The cost of Lasik vision correction can be a deciding factor for many people who depend on corrective lenses everyday. Lasik eye surgery can be quite expensive and for many, this is cost-prohibitive. Most insurance companies do not pay for Lasik surgery because it is considered elective. There are ways however, to pay for Lasik, even for those who are on a budget.

For people who wear corrective lenses, the idea of Lasik vision correction is very appealing. The technique used during a Lasik procedure is highly precise and customized for each patient. The result of improved eyesight is usually immediate. While Lasik often does not completely eliminate the need for glasses or contacts, it can greatly enhance eyesight. Most insurance companies do not pay for Lasik. There are many employers that offer expanded vision insurance the help cover the cost of Lasik procedures. Some companies also have agreements with certain Lasik centers to offer their employees a reduced rate on Lasik.

There are many different payment options for people who do not have expanded vision plans. Most Lasik surgery centers offer some sort of payment or finance options. There are ways for people who want Lasik to easily find ways to pay for their procedures. When choosing a Lasik surgeon it is often tempting to go with the one that charges less for the procedure. This is most often not a good idea, however, as this surgeon may have considerably less experience or may not use the latest technology. It is always wise to choose a Lasik doctor that has the most experience for the type of procedure that you need. This will ensure that you have the best possible outcome from your Lasik procedure.

Another important factor you should consider when choosing a Lasik doctor is the fee that is charged if you need a second surgery, also called enhancement. The cost of the second procedure varies from doctor to doctor. Many people end up needing this second surgery. Some Lasik doctors do not charge a fee if the enhancement surgery is done within a certain time frame from the initial surgery. Some will charge a small fee. Others may charge a full price, so it is important to ask this before choosing a Lasik doctor.

It is also important when considering Lasik surgery to see what is included in the price that the doctor gives you for your procedure. Find out if all parts of the procedure is covered in the cost, including any follow up appointments, initial testing, medications and eye drops you may need, and second surgeries. This can make a big difference when you are trying to pay for your Lasik procedure on a tight budget. Most Lasik doctors do included all of this in their price, but it is always a good idea to ask so you are not surprised with any last minute expenses.

Look for Lasik centers that offer finance options: This is often the easiest way to pay for a Lasik procedure when you are on a budget. Most Lasik surgeons do offer some sort of financing or payment options that fit the needs of most people. Also, many Lasik surgeons can recommend a local or national back that can provide low monthly payment places. They might also allow patients to pay for their surgery procedure in installments.

See if your employer offers flex-spending accounts: Sometimes employers offer their employees flexible spending accounts that can be spent on procedures such as Lasik. Flex spending accounts, also sometimes called cafeteria plans can be used for Lasik. This is when a portion of the money you earn goes into an account to be used for medical expenses or other discretionary items that your insurance may not cover. Often, this money can be used to pay for co-payments or procedures. If you have an account such as this, you may be able to use the money to help pay for your Lasik eye vision correction. This can help reduce or completely pay for your procedures depending on how much money you have in your flex account.

Check to see if your Lasik procedure can be deducted from your income tax: Sometimes people are eligible to deduct the cost of their Lasik vision surgery off of their United States federal income tax as a health claim. Before deciding to go this route to help with the cost of your Lasik procedure, you should always seek advice from your tax accountant. Your tax accountant will be able to tell you whether or not you are eligible for this tax deduction.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/lasik_on_a_budget.shtml

The latest in Lasik vision correction technology benefits both the patient and the doctor. Doctors have the benefit of perform the surgery as personalized and accurate as possible. Patients in return have the best possible outcome with the newest technology.

Lasik is fast becoming a popular method for improving vision. The surgery is quick-usually under two minutes per eye and relatively painless. Patients are able to walk out of the recovery room and recovery time is minimal. Within a week, most patients are able to perform all of their regular activities. For those who rely on glasses and contacts, having the Lasik vision correction procedure drastically improves their quality of life.

In the past, the only way Lasik was performed was by using a hand held blade to cut open the cornea. This method did not always have the desire affect and relied on the doctor to be extremely experience while making the cut. While no Lasik procedure can promise to completely eliminate the need for contacts or glasses, new technology in Lasik is making that more of a reality. There are several new Lasik techniques that now offer more accuracy and better vision results.

When having the Lasik procedure, the surgeon uses a tiny laser called an excimer to cut a flap in the cornea. After the flap is pulled out of the way, tiny bits of corneal tissue is removed. Often more patients fear the creation of the flap more than any other part of the Lasik procedure. One new technique used in Lasik is called the Intralase. This is a laser that is safer than any other type of laser used in Lasik. When Intralase is used, the computer-guided laser assists the Lasik surgeon in creating the corneal flap with a beam of light. The use of this laser ensures that the flap has the exact corneal centration, thickness and diameter. Because of this innovation, more exact results are achieved. As opposed to the old hand-held microkeratome blade, this is often the most preferred.

Another popular form of Lasik technology is the Custom Lasik procedure. This procedure used the wavefront-guided method and is set to exactly match the needs of the patient. With Custom Lasik, the laser maps out three-dimensional scans of the eye. The scan shows all vision impairments so the exact amount of corneal tissue is removed. This gives the surgeon more accurate results. This often does away with the possibility of needing a second “enhancement” surgery to remove more corneal tissue. Custom Lasik can help correct and improve vision problems such as hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism. It can also correct worse vision problems that affect a patient’s vision. These can include starbursts or seeing halos around objects at night, sensitivity, and complications from traditional Lasik surgery. Many Lasik surgeons offer this method of Lasik surgery. Often, doctors recommend this method to help patients achieve a safer, more accurate vision correction surgery.

Another popular Lasik procedure that utilizes the latest technology is called Wavefront Guided Technology. When a doctor uses Wavefront, it can give the most accurate results. Wavefront technology uses micro sensors and wave light that is directed from a laser mean through the eye to the retina. When the light is reflected back to the eye, it allows corneal irregularities to be measured. It serves as a virtual blueprint to the patient’s eye. These irregularities can be mapped out on a three dimensional map. The problems with the eyes are recorded and transferred to the actual laser that is used to reshape the cornea during the Lasik procedure. This method is often chosen to give extremely accurate results and for patients that experience more severe vision problems.

There are many forms of Lasik surgery. Each one essentially uses a laser to map out the eye, target vision problems and reshape the cornea. Each surgery is designed to help doctors give patients the most accurate results possible. When the latest technology is used, patients often experience a better outcome with their Lasik vision correction surgery. Your eye care professional will be able to tell you through a thorough eye exam which Lasik surgery most fits your needs. As with any medical procedure, questions regarding these new forms of Lasik technology should be directed towards your Lasik surgeon.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/latest_in_laser_lasik_technology.shtml

Lasik eye surgery is an amazing advancement in technology that has helped millions of people who want to obtain better vision. Though the concept behind Lasik surgery is essentially the same from surgeon to surgeon, the actual tools used can be slightly different. In fact, some surgeons prefer using the “all lasers” approach, while others use a microkeratome.

Recent Advances

Recently, developers have created the IntraLase system, which seems to improve the safety of the Lasik procedure. This is because IntraLase uses laser energy rather than the microkeratome in order to cut a thin flap in the eye’s cornea. The microkeratome, on the other hand, is a cutting tool that does not utilize this advanced technology.

Once the flap is but and lifted, energy from the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea. This reshaping process helps to achieve a sharper focus. After the procedure is complete, the flap is put back in place and acts as a sort of natural “bandage” in the healing process.

Benefits of IntraLase

Complications during Lasik surgery are rare, but of those that do occur, most are the result of the oscillating blade of the microkeratomes. The metal blade of the tool can create uneven edges on the flap. This results in abnormal surfaces on the cornea, which can lead to vision defects like astigmatism.

The metal blades of microkeratomes also have been traced back to the formation or improper or incomplete flaps, which can lead to scars that distort vision. Many surgeons feel that this type of scarring is less likely to happen with the IntraLase system.

The IntraLase system creates flaps using laser energy by inserting an exact pattern of many small overlapping spaces. This pattern is created below the surface of the cornea. The laser of the IntraLase system is capable of operating at the very high speed of pulses every one quadrillionth of a second. This helps target the tissue and divide it a molecular level, rather than with heat or by impacting the surrounding tissue.

The IntraLase laser also makes it possible for individuals with thin corneas to undergo the procedure. Previously, those with thin corneas (of about 500 to 600 microns) were considered to be ineligible for the procedure because the microkeratomes cut about 100 to 200 microns. This caused too much of the cornea to be cut away. The IntraLase laser, on the other hand, can cut a flap as thin as 100 microns because it is more consistent and reliable.

Another advantage of the IntraLase laser is that it follows the cornea’s curvature. This creates a flap with more manageable vertical edges, rather than the thin edges created by microkeratomes. These thicker edges are less likely to tear. In addition, this reduces the likelihood of cells growing beneath the flap and pushing it up, which will create an irregular surface on the cornea. Partially formed flaps, or “buttonholed” flaps, are also less likely to occur with IntraLase.

The sterility of the IntraLase laser also decreases the chances of developing an eye infection.

Possible Complications of IntraLase

Although the IntraLase system is associated with far fewer Lasik complications than using microkeratomes, surgeons are noticing one possible complication of the system. Recently, some surgeons have reported that patients who undergo the “all lasers” Lasik procedure experience the postoperative complication of having an unusual sensitivity to light. According to reports this complication has occurred in 1-20% of IntraLase patients, although one surgeon only reported the 20% figure.

Fortunately, many surgeons also have reported that this postoperative complication is only temporary. In fact, they report that using steroid eye drops for a couple weeks seems to rectify the problem.

For those surgeons who prefer to use the IntraLase system, they argue that the side effects of IntraLase are only temporarily. The side effects of microkeratomes, on the other hand, are more serious and can be permanent.

Cost of IntraLase

Using the IntraLase system instead of microkeratomes may have an increase in overall safety, but it also increases the cost of the procedure. According to one report, using the “all lasers” approach adds an additional $300 per eye to the cost. Often, patients are given the choice between using a microkeratome or the IntraLase system. Some surgeons, on the other hand, exclusively use the IntraLase and automatically include it in their fee.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/lasik_all_laser_or_microkeratome.shtml

Are you are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses? Are you tired of scratches on your eye glasses? Does the thought of sticking something in your eye every morning make you cringe? Do you lose your eyeglasses? Do you have to put a chain on your glasses to avoid loosing them? Do you have to “put your eyes in” to see anything? If the answer to one or more of these questions is yes, then maybe it is time you consider a new option that could reduce or completely eliminate the need for eye glasses or contact lenses. Lasik is a new technology that can surgically repair your eyes. For some it restores their eyes to 20/20 vision or better.

But to let someone shine a laser in their eye and potentially blind them for life is more than most people can handle. It is a scary thought, but educating yourself on lasik is the best way to over come those fears. If that does not help, your eye doctor may be able to get you in touch with a clinical psychologist that may assist you.

One way that you can overcome your fear of having lasik eye surgery is to watch it being done to someone else. Most doctors will allow you to watch it being done. They usually have it on video tape, and if they don’t most will allow you to sit in on a surgery at the patients consent. Once you see how simple, painless and quick the procedure is, most get over their fear. If you get to sit in on one of the surgeries, you can ask the patient what it felt like, how they are feeling now and any other question or concern that you have. Knowledge is Power. That old cliché never fails to be true when it comes to educating yourself about the pros and cons of lasik. The best way to overcome your fears is to learn as much about the surgery you can beforehand. The more you know, the better prepared you are for it to happen to you. Watching a surgery can also put your mind at ease about what happens. Your eyes are open the whole time, but you can’t see what’s going on around you because your head and eyes are kept in a stationary position. This can scare many people. Watching a surgery can alleviate many of those concerns.

If watching a surgery is not what it takes to get over your fear, you may want to consider counseling. If you want lasik bad enough, you will do it. Any good psychologist can cure people of most phobias. It is one of the things they went to school for. Some use methods such hypnosis and visual aids to help one overcome such fears. A good psychologist will have you ready for surgery in no time flat. If you can’t afford a good psychologist and watching a procedure does not help, something you may consider is meditation. Meditation can help calm your mind and body. It can help you lose weight, relax, get rid of headaches, and even get rid of phobias. Once you educate yourself on everything there is to learn about lasik, you should then do some research on meditation. “Meditation for Dummies” is a good book that will teach you what meditation is and how it can help you.

These are all good ways to get over your phobia. One of these could help you get over your phobia, but you may need a combination of several of these. Only you can decide what is going to get you over your phobia. If you want it bad enough, you will find a way over your phobia. If you want to see, then you will find a way. Once you overcome those fears and finally have the surgery, you will be glad you did. The benefits of not having to wear glasses or contacts will be well worth the work you put forth to get over that fear.

Please keep in mind that if you never get over your fear, you may be stuck wearing glasses forever. That thought should be the motivation you need to get over your fear.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/overcome_eye_phobia_before_lasik.shtml

Lasik eye surgery is a procedure that helps to correct poor vision. It takes place in an office setting and it takes very little time to complete. In addition, it is relatively painless. To date, millions of people have benefited from this procedure.

Despite its simplicity and the number of people who have taken advantage of this innovative technique, there is potential for serious medical complications. Before going through with the procedure, therefore, the doctor asks a series of health related questions and completes a complete examination. Afterward, Lasik eye surgeons often define candidates into three categories: the ideal candidate, the less-than-ideal candidate, and the non-candidate. The following are some health issues that can decrease a patient’s status when determining whether or not he is a good candidate for Lasik eye surgery.

Extremely Low Vision

Lasik eye surgery is limited in the amount of vision it can correct. Therefore, some people are beyond the procedure’s ability to help. For this reason, the FDA does not allow patients with more than +6.00 diopters of hyperopia or –14.00 diopters of myopia to undertake the surgery. In addition, patients with more than 6.00 diopters of astigmatism are ineligible according to FDA standards, as well. The doctor can determine this information easily with a refractive eye exam.

Changing Prescription

While we grow, our eyes continually change size and shape. For this reason, a young person’s prescription for eyeglasses or contacts is constantly changing. Most prescriptions, however, stabilize by the time a person reaches the age of 18. For some people, this stabilization doesn’t occur until sometime in the 20’s. For this reason, surgeons prefer operating on patients over the age of 18 and whose prescription has remained stable for at least two years. This helps ensure that the eyes have stopped developing. Otherwise, operating on eyes that are still growing can create complications and the vision correction will become non-existent as the eyes continue to change.

Patient Health

Certain health factors can prevent a potential Lasik candidate from being considered ideal. For example, certain autoimmune disorders that slow the healing process make Lasik eye surgery a higher risk. In addition, patients with conditions requiring medications such as immunosuppresants and steroids are also considered less-than-ideal because these medications also slow the healing process and increase the risk of complications.

Patients who are pregnant or who are nursing are also not considered ideal candidates for Lasik eye surgery. This is because the shape of the eyes can be temporarily changed by hormonal changes during these times of a woman’s life.

Patient Anterior Eye Health

Most doctors divide the eye into two portions: anterior, or front, and posterior, or back. The anterior portion of the eye includes the iris, the eyelids, the cornea, the conjunctiva, the sclera, and the lens. The Lasik surgeon will check for abnormalities in these areas using a biomicroscope, called a slit-lamp. In order to complete this test, the patient needs to put his chin on a chin rest located over the examining chair. The doctor will then shine a line into the patient’s eyes to examine the anterior area of the eye. Abnormalities in this area can decrease a patient’s likelihood of being considered an ideal Lasik eye surgery patient.

Patient Posterior Eye Health

Specific eye diseases, such as ocular hypertension, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy, can be detected through a posterior eye exam. This area includes the optic nerve, the retina, and blood vessels. An exam of the posterior region is called a fundus exam. Shining a light into the patient’s eye and looking through his pupil accomplish the exam.

Irregularly Shaped Cornea

A cornea that is extremely irregularly shaped is impossible to operate on. Patients with the condition keratoconus, for example, are ineligible for the procedure. This is because it gradually makes the shape of the cornea steeper until it finally becomes cone-shaped. A small amount of irregularity in the cornea shape is fine, as with patients who have mild to moderate astigmatism. The surgeon examines the patient’s corneal topography prior to surgery. This will help determine whether or not he is an ideal candidate for Lasik eye surgery.

Thin Corneas

Some patients have corneas that are too thin; this makes it impossible to create the “flap” necessary to perform the procedure. Therefore, Lasik surgery will actually make the patient’s vision worse instead of better. The doctor measures the thickness of the patient’s cornea using a pachometer.

Lasik surgery is an extraordinary procedure that has helped thousands of people see better. Through a thorough examination and proper treatment of your visual difficulties, you, too, can experience the wonders of Lasik.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/the_wonders_of_lasik.shtml

A Lasik procedure IS surgery and with any type of surgery complications are possible. It’s normally the best practice to allow the surgeon who performed your surgery to treat any complications. If for any reason, you have lost confidence in your doctor’s treatment, or you just feel that there might be a better solution, you should definitely seek a second opinion. There is no reason to feel uncomfortable about asking your doctor for a referral, it’s a common practice; optionally, you can select another Lasik specialist for a second opinion and then inform your doctor.

Fewer Complications Today! Lasik surgery has become the most commonly requested of all the elective surgeries. Over six-million people worldwide have received Lasik and an estimated 99% of them have reported no serious complications past the normal healing period. That number used to be a bit higher. In the earlier days of Lasik, up to 5% of people who underwent the procedure reported some type of post-Lasik problem. Three factors have reduced that number to where it is today, two of these are fairly predictable. Over time there were improvements in the equipment used to perform Lasik and Lasik surgeon’s have increased their skills as they became more comfortable with the equipment and with the procedure. Lasik surgeons have also increased their skills in one other area, identifying suitable patients for the Lasik procedure.

The best candidates for Lasik. The best candidates for Lasik are young (less than 44-years old) and healthy with common vision problems. Short sightedness (Myopia), the inability to see things at a distance; long sightedness (Hyperopia), problems reading or seeing things up close; and astigmatism, distorted vision caused by an abnormally shaped cornea are all problems that are correctable with Lasik, with very minor, usually short-term complications.

Not everyone is suitable. Not everyone who desires Lasik surgery is a good candidate for Lasik.

You are probably NOT a good candidate for refractive surgery if:

• you are not comfortable with the risks of Lasik, as explained by your Lasik surgeon. Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of patients.
• the possible complications of Lasik will jeopardize your employment. Some employers do not allow their employees to undergo certain refractive surgeries.
• the cost of Lasik will be a problem. Lasik is less expensive now than in the past but it is still not inexpensive and most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery — they consider it elective surgery.
• you actively participate in contact sports; especially sports where your head might be subject to injury.
• you are not an adult. No laser surgery techniques are FDA approved for persons under the age of 18.
• your vision changed enough in the last year to require a change in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription. This is called “refractive instability” and it may be caused by: unstable hormone levels, certain illnesses or diseases, or side-effects of medications you are using to treat other medical conditions.

Some of the diseases and conditions that may make you unsuitable for Lasik surgery are:

• Herpes simplex or ’shingles’ that involve the eye area
• Glaucoma or ocular hypertension
• eye diseases such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)
• eye injuries or previous eye surgeries
• Keratoconus
• Blepharitis (an inflammation of the eyelids)
• large pupils
• thin corneas
• Dry eye

When complications occur. When post-LASIK complications do occur, they can often be resolved with medication, laser re-treatments or enhancements of the eye. Permanent vision loss is a slight possibility as is degradation of vision from its pre-surgery condition.

The normal healing period for Lasik surgery is six months. Most complications should resolve themselves within this six month period but, in the case of a serious or particularly troublesome complication, six months may be (or at least may seem to be) far too long. A second opinion from another qualified Lasik surgeon, no matter how it is obtained, may turn out to be the key for resolving troublesome complications or it may result in an endorsement of your current course of treatment; whatever the result it should provide you with increased peace-of-mind.

There is an organization that has come into existence specifically to address the needs of patients with LASIK complications and to provide doctors with an additional source for information on Lasik complications. The organization is the CRSQA (Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance) and their online information page, ComplicatedEyes.org can be found at: http://www.complicatedeyes.org/

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/second_opinion_for_lasik_surgery.shtml

Your eyes are important. When you are thinking about having the Lasik vision correction you want to make sure that you are making the right decision for yourself. Many people have the Lasik procedure every year with very good results. The Lasik procedure is designed to help people with vision problems improve their vision. Lasik is a quick and painless surgery and most people experience improved vision the day their surgery is complete.

For doctors, the best patients are those who are well informed of the procedure and have realistic expectations about their potential outcome. A good Lasik doctor will carefully exam your eyes and take a thoroughly health history before deciding whether or not the Lasik vision correction surgery is right for you.

As a patient, you should fully understand the benefits as well as the risks and complications involved with the Lasik procedure. While most people do have positive outcomes after the surgery, there are some that do not. Some people experience reduced night vision and daytime vision and have infection in their eyes following the surgery.

After you have chosen a Lasik eye surgeon, there are a few questions that you should ask before your schedule your surgery. Knowing the answers to these questions will often help you have a positive outcome with your Lasik vision correction surgery.

Am I a good candidate for Lasik surgery? Your Lasik doctor will carefully consider whether or not you are a good candidate for Lasik vision correction. It has been proven that those who are not good candidates for the procedure, but still have it done, do have complications. Your doctor should be fully aware of any health concerns or problems before agreeing to operate on your eyes.

How long will the recovery last? This is an important question to ask your Lasik doctor because each Lasik surgeon has different rules about recovery time. Depending on the depth of your surgery, you may have a longer recovery time. You may also need to take off of work longer.

How much does the Lasik procedure cost? A Lasik procedure can vary from doctor to doctor or depending on the area where you live. In addition, depending on the severity of your eye, your procedure may cost more or less. You can plan to spend around $2000 on your Lasik procedure and that is just the base cost.

What is included in the cost the Lasik surgery? Most Lasik doctors will include all costs relating to your Lasik procedure in the cost. It is still important to know this for certain. Make sure that there are no hidden costs when your fees are calculated.

Do you have payment plans? Most insurance plans will not cover the Lasik procedure. Unless you have saved at least $2000 for your surgery, you should know what kind of payment options are available to you.

What kind of Lasik procedure will be used? There are several techniques with Lasik surgery. Your doctor may specialize in one certain way or may be able to perform many types. You need to know what procedure will benefit you the most and make sure your Lasik doctor is skilled in that technique.

What will happen during surgery? You should know every step of your surgery so you understand exactly what to expect. Most patients are awake during the procedure and are given drop to numb the eye area. For those who are uncomfortable with the surgical process, they can be given a mild sedative to calm them during the procedure.

What can I expect after surgery? It is very important for patient to understand what to expect after the Lasik surgery. Some people experience no problems or pain, but your doctor should discuss expectations with your prior to the procedure.

What risks and complications are involved with the Lasik procedure? Most people have positive outcomes with the Lasik surgery procedure. There are some risks and complications involved with the procedure. It is beneficial for the surgeon to fully discuss these risks and complications with your before your schedule your procedure.

What are the post-operative instructions? After your surgery, you will have instructions for post-operative care. Your doctor will discuss with you when it is ok to return to work and physical activity. In addition, you will be instructed on when to wear make up, use soap or lotion on the face and when to go to your post-operative care appointments.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/10_lasik_surgery_questions_to_ask.shtml

Monovision is an option for some people who are considering Lasik surgery; Monovision refers to the use of one eye for distance viewing and the other eye near vision. This procedure has been used with a good degree of success for over 20 years; the Lasik surgeon will ‘correct your strongest eye for distance vision and your weakest eye for near vision.

A major factor in the Lasik surgeon’s decision to recommend the Monovision option is your age. At approximately age 40 your eyes’ ability to change focus from far to near starts to deteriorate; this condition, the loss of focusing ability, is called ‘presbyopia.’ Performing Lasik on both eyes of a person over 40, to allow them excellent far vision in both eyes will, in most cases, mean that the patient with some degree of presbyopia will need reading glasses for clear close vision.

Not a “blurry” life. This procedure may seem, at first, like it will create a very blurry, confused vision problem that causes you to go through life with one eye open and one eye closed at all times but it’s not like that at all. The vision part of our brain tends to compensate for Monovision by ‘filtering out’ the image from the eye that is not in clear focus. In other words, if your left eye is your distance eye and your right eye is your near eye, when you are sitting reading a book, your brain will ignore the unfocused image from your left eye.

Two important things to remember are:

• The ability to change focus only goes from far to near, i.e. if your eye is corrected for near vision it cannot change focus to clearly see distant objects where, conversely, if your eye is correct to see clearly at a distance it CAN, if presbyopia is not a factor, focus from far to near.
• The brain adjusts to ignore the out-of-focus eye and should fully adjust to Monovision within 6-8 weeks.

Monovision considerations. Most Lasik surgeons will not recommend Monovision if you are under the age of 35 because, at that age your eye should still be able to shift focus and should be able to do that for a number of years. Another factor is that, by the time you might benefit from Monovision, there might be a much better treatment for presbyopia.

The most serious consideration when considering Monovision is the resulting loss of depth perception. Driving a car with one eye closed can cause severe anxiety until and unless you are accustomed to driving with just one eye — that is, in effect, the effect of Monovision. Your brain will be ignoring one eye or the other, as it is being trained to do.

What to do? It would appear that the best course of action for someone who is unsure about or scared of the Monovision option would be to get both eyes corrected for the best possible distance vision and then plan to use reading glasses for up-close work. If, however, you want to “try” Monovision to see if it works for you and then decide you don’t like it, there is a Lasik procedure that can “enhance” the near eye so that it matches the far eye which, again, leaves you with the reading glasses option.

Glasses in your future? If you do not have presbyopia now you probably will as you and your eyes get older; if you have it now it will get worse. Lasik distance vision correction in both eyes will not, except in a few cases, prevent the patient from “ever” wearing glasses. The benefit of having the Monovision procedure is that you are unlikely to have a need for glasses for up close work or reading as you get older.

The contact lens option. If you are not completely against contact lenses and want a non-surgical option, contact lenses can be prescribed for you by your optometrist that will allow you to try Monovision. Just like with the Lasik option, it will take some time to get your brain to adjust to Monovision and, additionally, you will need to adjust to using contacts if you have never tried them.

Results. A survey of Lasik patients with the Monovision correction has determined that approximately 85% of the patients liked Monovision enough to keep it for the long term. The other 15% were uncomfortable enough with the procedure or were unable to adjust to it and decided to give it up in favor of having the near eye adjusted to match the far eye.

Still another option. If you choose the Lasik Monovision option and find certain activities to be problematic, you can get a contact lens fitted into one eye (usually the near eye) to have it match the other eye.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/lasik_option_whats_monovision.shtml

It is always important to check to make sure that a doctor is right for you before you decide to make a Lasik visit and go through with an eye surgery. There are several ways to check credentials of a doctor before you decide to go into the doctor’s office. By doing this, you will save a lot of time and energy later. If something goes wrong during your Lasik surgery, you will know before you get the surgery whether the doctor you choose will respond in the proper way and repair the problems that may occur. By choosing the right doctor, you will be able to have an easy Lasik visit, as well as surgery.

The first thing to do when checking credentials with an eye surgeon is to communicate with them over the telephone or through other means. By doing so, you will be able to determine if they are going to be trustworthy and let you know what is going on during the surgery as well as after. If there are complications, you want to make sure that the doctor is going to let you know. By talking with them, even for a short time, you can tell if they will be personable and respond to your needs and questions.

Another way to check to see if the doctor is trustworthy is to check with other patients about their surgery. If they had something go wrong with their surgery, check to see if it was immediately resolved, or if the problems were set aside. By the word of mouth through other patients, you will be able to tell if the doctor is in good standing with patients when they are receiving surgery. Usually, by checking with more than one patient, you will notice that the responses that the patients got are somewhat consistent because of the doctor’s practices and habits in the surgery room and during a regular visit.

There are several other ways to research the doctor which you are going to. Many doctors now have websites that gives their credentials, as well as the outcomes from patients. You can always find out about a doctor’s history with other patients and his relations in the medical fields by doing some research over the internet or through local areas. Scientific journals that give information on Lasik surgeons are also available for investigation. There are several places to find references in relation to the doctor and their practice. Sometimes, it is best to take the time to find out the details of the doctors practice before you make an appointment with them.

When finding which Lasik surgeon to go to, it may be beneficial to find two or three different doctors and compare them. You may even schedule different appointments in different places in order to see which doctor is going to be right for you. By doing so, you will be able to make a better decision about which doctor is going to serve you best. You can compare them by visiting with staff or even the surgeon before the Lasik visit. If the staff do not treat you well and don’t take the time to take care of you before your visit, they will most likely not take care of you when you go in for your surgery. This attitude will most likely be present with the doctor as well.

When you go in to consult with the doctor, it is important to listen to the different things that they are telling you. They should tell you the procedure that you will be going through as well as the problems that may occur when you are going through the surgery. They should not only be personable, but straightforward about the surgery and what it includes. If they are not that available for your needs or don’t tell you about the details of the surgery and what may happen after the surgery, it is best to go and find another doctor for the Lasik surgery.

By checking a doctor’s credentials, you can determine to have an easy surgery with the proper response for your needs. This will save you time and money as well as severe problems that may accumulate from the surgery later on. By investigating the doctor’s credentials by word of mouth and your own investigations, you will know which doctor is right for your needs.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/check_your_lasik_doctors_credentials.shtml

Referral sources for lasik eye surgery procedures:

• Internet
• Magazines
• Medical periodicals
• Former lasik patients

The internet is the best place to find sources for lasik eye surgery procedures. Using a search engine such as www.google.com, you can find information on just about anything. Searching something as simple as “lasik” returns over four million websites. That’s correct: four million. You can narrow your search by getting a little more specific. For example searching for “lasik pricing” yields two hundred thousand results. You can use the internet to search for local eye doctors that do lasik in your area. A search for “lasik in Shreveport, Louisiana” yields fifty three thousand results. You can use just about any search engine. You may not find the site you need with your first try, but you will be lead in the right direction. Using the internet you can have all your questions answered about lasik, the procedure, the side effects, the pricing, and just about anything else you wanted to know, but was afraid to ask. You may even have some questions answered that you did not even think to ask. The internet is the most common referral source for lasik.

The second most common source for referrals is magazines. If you have ever had to go to the doctor or the dentist, you have seen tons of medical magazines in the waiting room. Most new innovations in medical science can be found by perusing these magazines. Doctors are in the business to make money, so it would make since that they would advertise. If it is a new innovation, you may even be able to read up on it in these magazines. The downside of using magazines to research is that there is no real organization or way to search them by topic. You have literally search through many magazines to find the one article you need that may or may not have all the information you need. The up side to magazines is that they are good about getting your attention and making you aware of certain innovations that you can later look up on the internet with a standard search engine.

Medical periodicals is another source that many over look. You can usually find out all the details of a procedure using medical periodicals. The down side is that these usually read like stereo instructions and they are rather boring. They are good to put you to sleep at night, and, like magazines, are good starting points. They can give you the lead you need to start an internet search.

The most overlooked resource you have is first hand knowledge from people who have had lasik. You can ask any eye doctor and they should be able to give you a reference list of patients that have agreed to talk to potential patients. Usually they will give you the best idea of what to expect. They will tell you what the internet and doctors leave out. They have gone through the operation. They know what it feels like, what the after effects are like, and if it is worth it. Now don’t go by just what one person says. Ask as many as you can. Ask anyone you know if they know someone who has had it done.

These four things are the best referrals there are on lasik. The internet, by far, has the most information at your fingertips, but keep the others in mind as well. They were around before the internet and will be around for years to come. The information they provide is very valuable and should not be over looked. If you use there sources, you will be very educated on what to expect when you go into a consultation with any eye doctor. That education will give you a leg up. You will be able to tell when a doctor is just trying to sell you something, or if he/she is really trying to help you. You are a person too, not just a paycheck. You know that, so make sure he/she does too. Once those boundaries are set, then you can feel more comfortable letting him/her operate on you. Knowledge is power, and in this circumstance, that old cliché holds true.

Source: http://www.solveyourproblem.com/lasik-eye-surgery/referral_resources_for_lasik_surgery.shtml