Study Shows Long-Term LASIK Results
Since the introduction of LASIK laser eye surgery in the early 1990’s, millions of nearsighted patients have willingly opted to undergo the knife and laser treatment in order to correct their eyesight and reduce their need for glasses and contact lenses. While there is plenty of agreement on the short-term benefits of LASIK surgery, the big unknown has been whether the results of LASIK surgery would last long-term. The results of a newly published study should be reassuring for all LASIK patients, which reports favorable long-term outcomes of LASIK laser eye surgery.
The LASIK case study, which was published in the January 2008 issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, was completed by researchers from the Miquel Hernandez University Medical School in Spain . Following over one hundred LASIK patients over a ten year period, it is one of the largest and longest follow-up studies ever done on LASIK outcomes. The study showed that there was a very low rate of complications and a high rate of satisfaction with the LASIK procedure in the long-term.
LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is the most popular type of laser eye surgery for treating myopia, or nearsightedness. The LASIK procedure is a two step process. The first step is to cut a corneal flap. The second step is to reshape the corneal tissue exposed by the flap with an excimer laser to correct vision.
Two new advances in LASIK technology, Custom Wavefront and IntraLase, have improved results and allowed for more personalized treatment. Wavefront technology maps the surface of a patient’s eye so that laser correction treatment can be personalized for each patient. With IntraLase technology, a femtosecond laser is used to create the corneal flap rather than a microkeratome, a specialized cutting tool used for cutting the corneal flap in LASIK. While these improvements increase vision results, they also increase the cost of LASIK eye surgery, which averaged about $2000 per eye in 2007. Overall, the best LASIK results are seen when experienced laser eyes surgeons personalize treatment for each patient utilizing the newest technology
April 3rd, 2008 at 4:59 pm
I think financial consideration is important, however the experience and skill of the surgeon should be paramont. LASIK surgery is still surgery, and the key to success lies in the surgeons hands, not the financial arrangements that one can negotiate.
May 19th, 2008 at 8:50 am
how to get a six pack…
thanks so much. Good writing…
December 16th, 2008 at 8:41 am
I agree with what you wrote at the end of this post–and it isn’t stated enough. The success of your lasik surgery has a lot to do with the quality of doctor you go to. You may want to think twice about skimping on this operation and going with an unproven doctor. Remember, you only get one pair of eyes–so take care of them. Find a quality vision specialist that you like and feel comfortable with.
If ever in doubt, seek a second opinion. Good luck.