Lasik surgery gives options to glasses
by Kristin Whitney, reporter

     Lasik eye surgery may not give perfect vision, but hundreds of thousands of people have had Lasik, most successfully, according to a recent report from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
     The FTC lists the following criteria for people who are considering the Lasik surgery: at least 18 years old, not pregnant or nursing, healthy eyes, good general health, understanding of personal expectations, consideration of the risks and rewards and a consultation with a doctor.
     The American Academy of Ophthalmology reports that seven out of 10 patients achieve 20/20 vision, but 20/20 does not always mean perfect vision.
     Only ophthalmologists, eye M.D.s, can perform Lasik.
     One should ask an optometrist for a referral or go to the American Academy of      Ophthalmology website at www.eyenet.org.
     People should be informed before committing to the surgery.
Information to obtain from surgeons includes how long they have been performing the surgery, how much experience they have, how they define success, what their success rate is and how many patients return for enhancements.
     According to the FTC, a 5-15 percent return is decent for enhancements.
     One should also make sure the surgeon is using a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved laser.
     According to the FTC, the FDA has approved five lasers for Lasik; they are manufactured by VISX, Summit, Bausch and Lomb, Nidek and ATC.
     Lasik is an outpatient surgical procedure in which a hinged flap of the cornea is cut and lifted away so the laser can reshape the underlying corneal tissue.
     The flap is then replaced and a shield is placed over the eye to protect the flap.
     “The surgery takes about 10-15 minutes per eye,” the FTC information said.
“Although some doctors do both eyes at once, some wait to see how the first eye did before attempting the second,” according to the FTC.
     After the surgery, several patients have reported that they experienced mild burning and blurry vision, so the FTC has advised that patients should not drive until vision has improved enough to safely do so.
     Doctors recommend that people stay away from swimming pools, hot tubs and whirlpools for two weeks after surgery.
     Over-correction, under-correction, corneal scarring, corneal infection, decrease in contrast sensitivity, problems with night driving and “loss of best corrected visual activity” may occur as a result of Lasik.
     Loss of best corrected visual activity means “you would not be able to see as well after surgery, even with glasses or contacts, as you did with glasses or contacts before surgery,” an FTC newsletter said.
     Before the procedure, one needs a complete eye examination and should take eye prescription records to the office.
     The doctor should dilate the pupils to fine-tune the patient’s prescription and examine his/her eyes to make sure they are healthy.
     This exam includes a glaucoma test and a retina exam.
     The doctor will also measure the curvature of the eyes, the topography and the pachymetry, or thickness, of the eyes.
     As well, the patient will also have to sign an “informed consent” form.
     “If your doctor doesn’t think Lasik is right for you, you might consider getting a second opinion; however, if the opinion is the same, believe it,” the FTC reports.
     In order to understand why Lasik works, one must understand the eye.
     To see clearly, the cornea and lens must bend, or refract, light rays so they focus on the retina. If the light rays don’t focus on the retina, the image is blurry.
     “Glasses, contacts and refractive surgery attempt to reduce these errors by making light rays focus on the retina,” according to the FTC.
     Many alternatives to Lasik are also available: Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), Astigmatic keratotomy (AK) and intrastromal corneal rings.
     For more information, those interested should contact the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery at www. ascrs.org; the International Society of Refractive Surgery at www. LocateAnEyeDoc.com; the Nat-ional Eye Institute at www.nei. nih.gov; the Food and Drug Administration at www.fda.gov, or the FTC at www.ftc.gov.