LASIK eye surgery has taken Sugarland and the Houston area by storm, and for good reason. Millions of people throughout the world have become better equipped to deal with their daily lives by having their vision corrected with this procedure. While LASIK surgery may be scary to those who do not know much about it, on the whole, the procedure is extremely safe and can help most anyone to see better than they previously could. However, nothing in life is perfect.
Traditionally, LASIK surgery was not advisable for some people as they got older. While the technology has advanced considerably, it is still important to be aware that there are potential risks involved with the procedure. This is particularly the case for those who are over 50 years old.
Medical professionals also generally do not advise anyone under 21 years old to have LASIK performed as their eyes may not be fully developed yet. This can make the entire process irrelevant as the eyes continue to develop and the surgery ends up being insufficient to produce the best quality eyesight. However, there are potentially greater risks for older individuals.
Risks
LASIK technology has come a tremendous distance over the years, but it is not perfect. For example, the ablation that occurs as part of the surgery causes irritation and in many cases itchiness and dry eyes. In 20 percent of patients who undergo the procedure, this dry eyed feeling is permanent. Even for a middle-aged or elderly individual, this could mean decades of discomfort. The good news is they have nearly their full eyesight back. A trade off, yes, but not without some consequences.
It is also important to note that you may have prescriptions that could be altering your vision already. If you change the medications you take down the road, this could affect much of the procedure’s effectiveness. As well, you may develop a new astigmatism, your ability to see contrasts may diminish, or you may even experience an over-correction or under-correction that must be operated on again. Considering that healing tends to slow as one ages, the several months of full recovery time could extend further and become a significant problem. Of course these are "what ifs." It could be just as likely that nothing happens.
Will this really help you?
There are going to be times when LASIK may not be enough to give you the vision you desire. For example, nearly all people around the age of 40 years loser their ability to focus at near distances, which is a condition, called presbyopia. If a return to the eyesight of your 20’s is your goal, you may end up being disappointed with LASIK’s real world results; though many people do return to 20/20 vision if all that has developed is an aging of the lens. You may even have to use backup glasses for tasks such as reading over a long period of time or driving at night.
LASIK is a way you can experience potentially greater eyesight once again for most life tasks. However, you need to decide based on your health history and personal needs whether the operation is right for you. Fortunately, Sugarland Eye & Laser Center is offering a one day special event that will allow you to tell for certain whether LASIK is for you. Speak to the technicians and doctors about the subject with no obligation and learn the truth of the matter.
Sources:
http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsletters/harvard_womens_health_watch/2011/july/are-there-limits-to-laser-refractive-surgery-after-midlife
via http://www.pamf.org/lasik/can-i-get-lasik/
via http://www.aao.org/publications/eyenet/200409/feature.cfm
Sugarland Eye & Laser Center leads in providing premium LASIK technologies to Houston, Sugar Land, and the surrounding region. The Center’s award-winning medical director introduced revolutionary technologies such as iLASIK to the region. This technology is used by NASA astronauts, Navy SEALS and Air Force fighter pilots. At Sugarland Eye & Laser Center, you can now receive the same treatment. For more information, please call (281) 240-0478 or visit us at www.houston-lasik.com.
About the Author
Amjad Khokhar, M.D. is Chief LASIK Surgeon at Sugarland Eye & Laser Center. Add Dr. Khokhar on Google+ here.
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