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Lasik Eye surgery Candidates

October 13th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikThe most commonly performed laser vision correction surgery is Lasik. Lasik surgery is known to be very safe and highly effective for several refractive problems. During Lasik eye surgery the surgeon will reshape the cornea in a fast and painless procedure. The procedure generally takes no longer than fifteen minutes and is done with machinery. Some patients say claim they feel a bit uncomfortable because of the drops and tool to keep the eyes open, but no pain at all. The Lasik procedure reduces the patient’s dependency on corrective eye wear often leaving the patient with 20/20 or 20/40 vision. Although the Lasik procedure has great success rates it is conducted on a very delicate part of the eye where several things can go wrong especially if one is not a candidate.

A patient should always understand the importance of a thorough screening and maintain realistic expectations about their procedure. There are people who do not fit the required medical criteria to ensure that Lasik or another laser vision correction Los Angeles procedure can be performed with success. In some cases patients who are deemed as not being good candidates for Lasik due to the current technology may be able to have the surgery in the future, as technology makes significant advances and techniques are further perfected. Anyone interested in undergoing Lasik eye surgery must go through an examination where a Los Angeles eye surgeon will determine if he or she is a candidate for surgery; each candidate will fall into one of three categories. These categories are:

The ideal Lasik Candidate:

  • Eighteen years of age and has had a stable prescription for glasses or contacts for two or more years.
  • Must have sufficient corneal thickness. Lasik patients must have a cornea that is thick enough to allow the surgeon to safely create a clean corneal flap of appropriate depth.
  • Are affected by one of the most common refractive errors, nearsightedness, farsightedness, astig-matism or a combination of three. Many lasers are no approved by the U.S. food and drug administration as safe and effective for Lasik, but the scope of each laser’s approved indication and treatment range is limited to specified degrees or refractive error.
  • Does not suffer from any disease vision or non-vision related because it still may affect the effectiveness of the surgery or prevent the eyes from healing properly.
  • Are properly informed about the risks and reward of the surgery had realistic expectations and understanding.

The less than ideal Candidate:

  • History of dry eyes – The chances that the condition may worsen after surgery is too high.
  • Have scarring of the cornea
  • Under the age of eighteen
  • Being treated with medications such as steroids or other medications which may prevent the healing process from properly taking place.
  • Are pregnant or nursing
  • Have a refractive error to severe which make the cornea to thin and too risky to operate.
  • History of herpes
  • The Non- Lasik Candidate: There are conditions that may eliminate an individual from undergoing Lasik with the current technology to protect their eye sight from being further damaged.
  • Disease such as cataracts, advanced glaucoma, corneal diseases, corneal thinning disorders, and other types of disease that threaten the vision
  • Do not signed consent allowing the surgeon to perform Lasik. Patients must understand the risk and procedure in detail. Signed consent is required to perform the surgery and verify that the patient clearly understood.

Unrealistic expectations. Often times when patients have unrealistic expectations they are very disappointed although the Lasik doctor Los Angeles may have done an impeccable job.

Category LASIK, laser eye surgery | No Comments »

laser eye surgery: The Price for Lasik Eye Surgery

September 23rd, 2010 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryLasik vision correction surgery is one of the most popular ways to treat to treat vision errors among many people especially those people who hate to struggle with glasses and or contacts. The cost of Lasik eye surgery however increases every as the surgery gains more popularity every year. When compared to other daily gadgets that help a person see clear in the moment the cost for Lasik is relatively high.

The cost of Lasik has several determining factors. The first thing that comes into play for Lasik cost is the cost is location. Individuals may find that Lasik varies from price not only in different states but also in different cities. If one chooses to have Lasik in a city such as Beverly Hills he or she should expect for the cost to be significantly higher than in several other areas of California. The second cost that comes into play is the cost of equipment, which greatly varies because there are several clinics with greatly advanced equipment that certainly cost more. Thirdly, surgeon fees always vary in price. Certified surgeons with large amounts of experience are going to cost a lot more than those starting out and those who are not qualified. Make sure to search for a Los Angeles eye surgeon who is qualified and experience, no matter what the cost is your eyes are worth it.

Although there are several factors that contribute to the cost of Lasik there is still a reasonable range for Lasik. Most Lasik Doctor Los Angeles charge about $2500 per eye, this is the average Lasik cost in 2010; however, this cost inflates yearly. This is generally expensive for most patients and because it is an elective procedure it is not covered by insurance. Lasik cost is most often financed or is worked out with the surgeon on a sort of payment plan that makes Lasik eyes surgery more affordable for patients. Although this surgery may sound costly to some its long term benefits keeps individuals interested in the procedure.

If one is interested in vision correction surgery he or she should consult with a Lasik eye surgeon such as Andrew caster, to find out if he or she is a Lasik candidate and learn more about the procedure. Lasik is one of the safest and simplest ways to regain ones in some cases completely, but some illness may disqualify an individual from obtaining the procedure. If one is in overall good condition and looking in to Lasik he or she should educate themselves on the procedure and all it entails.

Category LASIK, laser eye surgery | No Comments »

Lasik and Lasik enhancement surgery

June 25th, 2010 by andrewcaster

Lasik eye surgery is proven to decrease and several cases eliminate the use and dependency on eye glasses. Although Beverly Hills Lasik surgery has extremely high success rates few times patients find themselves having Lasik enhancement surgery. Most patients experience a change in vision daily after surgery usually seeing great improvement soon afterwards. If the patient isn’t completely satisfied with surgery three to six months afterwards then he or she may ask their Lasik surgeon what else can be done.

In order to be truly satisfied with Lasik surgery there are several deciding factors.

  • The health and characteristics of ones corneas
  • Type of refractive error
  • The amount of prescription needed to correct the refractive error
  • Amount of tears produced
  • Age
  • Expectation

Young adults with mild refractive errors generally have the best results from Beverly Hill Lasik eye surgery. The patient’s expectations prior to surgery play a key role in how satisfied they will be with the out come of the surgery. If a patient has unrealistic expectation it is likely that he or she will not be pleased with the outcome. Patients generally agree that they now can see better than they ever did with glasses and if not just as well. For some patients leading Lasik surgeon Los Angeles may suggest Lasik enhancement.

Lasik enhancement is a follow up procedure done if the first procedure is less than satisfactory or a complication occurs. This enhancement surgery is rare and in recent studies it shows that more than ninety-five percent of sixteen million people have had successful Lasik eye surgery, but the Lasik Doctor Los Angeles will inform one prior to surgery that not everyone is lucky to obtain 20/20 vision after surgery. Before rushing to have Lasik enhancement surgery it is critical to wait because several fluctuations happen to the eyes in the upcoming months. Also, the Lasik eye surgeon may have a less invasive method of providing the patient with better enhanced results.

During the enhancement surgery, the surgeon will lift the existing flap and cut out the corneal surface at the location of the original flap. The Lasik flap adheres to the stroma, it can still be lifted, thereby averting the need to create a new flap. Because the laser technology and experience of surgeons has increased greatly it is rare that this procedure is done but when done carries very little chance of complication. Lasik enhancement surgery is not a thing to fear since it is much like the initial Lasik surgery and the surgeon will generally go through every step in detail.

Category Beverly Hills Lasik surgery | No Comments »

Diabetes& Lasik

March 27th, 2010 by andrewcaster

LasikDiabetic patients fear not a being a candidate for Lasik surgery. Being a diabetic entails having a history of taking very long to heal and sometimes not healing at all. Diabetes is when blood glucose levels are abnormally high and when the blood sugar level exceeds high levels or even drops down to lower levels a diabetic patient is at risk of dying, loosing their vision, loosing limbs etc. Diabetes has different types as in type one, type two and type two the higher the type the lower the severity of the illness. For a person with type one diabetes the body is completely unable to produce insulin and in type two diabetes patients the body produces insulin but the cells do not respond to it. Because the two types of diabetes is slightly different and usually developed with age and eating habits the symptoms for each go as follow

Type one diabetes:

  • Blurry
  • vision Excessive
  • thirst Frequent urination
  • Weight loss
  • Hunger
  • Fatigue

Type two diabetes:

  • Blurred vision
  • Amplified thirst
  • Amplified urination
  • Amplified appetite
  • Fatigue

Most diabetics assume they are disqualified from being a Lasik candidates others never consider Lasik because of the horror stories. Truth is Los Angeles eye surgeons say being a diabetic does not automatically disqualify a patient from being a candidate for Lasik the answer is it might. For a person with diabetes it is extremely important to only speak to the most skilled Lasik doctor Los Angeles area has a great plenty of Lasik experts who will not fill your head with false hope, but inform you about the risk, statistics, and possibilities. The chances of a diabetic having complications from Lasik are 47%. 47% might not seem too steep for some because it is just not at 50% just yet. When that 47% is compared to that 7% chance of complication that a non-diabetic has than the risks begins to set in. when a diabetic undergoes Lasik it is important that the patient has always had, and will have control of their glucose levels because if the blood glucose levels are uncontrollable then this might cause for extremely blurry vision. In Beverly Hills Lasik Surgeons tell that one of the most important factors to know is that due to the diabetes the cornea will take more time to heal and there for the healing process is a bit different and there is more risk of the cornea growing abnormally and furthering the damage to the retina. This is why diabetics must go through extra testing and see more than one specialist to get the final answer on whether it is advised that they go through with Lasik.

Category LASIK | No Comments »

Lasik Surgery and Eye Surgery in Los Angeles

January 29th, 2010 by andrewcaster

laser eye surgeryThere are two fundamentally different types of laser eye surgery: Prk and Lasik. Under these two categories, there are several different modifications of each for example, Lasek with an “E” is just a resent type of Prk. All techniques are performed with the patient being awake and with the use of drops to numb the eyes.

All the types of laser eye surgery that fall under the category of Prk, all involve a surface technique designed to remove the cornea’s outermost layer called the epithelium. Rather than creating a flap via a cutting technique as used in Lasik procedures.

Lasik or laser assisted in situ keratomileusis uses a metal blade to cut the cornea flap and a laser to reshape the eye. After the procedure many residents of Los Angeles Lasik was able to restore their vision to near perfect 20/20. Lasik is painless for most patients, and unlike Prk techniques the vision is immediately corrected although there may be some blurriness present for the first 24 hours. But after that the vision will improve over the following few weeks.

Removing the epithelium is the first step of laser eye surgery the next step is reshaping the cornea by the use of the laser. The model of laser varies as do guidance or mapping systems associated with each model. Talk to your local Lasik doctor Los Angeles residents can gain near 20/20 vision. The more precise the mapping and reshaping system is the better the results will be. Most reputable centers for eye laser surgery will tell you that 20/20 vision from laser-corrected surgery may not be like normal 20/20 vision.

There my be some haze or other side effects that can result from laser eye surgery, though techniques and technology are always working towards eliminating these problems.

Category LASIK, laser eye surgery | No Comments »

Answers: Advanced Surface Treatment LASIK Without A Flap

August 26th, 2009 by andrewcaster

Many of my friends have had Lasik. Why do you sometimes recommend “Lasik without a flap”?


According to a top qualified Los Angeles eye surgeon, there are certain people for whom “Lasik without a flap” is the preferred technique. In the following situations, “Lasik without a flap” is the safer choice: moderate to extreme dry eyes, very thin corneas, thin corneas combined with large corrections, irregular topography (curvature test) that may indicate an inherent weakness in the cornea, or hobbies or professions (such as boxing) where there is a very high likelihood of being hit in the eye. Safety needs to be our most important consideration, and for these certain people, “Lasik without a flap” is safest.

What Are The Disadvantages Of “Los Angeles Lasik Without A Flap”?

There are two disadvantages. The main disadvantage is that “Lasik without a flap” takes longer to heal. The vision is often around 20/40 to 20/50 during the first week. 20/40 vision is required to legally drive a car. You will certainly have adequate “walking around” vision to perform most daily tasks, but it is certainly possible that you will not see well enough to legally drive or see clearly enough to work at a computer or read extensively during the first week. Although most people choose to have both eyes treated on the same day, some people choose to have “Lasik without a flap” one eye at a time, and then they can work during the first week while the eye is healing. With Lasik, most people return to work the very next day. The second disadvantage is on and off discomfort during the first week, which is very well controlled with “comfort” drops as well as anti-inflammatory pills.

Do you perform other forms of laser vision correction in addition to
“Lasik without a flap”?

Among the many services provided by your experience Lasik doctor Los Angeles patients have all the variations of laser vision correction, including Lasik, IntraLasik (Lasik with a laser flap), and “Lasik without a flap” available as possible laser eye correction options.

I want the Custom Wavefront treatment. Can I have that with “Lasik without a flap”?

Yes, we can perform the Custom Wavefront treatment with Lasik, IntraLasik, and “Lasik without a flap”.

How is “Lasik without a flap” performed?

As explained by a top Lasik surgeon Los Angeles without a flap uses the exact same laser as Lasik or IntraLasik. However, instead of creating a flap (which is the thickness of a human hair) and then performing the treatment on the part of the eye under the flap, the treatment is performed near the surface of the eye. This is why this technique is often referred to as Advanced Surface Treatment. The thin layer of material covering the surface, which is very soft, is wiped away, and the laser treatment is then applied to the firmer material underneath.

Which gives better results: Lasik, IntraLasik, or “Lasik without a flap”?
In our hands, the final vision is the same with each of these variations. Lasik provides the most rapid return to excellent vision, followed by IntraLasik, and then “Lasik without a flap”. We want to make the recovery as easy and quick for you as possible, but our main concern is which technique will be the safest technique for your particular situation.

What care is required after “Lasik without a flap”?

A special contact lens, which we put in and later take out, is worn for 5-7 days. You will need to take antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drops, and we will give you anti-inflammatory pills.

Is “Lasik without a flap” very common?

About 10% of the laser treatments in the United States are “Lasik without a flap”. It has been performed since 1995, and very significant improvements have taken place over the years. Advanced Surface Treatment is becoming more popular each year, as doctors understand that for certain groups of people it is the safest choice.

Category Los Angeles eye surgeon | No Comments »