| SolveYourProblem
eLearning Series:
Lasik Eye Surgery Questions & Answers
( 50 articles
in this series )
Should
You Seek a Second Opinion
for Lasik Surgery?
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/
# # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
> Home > Lasik
Eye Surgery Articles: Main Page
|
