The Dangers of Lasik Eye Surgery
FDA Taking a Closer Look at Lasik Eye Surgery
I wear contact lenses, and like others with impaired vision, I was really excited when I first heard about Lasik eye surgery. The thought of never again having to mess around with contact lenses or wear eye glasses definitely caught my attention. But the cost and the lack of long-term studies brought me back to reality and the daily chore of caring for contacts.
Now it seems that decision may have been a smart decision since the FDA recently announced plans to take a closer look at the negative effects of this popular eye surgery.
The way laser eye surgery corrects vision is really pretty amazing. A trained surgeon uses a specially-designed laser known as a Lasik laser to permanently reshape the cornea in one or both eyes. That’s really all there is to it.
After numbing the eye, a surgical knife is used to cut a thin circular flap in the cornea. Then the laser is pointed at the cornea. Under the surgeon’s command, the laser pulses and vaporizes corneal tissue until the shape needed to correct vision is obtained. When finished, the flap is put back into position so the eye can heal. In 95% of the procedures, the patient is able to see clearly in just a few days.
What about the remaining five percent?
Maybe it’s the relative simplicity that keeps patients from worrying about the procedure’s potential side effects. Before you can even get laser eye surgery, you have to be evaluated to determine whether you’re a good candidate. From there, the eye is mapped and the risks explained. An appointment is made and about 15 minutes after it starts, the procedure is finished.
But not every patient’s vision is better after laser eye surgery. While it may not seem like a lot, the FDA reports nearly 140 complaints over the course of 8 years beginning in 1998 through 2006. In general, these complaints involve the known risks including dry eyes, blurred or double vision, and at nighttime, the appearance of halos surrounding objects.
Study overview
The FDA study isn’t intended to put an end to the procedure. Rather, the goal is to better understand the risks, including the number of patients that experience them. That, officials believe, may lead to changes that could result in fewer patient-reported problems after surgery.
Phase 1, which is already underway, involves creating a web-based questionnaire intended to help assess the surgical outcomes patients report. Answers will also be used to help assess patients’ quality of life following Lasik eye surgery.
Phase 2 focuses on evaluating satisfaction levels and resulting quality of life issues of patients at the Naval Refractive Surgery Center.
The 3rd phase will broaden the quality of life evaluation by conducting a clinical study designed to track the outcome of patients that had the procedure performed at select centers. The study is expected to continue through 2012.
Until then, I think I’ll keep fumbling with my contact lenses and eye glasses. What about you?
I wear contact lenses, and like others with impaired vision, I was really excited when I first heard about Lasik eye surgery. The thought of never again having to mess around with contact lenses or wear eye glasses definitely caught my attention. But the cost and the lack of long-term studies brought me back to reality and the daily chore of caring for contacts.
Now it seems that decision may have been a smart decision since the FDA recently announced plans to take a closer look at the negative effects of this popular eye surgery.
The way laser eye surgery corrects vision is really pretty amazing. A trained surgeon uses a specially-designed laser known as a Lasik laser to permanently reshape the cornea in one or both eyes. That’s really all there is to it.
After numbing the eye, a surgical knife is used to cut a thin circular flap in the cornea. Then the laser is pointed at the cornea. Under the surgeon’s command, the laser pulses and vaporizes corneal tissue until the shape needed to correct vision is obtained. When finished, the flap is put back into position so the eye can heal. In 95% of the procedures, the patient is able to see clearly in just a few days.
What about the remaining five percent?
Maybe it’s the relative simplicity that keeps patients from worrying about the procedure’s potential side effects. Before you can even get laser eye surgery, you have to be evaluated to determine whether you’re a good candidate. From there, the eye is mapped and the risks explained. An appointment is made and about 15 minutes after it starts, the procedure is finished.
But not every patient’s vision is better after laser eye surgery. While it may not seem like a lot, the FDA reports nearly 140 complaints over the course of 8 years beginning in 1998 through 2006. In general, these complaints involve the known risks including dry eyes, blurred or double vision, and at nighttime, the appearance of halos surrounding objects.
Study overview
The FDA study isn’t intended to put an end to the procedure. Rather, the goal is to better understand the risks, including the number of patients that experience them. That, officials believe, may lead to changes that could result in fewer patient-reported problems after surgery.
Phase 1, which is already underway, involves creating a web-based questionnaire intended to help assess the surgical outcomes patients report. Answers will also be used to help assess patients’ quality of life following Lasik eye surgery.
Phase 2 focuses on evaluating satisfaction levels and resulting quality of life issues of patients at the Naval Refractive Surgery Center.
The 3rd phase will broaden the quality of life evaluation by conducting a clinical study designed to track the outcome of patients that had the procedure performed at select centers. The study is expected to continue through 2012.
Until then, I think I’ll keep fumbling with my contact lenses and eye glasses. What about you?
Labels: eye surgery, FDA, science, vision
posted by PharmacyEscrow.com at
Monday, November 16, 2009
3 Comments:
Even if Lasik Eye Surgery does not promise the outcome of perfect vision, it is still efficient because I no more have to wear my spectacles, it was an instant surgery, not painful, I got it done at a popular clinic with a well qualified doctor. It has been one and a half year since I did the Lasik surgery and I’m having a great time as my poor vision has been fixed permanently. Well, the price is worth the results.
Nice info thanks for sharing.. i want to know about Lasik surgery.i found free evaluation from eye surgery sacramento and recommended above 18 years best candidate..what you say? check this out http://bit.ly/8P3j1e
i need your guideline thanks
Many of us are always thinking many times before we go for surgeries. But there are a lot of informative websites that help us have a clear idea. One such related website that I found was www.worldclasslasik.com, which had info about the procedures and the long term benefits as well.
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