Laser Eye Surgery: To Opt or Not to Opt...

Copyright 2005 Octocat Ltd If you're suffering from diminished eyesight in any capacity, there's a whole parcel of feelings that go along with the possibilities of eventual loss of sight versus the risks of undergoing the treatments that are necessary to correct the problem. When considering the delicate nature of the eye, many people make the decision to put off corrective treatment until the situation becomes dire - or is no longer able to be treated effectively. Laser eye surgery - now quite common as a form of treatment for eye disorders - is one of the first options that many folks look toward when they've made the decision to pursue treatment and reclaim their ability to see clearly. Weigh your options While there are pros and cons involved in such a treatment plan, it's worthy of a thorough investigation before making such a weighty decision. There are a number of things that should be looked into, and you should feel comfortable with the information that you uncover before attempting to take such a leap. Here then, are a few safety and risk factors that are involved in laser eye surgery that you may find helpful in your quest for information. Which type of treatment is right for you? There are two main types of laser eye surgery procedures that are currently available: Lasik and CustomCornea. The difference between the two is that CustomCornea utilizes newer technologies to accomplish what Lasik surgery can provide and, in either case, there are safety risks that may be involved. These may include serious complications which may result in decreased or lost vision, and there are those who would not be considered as candidates for such a treatment. Included among those are: individuals who are pregnant or nursing under the age of 21 suffering from Herpes Simplex currently taking medication that may interfere with the body's ability to heal suffering from severe allergies or diseases or have a corneal infection or scarring. Also listed among those who are not considered for laser eye surgery are those who have had previous eye surgery, those who have inflammation of the eye or eyelids accompanied by crusting of the eyelashes, suffer from unstable refractive problems, currently take medication that causes them to suffer ocular side effects, those with Keratonconus, glaucoma or high blood pressure in the eye region, corneal injury, and those who are taking sumatriptan for migraine relief. Some of the risks Among the more specific risks that are associated with laser eye surgery are: lost vision reduced low-light vision under-treatment over-treatment increased need for reading glasses and severe dry-eye syndrome. It's best to discuss these risks with your physician before committing yourself to having this procedure performed, since there will be no way to reclaim diminished or lost sight when it comes about as the result of laser eye surgery. One other consideration that you'll have to pay careful attention to is the reputation and success rate of the doctor who will be performing the surgery. He or she should be licensed in the area of laser eye surgery and care, and be able to offer an impressive success rate. If possible, check with other people who may have undergone this procedure with that particular doctor before making that final decision, in order to get their impression of both the treatment and the doctor, as well as an accounting of their experiences after opting to have laser eye surgery.