Which is Safer: Lasik Eye Surgery or Wearing Contacts?
July 18, 2008 | Leave a Comment
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LASIK eye surgery is one of the most popular cosmetic procedures available, yet many people still worry that the procedure is riskier than wearing contacts. While laser eye surgery does carry certain risks, recent evidence is showing that contacts are not necessarily safer than surgical treatments. In fact, some experts have even suggested that contact lenses pose greater long-term risks to vision than laser vision correction.
So which option is right for you? Start by consider the potential benefits and risks of each alternative. Next, discuss your concerns with an eye care professional. By carefully weighing the pros and cons, you will be able to make the decision that is right for your needs, budget and lifestyle.
Contact Lens vs. LASIK Safety
While contact lenses are generally seen as a safer alternative than surgery, recent research is shedding new light on the long-term impact of wearing corrective lenses. After reviewing a number of large-scale studies, ophthalmologist William Mathers found that people who wear contact lenses have a more serious danger experiencing significant vision loss. Daily contact wearers have a 1 in 100 chance of developing an infection. In addition to this danger, there is a 1 in 2,000 chance that contact wearers will experience vision loss.
Tags: contacts, glasses, eye wear
Pros and Cons of Bargain Lasik Eye Surgery Offerings
May 26, 2008 | Leave a Comment
LASIK eye surgery has quickly become one of the most popular optional surgical procedures performed today, with more than one million American adults choosing the surgery each year. The speed and potential benefits of LASIK make it an appealing option for people affected by nearsightedness or farsightedness, allowing those with vision problems to say goodbye to their contact lenses or glasses. Many more consumers are attracted by the rock-bottom prices that are frequently advertised, but are these deals simply too good to be true? While great deals can be found, all potential patients need to carefully consider a number of factors before undergoing any type of laser vision correction.
LASIK Basics for Beginners
Before deciding if LASIK is the right choice, all patients should be carefully screened in order to determine if they are a good candidate. If a laser surgery provider promises that all patients make good candidates or fails to assess each individual carefully, then it is important to look elsewhere. A skilled and qualified surgeon will consider a number of issues including age, health, pupil size and other eye characteristics before making a recommendation. In many cases, laser correction consumers may find that it is wiser to pay a little more in order to receive better care and services.
The Costs of LASIK
There are ways to reduce the costs of laser vision correction, but potential patients should realize that choosing the cheapest option is not always the best strategy. There are a number of different surgical techniques and technologies that can influence the overall price of the procedure, but these variations can also have a big impact on the actual effectiveness of the surgery. In many cases, basic LASIK eye surgery offerings utilize older technologies, lasers and techniques. Newer approaches generally result in better outcomes, shorter recovery times and fewer chances of experiencing negative side effects.
Weighing the Pros and Cons
Before making a decision, each individual patient needs to weigh the potential pros and cons of choosing bargain LASIK eye surgery offerings carefully. The first step is to undergo a thorough evaluation from an experience and qualified eye care expert. This allows potential patients to determine whether they are good candidates for the LASIK procedure. The next step is to get quotes from different surgery providers. Carefully compare the cost per eye, but also look at factors such as the type of laser that is used. In some cases, the costs of using a more advanced laser may be minimal, so it might be wiser to pay slightly more for a better procedure.
Another important step that all potential LASIK patients must take is to ask each surgeon about his or her success rates. All doctors should be able to share some basic statistics about how many procedures they have performed and the typical outcomes that patients experience. Most importantly, a doctor should be able to describe both his or her best result as well as his or her worst result. If a doctor has a history of patient complaints or malpractice suits, then look elsewhere for a more qualified and skilled professional.