest. Cells are removed from the cornea to reashape it and improve vision. It has a healing time of a month and vision improvement is not immediate but gradual over time.

• CK or Conductive Keratoplasty is a fairly new procedure. Uses radio frequency energy applied with a hair thin device to reshape the cornea. It is an extremely quick procedure with very quick healing.

Risks

Although most people are good candidates for corrective eye surgery, some should not undergo the treatment or it may seriously impair their vision. For this reason, you should discuss having the surgery at length with your doctor who should advise you of any risks and evaluate your situation to insure the surgery is safe for you. In rare cases your vision could become severely impaired, so it is important to get a thorough evaluation and disclose all health issues to your doctor. Other risks include fuzzy vision, irritation of dry eye syndrome and loss of clearness of vision.

Benefits

Being about to see without the aid of contacts or glasses is wonderful! Imagine waking up and being able to see beyond the end of your bed? There are many everyday benefits to having your vision restoned. Without having glasses or contacts in the way, it is much easier to be active and play sports. Plus you’ll never have to worry about breaking or misplacing your glasses or contacts or incur the yearly expense for new prescriptions.

Obviously, you should take any procedure involving your eyes very seriously. Make sure you put a lot of consideration into the procedure and doctor you want to restore your vision.

Source: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=2658&ca=Wellness%2C+Fitness+and+Diet.