Featured- Lasik Eye Surgery Atlanta
Laser eye surgery is usually done by a trained Ophthalmologist using a laser. LASIK eye surgery is a corrective procedure that is designed to reduce a patient’s dependency on glasses or contact lenses by permanently changing the shape of the cornea.
Although LASIK eye surgery in Atlanta can be expensive, many people choose to have LASIK surgery as an alternative to wearing glasses or contacts. Some people simply feel they look better without eyeglasses and are uncomfortable wearing contacts. Other people get tired of the hassle of having to change their contacts frequently and buying all the supplies that accompany the contacts. While still others such as those into sports simply prefer the convenience of not having to wear glasses while playing.
However, like with any other procedure, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery Atlanta. People who have certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, lupus or glaucoma as well as other conditions should not have this surgery. If you are thinking about having LASIK eye surgery Atlanta then talk to your optometrist to find out if you are a good candidate. If he agrees that this surgery should be something you can consider, he will most often give you the name of an Ophthalmologist or a list of several that you talk to regarding Lasik eye surgery Atlanta.
What You Want To Know About The Ophthalmologist
Before selecting an Ophthalmologist for Lasik eye surgery Atlanta you may want to talk to several and there are some questions that you will want to ask before selecting one to perform your surgery. Here are just a few questions you may want answers to:
- How long has he been doing LASIK eye surgery Atlanta, where he trained, and what his success rate is.
- What’s involved in after surgery care and who will handle that care.
- What are the risks involved in having this surgery and just how risky is it?
A good Ophthalmologist will be happy to answer your questions and be willing to discuss in detail what is involved before, during and after surgery and the risks that are involved. He will also explain to you what you can realistically expect from having Lasik eye surgery Atlanta and what the outcome is going to be. If the Ophthalmologist is unable or unwilling to discuss the surgery and everything involved with it in detail then more than likely you are not going to want to trust your eyesight into his care.
Before Scheduling Lasik Eye Surgery in Atlanta
Before the Ophthalmologist will schedule LASIK eye surgery in Atlanta he is going to want to give you a thorough eye exam. Take your eyeglass prescription records with you as well as any other kind of medication you are on. The Ophthalmologist will then dilate your eyes and fine tune your prescription as well as make sure your eyes are healthy which will include a retina and glaucoma test.
He will then measure the eye itself to make sure that LASIK eye surgery Atlanta is possible. (You can be rejected if your cornea is cone shaped or your pupil is too large.) Once he has determined that you can benefit from LASIK eye surgery Atlanta he will again discuss with you the surgical procedure, the risks and other relevant information and ask you to sign a consent form. Read the form completely before signing and don’t sign until you understand fully the entire procedure.
The Ophthalmologist will then inform you about what you need to do before your Lasik eye surgery Atlanta. For example, since contacts temporarily change the shape of the cornea you may need to forgo wearing contacts for several day before the surgery takes place. You may also need to stop wearing make-up lotions and perfumes for a few days prior to surgery.
Lasik Eye Surgery Atlanta – The Procedure
Prior to surgery the Ophthalmologist will have already explained the procedure to you. You will need to arrive ahead of the surgery itself to take care of any last minute paper work. (Make sure that you bring along someone who can drive you home after the surgery as this is an outpatient procedure.) Keep in mind that the only anesthetic you will be given is in the form of eye drops that will numb the eye and you will be awake during the entire procedure.
The doctor then will use a special tool to cut a hinged flap of the the thin corneal tissue and fold it back while using the laser to reshape the cornea itself. The flap is then placed back where it adheres to the cornea. A plastic or metal shield is then placed over the eye. The entire process only take between 10 and 15 minutes for each eye in most situations.
After Laser Eye Surgery
There will probably be some discomfort after surgery usually a burning sensation for a few hours after surgery and your vision will probably be extremely blurry the day of the surgery but, should be improved by the next day when you will return to the office for a follow up exam.
You will probably need to take a few days off work to allow your eyes time to heal and you should not drive until your vision makes it safe to do so. You will also be given a care sheet that will explain what you can and can’t do following your Lasik eye surgery Atlanta.
Risks Of LASIK Eye Surgery Atlanta
Like any other type of surgery there are risks associated with LASIK surgery that you need to be aware of. These risks include:
- Over or under correction. This problem may require the continued use of eyeglasses or contacts or “enhancements”
- corneal scarring which may prohibit the wearing of contact lenses
- Loss of some vision. This means that your vision may not be quite as good after surgery as it was before.
- A decrease in crispness. Things may seem to have a grayish tinge or look slightly blurred
- Flap problems
- hazy vision
- light sensitivity
- dryness
- glare
- pink patches on the white of the eye
Some of these side effects of LASIK eye surgery Atlanta may only be temporary others may be permanent so you want to consider carefully before undergoing this surgery.
LASIK eye surgery Atlanta is usually safe and does help reduce many people’s reliance on glasses but, keep in mind that this surgery can be expensive running anywhere from a few hundred dollars per eye to over a thousand. Because Atlanta is so large, you have many choices as to where to go for your lasik eye surgery in Atlanta. This helps keep costs competitive and allows you to find an experienced doctor. Make sure that you have realistic expectations of what Lasik eye surgery Atlanta can do for you and you are likely to be pleased with the outcome.
