Ask questions, have realistic expectations before undergoing laser eye surgery
Many people rely on glasses and contacts to correct their vision, but some find these methods inconvenient, uncomfortable or unattractive.
There are now corrective eye surgery options using an excimer laser. Two such procedures are photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and laser in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK). The Food and Drug Administration first approved the excimer laser for use in PRK surgery in October 1995 and more recently has approved certain types of excimer lasers for use in Lasik surgury.
PRK is a procedure in which the surface of the cornea (http://www.eyemdlink.com/anatomy/pop/cornea.htm) is reshaped by an ophthalmologist using an Excimer laser.
LASIK is a procedure in which the eye surgeon separates layers of the cornea to allow access to the underlying tissues. The inside of the cornea is then reshaped with the use of the Excimer laser.
If you are considering corrective eye surgery, ask your eye doctor or optometrist for a referral and ask the following questions:
n How long have you been doing LASIK surgery?
n How much experience do you have with the LASIK procedure?
n What laser will you be using for my surgery? Make sure your surgeon is using a laser approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
n What's involved in after-surgery care?
n Who will handle after-surgery care? Who will be responsible?
The most satisfied laser surgery patient is one who has realistic expectations and a thorough understanding of the risks and possible complications of surgery.
Hundreds of thousand of people have had very successful eye surgery. As with any surgery there are risks and possible complications. Surgery may not give you perfect vision. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) reports that seven out of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision. You may need additional surgery -- called "enhancements" -- to get the best possible vision.
For more information about vision correction procedures contact the American Academy of Ophthalmology, PO Box 7424, San Francisco, CA 94120-7424;http:// www.eyenet.org. If you have a complaint, contact the Federal Trade Commission at (877) FTC-HELP.