Proper precautions and education will help the patient make an informed decision whether or not to proceed with surgery on two of their most valuable and delicate possessions: their own eyes.
By all indications, a great majority of the over 700,000 Americans per year who have opted for LASIK surgery are satisfied with their results. Nevertheless, a small but increasingly vocal percentage of LASIK patients lament their decision to try and set aside their eyeglasses for good. Suffering from complications that range from temporary and irritating to ongoing and debilitating, many wish they had educated themselves more thoroughly before they made their decision to proceed with surgery.
What information does a potential LASIK patient need to make an informed decision? And if they decide to proceed, what precautions should they take before surgery to help ensure success?
With the information respect in order to make a informed decision we say all of it matter, because as we increase our knowledge and learn more about the procedure automatically opens the door to another question, correlatively. Now in term of what precautions should they take before surgery, first of all is important highlight that the safety and effectiveness of LASIK procedures has not been determined in patients with some diseases, because is a long term study surgery, and so taking your own precautions, starting with your appropriate interest and education will certainly help you and your surgeon.
Choosing an experienced, professional physician can help prospective patients decide whether LASIK surgery is right for them. A reputable LASIK surgeon should be comfortable providing not only the number of LASIK surgeries they have performed and their outcomes, but also the number of surgeries they have declined due to the patient being a poor candidate.
The day before surgery, the patient should stop using any creams, lotions, makeup, or perfumes. These products can increase the risk of infection by encouraging buildup of debris along the eyelashes.
At the same time surgery is scheduled, the patient should schedule a follow-up visit 24-48 hours after the surgery. Additionally, they should also arrange for a friend or family member to accompany them to the surgery and bring them home. Arranging for a few days off from work to recover is also encouraged.
Considering that most prospective patients are dependents of either contact lenses or glasses, several precautions are strongly advised from the practitioners in order to reduce risk and increase post-surgery satisfaction. Patients who wear contact lenses should stop wearing them for a period of 2-3 weeks before their initial evaluation. All contact lenses change the shape of the cornea and can result in distorted measurements and poor post-surgery eyesight. A second evaluation and measurement is advised to ensure that the cornea has fully resumed its natural shape.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warns that LASIK surgery benefits many, but that does not mean it is right for all, and highlights that a certain percentage of the population are simply poor candidates for refractive surgery. Indicators of being a poor candidate include physical factors such as having thin corneas, large pupils, persistently dry eyes, or a changing eyeglass prescription in a short period of time. Other poor candidates may have environmental factors such as serious involvement in high-contact sports or a job that prohibits refractive surgery. Still others have medical conditions that require the use of steroid drugs which can prevent the patient’s eyes from healing properly.
Page updated Sep 02, 2010
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