Saturday, November 15, 2008

What is The Difference Between Lasik and Laser Eye Surgery?

I have pretty bad vision, I use some pretty thick glasses, my question is... What is the differences between Lasik Surgery and Laser Eye surgery? and which would be the best for me?
There are several different types of laser eye surgery. And there are different types of lasers that can be used in eye surgery depending upon what the surgeon is wanting to accomplish. For instance, the surgeon could use a yag laser to treat secondary cataracts. Or the surgeon could use an argon laser to perform iridotomies or possibly to treat leaking blood vessels in the retina. Or the surgeon could use an excimer laser to correct vision disorders such as near sightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. This is the laser you are probably referring to. Now, excimer laser surgery is a broad term that can include PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) or LASIK (laser insitu keratomeleusis). PRK is used on the surface of the cornea to correct prescription errors whereas LASIK is used, after creating a flap, on the internal structures of the cornea.
Both are capable of precisely correcting prescription errors. To decide which is best for you, you need to see an eye doctor who is experienced in this field. He or she will be able to recommend which procedure would be best.

What is the best eye surgery Lasik or?
I have my mother's degrading eyesight. My eyesight is still degrading until I'm 20 or so but right now. I'm 16 and my eyesight right now is left 20/345 Right 20/320. So what is the best as in what happens after Lasik or the other surgeries?
What is best means what is best for you. Since you are a unique individual with unique eyes and unique needs, what may be best for someone else may not be the best for you. The only way to know what may be appropriate is to have a comprehensive examination from a competent eye doctor.
I work for a nonprofit Lasik patient advocacy. We don't provide Lasik. We provide Lasik information and certify Lasik doctors' patients' results.
You describe your vision as "degrading" and your mother's as well. If you mean a constant need for new glasses or contact lenses, then the eyes have not stabilized enough that any type of laser vision correction surgery (Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, etc.) would be appropriate. The eyes need to be healthy and prescription stable for at least two years.
It is reasonable to expect your eyes to change at age 16, but your mother's eyes changing may be a greater concern. An adult who has a constantly worsening eyeglass prescription is a sign of something more than simple refractive error. This may be a concern for you because some eye maladies run in families.
Lasik can change your eyeglass prescription, but your eyes will continue to change after Lasik at the same rate they did before Lasik. If there is an underlying disease that is causing the changes, then Lasik may exacerbate the problem.

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