Dear Lasik Researchers this new Gallup Poll proves not many people really are doing there Lasik Research before having Lasik. Please read this article.
Lasik University
New Gallup Poll Shows Most People Know Little About LASIK
ANAHEIM, Calif., Nov. 17 -- Results of a new Gallup poll being reported here this week at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology point to current misperceptions about LASIK surgery, and demonstrate that the public's understanding of laser vision correction is not keeping pace with technological advances in the field.
This survey, involving 1,000 men and women who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses and who have never had laser eye surgery, shows that:
The majority (85 percent) of all survey respondents who have considered LASIK say that it is somewhat important or very important to alleviate their dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses.
The majority (86 percent) of all survey respondents who have considered LASIK appear to be waiting for a safer laser eye surgery procedure, and roughly one in five are actually fearful of the potential side effects or pain that they believe can be associated with laser vision correction.
More than half (56 percent) of all people polled who have considered LASIK admit that they actually have never spoken with a doctor about the procedure.
Most people (73 percent) participating in this Gallup poll admit that they know nothing at all about new advances in the field, and more than 67 percent actually say that they know little or nothing at all about LASIK in general.
"These survey results are important because they show that people are not taking the right steps to stay informed, or to make informed decisions about laser eye surgery," explains Andrew Caster, MD, clinical instructor of ophthalmology, UCLA Jules Stein Eye Institute and medical director, Caster Eye Center. "LASIK is a virtually painless procedure, but fears about side effects, such as glare, halos and night vision problems, were significant concerns in the past. Today the potential for these unwanted side effects is significantly reduced because new wavefront-guided LASIK makes visual outcomes more predictable than with traditional LASIK."
The majority (73 percent) of both eye glass and contact lens wearers surveyed by Gallup say that they are unaware of this new wavefront technology -- a technology that eye surgeons have been using for more than a year to improve both the quantity and quality of a person's vision, and to reduce long-standing concerns about glare, halos and night vision problems.
According to Dr. Caster, he has performed the new wavefront-guided LASIK procedure on more than 400 patients, and, following surgery, these patients report that they are satisfied or very satisfied with their vision, and most report that their overall vision is far better now than they ever expected it could be.
"Roughly 50 million people in this country are potential candidates for laser vision correction, and the number of people who will undergo this procedure is expected to increase significantly in the future," Dr. Caster explains. "Anyone who might be considering LASIK needs to learn about the new technologies now available to them, and how these technologies can improve outcomes.
"Most importantly, people need to keep in mind that, as with any surgery, there can be risks involved with LASIK. A qualified eye surgeon can address their questions and determine if they are a good candidate for the procedure. Most often, people who have had problems with LASIK were not good candidates for the surgery in the first place."
Other Survey Findings
In this Gallup poll -- the first nationally representative, major public opinion poll to evaluate perceptions about laser eye surgery among potential candidates for the procedure -- respondents also were asked to identify some of the primary obstacles associated with their eye glasses and contact lenses. Additional findings revealed by this survey, which was commissioned by Alcon, Inc. included:
Nearly 40 percent of eye glass wearers who have considered LASIK say that they lost their glasses at least once in the preceding year, with more than half (56.4 percent) of all eye glass wearers saying that they just set their glasses down wherever they are when they remove them.
Forty-four percent of all eyeglass wearers who have considered laser eye surgery say that their glasses broke or required repair within the past 12 months.
Among eyeglass wearers who have considered laser eye surgery, about half (48 percent) say that they had pain at the bridge of their nose or the back of their ears in the past year due to their glasses, and 21 percent say that they suffered headaches as a result of their glasses.
Contact lens wearers report that, within the past year, they most frequently lost their contacts down the drain (28 percent) and in the shower (12 percent).
Forty four percent of all contact lens wearers say that dry eyes or irritated eyes caused by their contacts are the worst things associated with contact lens use.
One-quarter (26 percent) of all contact lens wearers who have considered LASIK say that they have suffered an eye infection in the past year due to their contacts.
"Eye glasses and contact lenses can really interfere with a person's daily routines, and when they cause problems, such as headaches, irritated eyes, or eye infections, people really should talk to an eye doctor about their options for vision correction," says Mark Speaker, MD, says Mark Speaker, MD, PhD, associate clinical professor of ophthalmology, New York Medical College. "Given the tremendous impact of new wavefront technology, people no longer need to put up with the hassles that can go hand-in-hand with corrective eye wear."
The Gallup Organization conducted this public opinion poll in September and October 2003. The 1,000 men and women who participated in this eight- minute telephone survey were screened to include only eyeglass and contact lens wearers, between the ages of 18 and 60, who had never had laser eye surgery. For results based on samples of this size, at the 95 percent confidence level, the error attributable to sampling and other random effects could be plus or minus three percentage points. Copies of the full Gallup poll findings can be obtained by contacting Erin Boyd, at 602.618.7938.
Thank you and check back for more Lasik Information.
Lasik University
Lasik Counselor
Lasik Mobile Units Caution Warning!
Dear Lasik Mobile Unit Researchers, please read this article from the Medical Society And Pennsylvania Academy Of Ophthalmology Regarding On-The-Road Laser Eye Surgery
<Lasik University
Statement attributable to Michael J. Azar, MD, President, Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology
Patient safety is the highest concern for members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology, and today, we join the efforts of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to raise awareness of a hole in the safety net for eye care.
In recent months, mobile truck units have traveled across Pennsylvania to perform laser eye surgery. This new development has the potential of serving the needs of patients. However, we are concerned that the current regulations regarding surgical facilities need to be updated to reflect the development of these on-the-road units. Unfortunately, when the regulations were written, the state had no way of knowing that someday laser eye surgery could be performed out of the back of a truck. As a result, these units roam freely in Pennsylvania without any oversight by the state's department of health.
Both, the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pennsylvania Medical Society are encouraging the state department of health to review existing regulations and update them to reflect the changing medical environment with respect to ambulatory surgical facilities.
Statement attributable to Dr. Jitendra M. Desai, President, Pennsylvania Medical Society
Laser surgery to correct vision problems is a remarkable advancement in medicine that many patients have enjoyed in recent years. Traditionally, these procedures occur in a dedicated ambulatory surgical facility regulated by the state department of health. Historically, all regulations are intended to protect patients.
But, medicine is changing. And, sometimes it changes so fast that regulations become outdated and need to be reviewed. One such development is mobile laser surgery units. These units are beginning to travel throughout Pennsylvania, setting up shop in parking lots and other off-street locations to perform surgery out of the back of a truck.
While they provide a service that's in demand, members of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology want to ensure the highest standards of patient safety. And, because these mobile units fall through the cracks in regulatory oversight, both organizations are alerting the Pennsylvania State Department of Health of the situation, and encouraging the state to explore regulation clarity and, if needed, seek modifications to ensure continued patient safety.
Once again please use caution and do your research before having Lasik Eye Surgery in a Lasik Mobile Surgery Unit.
Lasik University
Thank You
Lasik Counselor
<Lasik University
Statement attributable to Michael J. Azar, MD, President, Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology
Patient safety is the highest concern for members of the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology, and today, we join the efforts of the Pennsylvania Medical Society to raise awareness of a hole in the safety net for eye care.
In recent months, mobile truck units have traveled across Pennsylvania to perform laser eye surgery. This new development has the potential of serving the needs of patients. However, we are concerned that the current regulations regarding surgical facilities need to be updated to reflect the development of these on-the-road units. Unfortunately, when the regulations were written, the state had no way of knowing that someday laser eye surgery could be performed out of the back of a truck. As a result, these units roam freely in Pennsylvania without any oversight by the state's department of health.
Both, the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology and the Pennsylvania Medical Society are encouraging the state department of health to review existing regulations and update them to reflect the changing medical environment with respect to ambulatory surgical facilities.
Statement attributable to Dr. Jitendra M. Desai, President, Pennsylvania Medical Society
Laser surgery to correct vision problems is a remarkable advancement in medicine that many patients have enjoyed in recent years. Traditionally, these procedures occur in a dedicated ambulatory surgical facility regulated by the state department of health. Historically, all regulations are intended to protect patients.
But, medicine is changing. And, sometimes it changes so fast that regulations become outdated and need to be reviewed. One such development is mobile laser surgery units. These units are beginning to travel throughout Pennsylvania, setting up shop in parking lots and other off-street locations to perform surgery out of the back of a truck.
While they provide a service that's in demand, members of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ophthalmology want to ensure the highest standards of patient safety. And, because these mobile units fall through the cracks in regulatory oversight, both organizations are alerting the Pennsylvania State Department of Health of the situation, and encouraging the state to explore regulation clarity and, if needed, seek modifications to ensure continued patient safety.
Once again please use caution and do your research before having Lasik Eye Surgery in a Lasik Mobile Surgery Unit.
Lasik University
Thank You
Lasik Counselor
Lasik Article from a Lasik Insider
When it comes to researching Lasik it’s often hard to know where to begin.
Lasik University
This article will give you a brief outline on what to look for in a Lasik Doctor, what to look for in Lasik Technology and what to look for in a Lasik Pre and Post-Operative Care. I have been a Lasik Counselor for almost 4 years at one of the world’s largest Lasik Providers. I have had the opportunity to facilitate several thousand Lasik Eye Surgeries. I have talked with people across this nation and even some people overseas about their particular situations with their vision. What people need to know is that they need to research the actual Ophthalmologist who will be performing their Lasik Procedure very thoroughly. Many times the doctor you see for your pre-operative exam is not the doctor who will be operating on your precious eyes. You first need to find out how many Lasik procedures have actually been performed by the Doctor. You also need to find out how many of these procedures where conventional or traditional Lasik. You need to find out how many of these procedures where custom Lasik. You need to find out how many where alternative methods of Laser Vision Correction such as PRK, LTK, CK, epi-lasik, Lasek and others. Please make sure you research the educational credentials of the Doctor such as are they board certified? Is your Doctor certified by the Laser Manufacturer to operate the particular laser they want to use to correct your vision? You will also want to know what method the Doctor is going to use to create the corneal flap, which is the first step of the Lasik Procedure? Even Intra-Lasik or No-touch Lasik uses an Intralase Laser to create the corneal flap and then uses a spatula to scrap up the epithelia layer of cells. Please ask your Doctor if their medical license was issued in the same state where they are practicing? There are many doctors who will fly to many different states and perform lasik and they are not even licensed in that state. Make sure you have Lasik with a Doctor who resides at least a respectable distance from your home in case of emergencies or if Lasik Complications arise where you need to see the doctor immediately. Many patients find out the hard way that they may have to wait a couple of months to see the actual doctor who performed their Lasik Procedure. Do not make this mistake please.
The first questions I ask a potential Lasik patient would clear them from going any further into the Lasik inquiry process. I would ask are you pregnant or breast-feeding. If a woman were pregnant she would have to wait approximately 90 days before coming in for a Lasik Exam. If a woman is breastfeeding she will have to unfortunately wait 90 days after she stops the breastfeeding to come in for a Lasik Evaluation. The reason behind this is that hormone levels are changing in a pregnant woman’s body, which can cause vision fluctuations to occur giving unstable prescription readings to the doctor. If Lasik was performed on this type of patient they would probably end up having to come back in for an enhancement due to the fact their vision will probably change resulting in the need for a second Lasik Treatment. After clearing a potential patient of that issue I would inquire if the patient has had any previous eye surgery. If you have had previous eye procedures please inquire with your own doctor to see if he or she recommends pursuing Lasik Vision Correction. Usually Cataracts, Keratoconus and Keloid scarring will deem a patient a non-candidate for Lasik. Some patients with the early stages of cataracts may still be a Lasik candidate. If a patient has amblyopic which is also known as lazy eye there is a high chance they will be a non-candidate. However there are some Lasik Surgeons who will conduct Lasik on an Amblyopic patient. Once again please consult your own personal eye doctor for the best guidance for your particular vision situation. After clearing a patient of the most common vision disorders that would deem them a non-candidate I then try to pinpoint with the patient as to what there main vision problem actually is. I ask whether they have difficulty seeing distance where the are considered nearsighted or if they have problems seeing up close where they are considered either farsighted or presbyopic. If the patient answers back that yes they have a problem seeing up close I then know I need to determine whether or not they are either farsighted which is known as Hyperopic or if they have Presbyopia. The way I roughly determine is to whether or not is a problem with hyperopia or presbyopia is done in the following manner: First I ask the patient if the up close reading problem has been that way all of there life or if the up close problem had progressed over time. I ask the patient if they once had perfect vision. If the patient states that they once had perfect eyesight then most likely the patient may have presbyopia. Presbyopia is the natural wearing down of the muscle that focuses the cornea. As we all get older there is a chance we may need readers or cheaters to read up close. Lasik can correct for your distance vision and any astigmatism that you may have as long as your prescription falls within the range of what is approved by the FDA. There are really only a couple of options that can be done to correct the up close reading problem of presbyopia. Mono-Vision can be conducted where one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye for up-close. The two are melded together to form Mono-Vision. Some older people love Mono-Vision and some people can never become acclimated to this scenario. You will lose some depth perception with this procedure. The other is CK or Conductive Keratoplasty. This is just a more updated modernized version of Mono-Vision. CK uses RF Frequency witch are radio waves, which actually shrink or tighten the muscles that focus the cornea. This procedure will wear off or diminish over an average period of 5 to 7 years. Over time CK will have to be repeated to duplicate the original correction. There are also other alternative methods of correcting this old-age condition of presbyopia. There are certain lens implant procedures that can be done. Please check back to learn more on these methods of vision correction. After identifying one of these problems I then will inquire whether or not the patient may have astigmatism. There are different levels of astigmatism ranging from slight to a real high astigmatism. If a patient is myopic or nearsighted with no astigmatism this is usually the best type of Lasik Candidate and should achieve the best results after the Lasik Procedure. If the patient has a low to moderate astigmatism this also should be corrected with no major problems. If a person has a higher-level astigmatism they may be a candidate as long as their prescription falls within the level of FDA approval for treatment with the particular laser that will be used. It is also up to the Doctor whether or not he or she feels comfortable treating such a high level of astigmatism. There are many FDA approved excimer lasers out there. There are lasers that are specifically designed to treat high levels of astigmatism. The VISX Star 4 Eye tracker Laser, The Bausch and Lomb Technolas 217 A, The LadarVision Laser and The Allegretto Wavelight Laser are some of the powerful excimer lasers that can treat a high-complicated prescription. Sometimes a patient’s astigmatism is actually higher than the actual power of the prescription. This particular scenario would require one of these lasers. If patient is nearsighted with a positive astigmatism this is commonly known as a mixed astigmatism and would require a more advanced laser. Please visit www.LaserChoice.com to research Lasik Excimer Lasers approved by the FDA and other lasers used around the world for Laser Vision Correction.
The price for Lasik has been a hot topic over the past few years. There are many National Lasik Providers that advertise Lasik pricing from as low as $299 per eye. I can tell you that if you prescription is a nearsighted one and you do not have an astigmatism you have a great chance of getting a super price for the Lasik Procedure. Keep in mind Traditional or Conventional Lasik will be a lower costing procedure than the more advanced Custom Lasik Procedure. If you have a high prescription with astigmatism your price will probably be a little higher. If your prescription is hyperopic with astigmatism it will definitely be higher. The most expensive procedure is Custom Lasik and it’s even more expensive if you get the Intra-Lasik Custom Lasik done. This is the newest method of creating the corneal flap instead of your traditional Micro-keratome method. The microkeratome or Bausch and Lomb hansetome are hand held devices used to create the corneal flap in the first step of the Lasik Procedure. I will be going over the flap creation process with you. Many private single office Lasik providers will have much higher pricing due to the fact you will be receiving much more individual personalized care from the actual Lasik Doctor who will conducting your procedure. The cost of the laser will also come into play as well. Some National Lasik Chains will have great agreements with Laser Providers keeping the cost of the Lasik Key Cards Down. These are cards purchased for each eye or procedure from the Laser Manufacturer. This is how some Laser Companies get paid royalty fees for each patient. Nidek is a Japanese Laser provider which has FDA approved lasers that do not operate on this royalty key card system. Nidek sells their lasers outright with no royalty fees. This is why The Nidek EC 5000 is probably the world’s most poplular excimer laser. I would say the VISX laser is The United States most popular laser company. Please check back for the continuation of this article, it will be well worth it.
Lasik University
Lasik University
This article will give you a brief outline on what to look for in a Lasik Doctor, what to look for in Lasik Technology and what to look for in a Lasik Pre and Post-Operative Care. I have been a Lasik Counselor for almost 4 years at one of the world’s largest Lasik Providers. I have had the opportunity to facilitate several thousand Lasik Eye Surgeries. I have talked with people across this nation and even some people overseas about their particular situations with their vision. What people need to know is that they need to research the actual Ophthalmologist who will be performing their Lasik Procedure very thoroughly. Many times the doctor you see for your pre-operative exam is not the doctor who will be operating on your precious eyes. You first need to find out how many Lasik procedures have actually been performed by the Doctor. You also need to find out how many of these procedures where conventional or traditional Lasik. You need to find out how many of these procedures where custom Lasik. You need to find out how many where alternative methods of Laser Vision Correction such as PRK, LTK, CK, epi-lasik, Lasek and others. Please make sure you research the educational credentials of the Doctor such as are they board certified? Is your Doctor certified by the Laser Manufacturer to operate the particular laser they want to use to correct your vision? You will also want to know what method the Doctor is going to use to create the corneal flap, which is the first step of the Lasik Procedure? Even Intra-Lasik or No-touch Lasik uses an Intralase Laser to create the corneal flap and then uses a spatula to scrap up the epithelia layer of cells. Please ask your Doctor if their medical license was issued in the same state where they are practicing? There are many doctors who will fly to many different states and perform lasik and they are not even licensed in that state. Make sure you have Lasik with a Doctor who resides at least a respectable distance from your home in case of emergencies or if Lasik Complications arise where you need to see the doctor immediately. Many patients find out the hard way that they may have to wait a couple of months to see the actual doctor who performed their Lasik Procedure. Do not make this mistake please.
The first questions I ask a potential Lasik patient would clear them from going any further into the Lasik inquiry process. I would ask are you pregnant or breast-feeding. If a woman were pregnant she would have to wait approximately 90 days before coming in for a Lasik Exam. If a woman is breastfeeding she will have to unfortunately wait 90 days after she stops the breastfeeding to come in for a Lasik Evaluation. The reason behind this is that hormone levels are changing in a pregnant woman’s body, which can cause vision fluctuations to occur giving unstable prescription readings to the doctor. If Lasik was performed on this type of patient they would probably end up having to come back in for an enhancement due to the fact their vision will probably change resulting in the need for a second Lasik Treatment. After clearing a potential patient of that issue I would inquire if the patient has had any previous eye surgery. If you have had previous eye procedures please inquire with your own doctor to see if he or she recommends pursuing Lasik Vision Correction. Usually Cataracts, Keratoconus and Keloid scarring will deem a patient a non-candidate for Lasik. Some patients with the early stages of cataracts may still be a Lasik candidate. If a patient has amblyopic which is also known as lazy eye there is a high chance they will be a non-candidate. However there are some Lasik Surgeons who will conduct Lasik on an Amblyopic patient. Once again please consult your own personal eye doctor for the best guidance for your particular vision situation. After clearing a patient of the most common vision disorders that would deem them a non-candidate I then try to pinpoint with the patient as to what there main vision problem actually is. I ask whether they have difficulty seeing distance where the are considered nearsighted or if they have problems seeing up close where they are considered either farsighted or presbyopic. If the patient answers back that yes they have a problem seeing up close I then know I need to determine whether or not they are either farsighted which is known as Hyperopic or if they have Presbyopia. The way I roughly determine is to whether or not is a problem with hyperopia or presbyopia is done in the following manner: First I ask the patient if the up close reading problem has been that way all of there life or if the up close problem had progressed over time. I ask the patient if they once had perfect vision. If the patient states that they once had perfect eyesight then most likely the patient may have presbyopia. Presbyopia is the natural wearing down of the muscle that focuses the cornea. As we all get older there is a chance we may need readers or cheaters to read up close. Lasik can correct for your distance vision and any astigmatism that you may have as long as your prescription falls within the range of what is approved by the FDA. There are really only a couple of options that can be done to correct the up close reading problem of presbyopia. Mono-Vision can be conducted where one eye is corrected for distance and the other eye for up-close. The two are melded together to form Mono-Vision. Some older people love Mono-Vision and some people can never become acclimated to this scenario. You will lose some depth perception with this procedure. The other is CK or Conductive Keratoplasty. This is just a more updated modernized version of Mono-Vision. CK uses RF Frequency witch are radio waves, which actually shrink or tighten the muscles that focus the cornea. This procedure will wear off or diminish over an average period of 5 to 7 years. Over time CK will have to be repeated to duplicate the original correction. There are also other alternative methods of correcting this old-age condition of presbyopia. There are certain lens implant procedures that can be done. Please check back to learn more on these methods of vision correction. After identifying one of these problems I then will inquire whether or not the patient may have astigmatism. There are different levels of astigmatism ranging from slight to a real high astigmatism. If a patient is myopic or nearsighted with no astigmatism this is usually the best type of Lasik Candidate and should achieve the best results after the Lasik Procedure. If the patient has a low to moderate astigmatism this also should be corrected with no major problems. If a person has a higher-level astigmatism they may be a candidate as long as their prescription falls within the level of FDA approval for treatment with the particular laser that will be used. It is also up to the Doctor whether or not he or she feels comfortable treating such a high level of astigmatism. There are many FDA approved excimer lasers out there. There are lasers that are specifically designed to treat high levels of astigmatism. The VISX Star 4 Eye tracker Laser, The Bausch and Lomb Technolas 217 A, The LadarVision Laser and The Allegretto Wavelight Laser are some of the powerful excimer lasers that can treat a high-complicated prescription. Sometimes a patient’s astigmatism is actually higher than the actual power of the prescription. This particular scenario would require one of these lasers. If patient is nearsighted with a positive astigmatism this is commonly known as a mixed astigmatism and would require a more advanced laser. Please visit www.LaserChoice.com to research Lasik Excimer Lasers approved by the FDA and other lasers used around the world for Laser Vision Correction.
The price for Lasik has been a hot topic over the past few years. There are many National Lasik Providers that advertise Lasik pricing from as low as $299 per eye. I can tell you that if you prescription is a nearsighted one and you do not have an astigmatism you have a great chance of getting a super price for the Lasik Procedure. Keep in mind Traditional or Conventional Lasik will be a lower costing procedure than the more advanced Custom Lasik Procedure. If you have a high prescription with astigmatism your price will probably be a little higher. If your prescription is hyperopic with astigmatism it will definitely be higher. The most expensive procedure is Custom Lasik and it’s even more expensive if you get the Intra-Lasik Custom Lasik done. This is the newest method of creating the corneal flap instead of your traditional Micro-keratome method. The microkeratome or Bausch and Lomb hansetome are hand held devices used to create the corneal flap in the first step of the Lasik Procedure. I will be going over the flap creation process with you. Many private single office Lasik providers will have much higher pricing due to the fact you will be receiving much more individual personalized care from the actual Lasik Doctor who will conducting your procedure. The cost of the laser will also come into play as well. Some National Lasik Chains will have great agreements with Laser Providers keeping the cost of the Lasik Key Cards Down. These are cards purchased for each eye or procedure from the Laser Manufacturer. This is how some Laser Companies get paid royalty fees for each patient. Nidek is a Japanese Laser provider which has FDA approved lasers that do not operate on this royalty key card system. Nidek sells their lasers outright with no royalty fees. This is why The Nidek EC 5000 is probably the world’s most poplular excimer laser. I would say the VISX laser is The United States most popular laser company. Please check back for the continuation of this article, it will be well worth it.
Lasik University
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