Is Lazer Eye Surgery right for you?


Laser Eye Surgery in the UK

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Lazer Eye SurgeryAny elective surgery requires serious thought and consideration and can be a big step in a person’s life.  After all, there are always risks and complications that may arise during the procedure or as a result of the procedure.  If you are considering lazer eye surgery (correctly spelled 'laser eye surgery'), take the time out to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages.  This will help you to decide if the procedure is right for you.  You may be fed up of wearing glasses or not have the time to put contact lenses in and maintain the upkeep of them.  To help you make up your mind, assess the pros and cons of lazer eye surgery.

Lasik Lazer Eye Surgery

Most people who have lazer eye surgery, will undergo a lazer procedure known as LASIK, which stands for lazer-assisted in situ keratomileusis.  This involves cutting the front of the eye open to create a flap.  This is then lifted so that the cornea can be vaporised and shaped more spherically in order to improve what you can see.  Results can be dramatic and some people never have to wear glasses or contacts again or at least not for years until age related eye conditions begin to appear or they develop other eye conditions. 

Many people are put off lazer eye surgery because all the various types of lazer surgery are performed under local anaesthetic.  This means that you will not be put to sleep with a general anaesthetic and will remain awake throughout the surgical procedure.  This does not mean that you will feel any pain, as the local anaesthetic will be administered in the eye, which will cause it to become numb.  Further, your eyes will remain open and although you may not be able to see everything all of the time, you will be aware that the surgery is being performed.  Although all of this appears very daunting, you can be reassured by the fact that your eye is only actually lazered for less than 20 minutes and sometimes, just minutes.  Consider how confident you feel about something coming right at your eye.  If you think that this may make you very anxious, then the surgery may not be a good option for you.  If you can with stand this for a short period of time, then your life may be dramatically improved with the procedure.

You should also take seriously the risks involved with the surgery.  With any type of surgery, there are various risk factors.  lazer eye surgery is still relatively new and the long-term effects are not known.  There is little research as there are few candidates to be examined for long-term effects.  Scientists simply have not been able to access the data to be able to analyse how lazer eye surgery affects the eye with age and with other conditions and environmental factors.  This lack of research adds to the known risks of lazer eye surgery.  If you are happy to take this risk of the unknown, lazer eye surgery may be suitable.  If you aren't willing to take this risk on board and prefer to live with glasses or contacts, then lazer surgery may not be right for you.

Cost of Lazer Eye Surgery 

For may people, a major issue is the cost of the procedure.  Depending on your particular circumstances, this may seem to be a lot of money.  Prices do vary between clinics and can cost from £1500 - £4000 per eye.  If lower prices are offered they may not include the whole treatment package or may indicate an unsuitable clinic.  The more you can spend on the procedure the more likely you are to be in safer, more experienced hands with a clinic using the most advanced technology.

In conclusion, if you are considering lazer eye surgery, there are lots of factors that need to be considered including surgery costs, risks and the speed of the surgical procedure.  Weigh up what’s important when deciding what’s right for you. 

21st January 2009

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