Choosing to have LASIK surgery in San Diego can be a life-changing decision and should be weighed heavily. Thankfully, when you are researching this procedure, you can consult with San Diego LASIK surgery centers that will warn you of both the benefits and risks of the surgery, one of which is the possibility of dry eye.
If you already suffer from dry eye, LASIK surgery can exacerbate the problem. San Diego LASIK eye surgery doctors can advise you that in the months right after the procedure is done, you may experience the worst dry eye you have ever had in your life. The symptoms of dry eye can be quite annoying and painful and include a scratchy and itchy feeling, as well as an accumulation of mucus in the corner of the eyes that manifests into the crusty feeling people often wake with in the mornings. And, believe it or not, excessive tears are also caused when suffering from dry eye. This may seem like an oxymoron, but when the eye does not get enough moisture, the constant irritation in the eye can cause them to water to a point that can become debilitating. When discussing the possibility of dry eye with a doctor in your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center, he or she will probably advise you to use artificial tears in the weeks following your surgery.
Your San Diego LASIK doctor will explain to you how the LASIK procedure is performed and how it leads to dry eye. Basically, a flap is created on the cornea during the surgery and sometimes nerves in the cornea may become severed during this process. This can cause temporary dry eye in many patients and actually cause blurry vision. Now, this may come as a surprise and can also be quite alarming when this surgery is touted to give perfect vision. You may see clearer than you have in years at one moment, and then your vision will be clouded when the tears begin. You may be tempted to call your doctor, but you will also have to remind yourself this was one of the side effects you were warned about. Using artificial tears your San Diego LASIK surgery doctor prescribed for you can alleviate symptoms. You may also be prescribed a medication that can stimulate your natural tear ducts, which will moisturize your eyes and cause them to not feel as heavy and sore.
LASIK eye surgery has become one of the most popular elective procedures of the 21st century. It serves both a cosmetic and medical purpose, as patients will be able to see better than they could ever remember and be free of the cumbersomeness of glasses or contacts in order to see clearly. What many do not realize is that the technology for this surgery has been in development for nearly a century.
When you choose to have this procedure at our San Diego LASIK facility, know you are being treated with proven technology and equipment that has been in development for many years and has been tried, tested and approved by the FDA. The original concept of LASIK surgery was first conceived at the start of the 20th century, as new knowledge about the workings of the eye was discovered. In the 1970s, the ideas were put to work after a doctor in Russia treated an injured eye by just removing a portion of the eye’s outer service. LASIK development was in full force after that.
It was 1987 when LASIK first became commercially available in the US and since then countless San Diego LASIK surgery patients have reported clear vision results after undergoing the procedure. Experienced ophthalmologists have been performing LASIK surgery in San Diego for years using the most updated LASIK surgery techniques and technology available. Different methods of performing this surgery include blade and non-blade techniques. A blade can be used to cut the flap in the eye that is imperative to LASIK in San Diego and anywhere else, or a second laser can be used to do the same thing and have the same result. This is often up to the discretion of your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center. Other types of LASIK are called Wavefront and Epi-LASIK.
The results of this type of surgery have been life-changing for many people. Gone are the days of feeling awkward in glasses or soaking contact lenses in solution each night before bed. Some patients report seeing better than they ever did with glasses or contacts after their LASIK procedure is done. Of course, the results will not be immediate as your eyes will be blurry just after the surgery is complete. But, the next day you will literally have a whole new outlook on life as the world is finally clear and crisp. This technology that began as just a concept nearly 100 years ago has improved the lives of millions of people and can improve your life as well. Call your San Diego LASIK center today to find out how.
One of the many things that keeps people from deciding to have LASIK surgery performed are the cost factors involved. LASIK is not an inexpensive procedure, and is also not covered by most insurance plans because it is often considered cosmetic and not medically necessary. Also, there is no set price for the procedure as different people have different degrees of damage to their vision. So, between that and the different types of LASIK procedures, costs for LASIK surgery in San Diego can vary greatly.
When you go for your initial consultation with a San Diego LASIK center, you will learn all the cost variables and the different LASIK techniques that there are to choose from. Depending on what San Diego LASIK eye surgery doctor you choose and how much experience he and his practice have with this procedure, prices can have a large range. It can run anywhere from about $499 per eye to well over $2,000 per eye. The low quote is often found on LASIK advertisements and very rarely ends up being the true cost. A price of $499 per eye is usually for the most basic eye issues and often is only for the surgery itself and nothing else.
Most cost quotes that are higher include both pre-op and post-op visits, as well as the procedure itself, which can be performed with a variety of different types of lasers, as LASIK technology is constantly changing and evolving. You can often feel confident with a higher quote because you know you will be getting the best possible care with experienced doctors. San Diego LASIK surgery doctors are at the top of their field and well sort the cost of getting the best possible outcome.
Other things that factor into the cost of LASIK surgery in San Diego and other parts of the country are different custom procedures that are now offered. The more specialized the surgery, the more costly it can end up being. While the price of LASIK surgery may seem daunting to many, testimonials show that it is often well worth the money spent.
Finding the right doctor to perform your LASIK surgery procedure is of the utmost importance when you decide to take this life-changing step. There are several factors you should consider when choosing the right San Diego LASIK eye surgery center and doctor, and often the decision is nothing but a personal choice regarding whose hands you feel most comfortable putting your precious gift of vision into.
First and foremost, how experienced is any San Diego LASIK doctor you are considering? Knowing how many of these procedures he or she has performed, as well as their success rate with the surgery, can help you make an educated decision on whether this ophthalmologist is the right one for you. You can start your search by asking around. Odds are you know someone who has had LASIK surgery in San Diego, as the procedure has become ultra-popular in this first part of recent times. Some people may report horror stories, but odds are your friends or acquaintances will be amazed at how they can see post-LASIK and rave about how well everything went for them from the moment they went for their first LASIK consultation.
When you do go for you initial consultation after deciding to undergo LASIK in San Diego, your doctor may ask you as many questions as you ask him or her. The doctor will want to know if you are a right candidate for the procedure, as not everyone’s eye problems can be corrected with LASIK. For example, if your nearsightedness is too severe, LASIK might not work for you like it works for others. Once the doctor has decided you are a perfect candidate, look around his office. Does he have a nice staff? Do patients seem to be rushed? Running the office like an assembly line can be a red flag, but seeing patients treated like individuals who get the utmost care should give you a positive feeling about the practice.
Of course, you also need to take cost considerations into mind, but never choose your surgeon based on cost alone. Extremely low prices may be too good to be true and often are. Remember the old adage, you get what you pay for and what you want to get with LASIK surgery is outstanding vision after years of glasses dependency. Payment plans through third party creditors are offered, but you need to make sure you can afford the monthly payments before signing any paperwork.
Do not trust your eyes to just anyone. Thoroughly research both LASIK and San Diego LASIK doctors before taking the plunge into this procedure. So, call us today and set yourself on your way to a positive life-improving choice.
Not everyone with vision problems is a candidate for LASIK surgery. This procedure is usually performed on people who have astigmatism, are nearsighted or are farsighted. When consulting with your San Diego LASIK doctor, he or she will examine you carefully and also interview you in order to learn if the LASIK procedure is right for you and also what LASIK procedure you should have performed, as there are several.
First, when having LASIK surgery in San Diego or anywhere in the country, you must be 18 years of age or older. This is because LASIK should only be performed on people whose eyes have fully matured and the general consensus is this will happen by age 18. You need to be free of any eye ailments or infections for at least one year. If you are pregnant or nursing, you are also not a good LASIK candidate, but you can consult with your San Diego LASIK eye surgery center again post-partum or after you have finished nursing your child. You also cannot have any autoimmune disease and no amount of scarring can be found on the cornea upon your consultation examination.
Once it has been decided that you are a good candidate for LASIK in San Diego, your next step will be finding just the right doctor to perform the procedure. Our top-notch San Diego LASIK surgery center can match you with just the right doctor to suit your needs. This doctor will take you through the steps of the surgery and also be who you consult with on the required follow up visits to make sure the procedure met your expectations and that your eyes are healing as well as possible. Choosing a LASIK surgery center and doctor with the best qualifications can make the difference between a failed procedure and an effective one. After all, this is your vision that you are putting at risk and you would not want to trust such a precious gift to just anybody. If LASIK surgery is performed correctly, the odds are a whole new world of visual wonder will open up to you and you’ll find that you will see better than you have in years, and possibly better than you did when you were burdened by glasses or contact lenses.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures performed in the United States. In one year, more than one million people undergo cataract surgery in the hopes of having clear vision restored. And indeed, with the success rate for this surgery, the odds are they will. However, cataract surgery in San Diego is still surgery, and as with any operation, there is a recovery period with strict instructions that must be adhered to.
Immediately following San Diego cataract surgery, you will not see clearly. After all, your eye or eyes have just been through a traumatic experience and need time to heal. Although the surgery is done on a outpatient basis and you can go home soon after, it will not be safe for you to drive so you must make sure you have already arranged for a ride home from the surgery center. The next day, you will have a follow up visit with your doctor to make sure there are no immediate complications. And actually, you will have several follow up visits over the next few weeks and months to make sure your eyes and vision are healing correctly.
Home care is also of the utmost importance. Remember to wear the large dark sunglasses that your doctor gave you right after your San Diego cataract eye surgery to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays of the sun. Also, avoid any makeup near the eyes, as well as harsh creams, lotions or perfumes. Any kind of debris from these items can cause infection, which you most certainly want to avoid. You will also be prescribed prescription antibiotic eyedrops. Take these exactly as directed and do not miss a dose. You may feel fine, but infection is a possibility when any kind of surgery is performed, even if you do make sure no cosmetics are near your eyes. Antibiotics can help you avoid an unwanted infection. And, if you need to touch your eyes, make sure you do so with thoroughly clean hands. All of these measure help prevent infections. They may not be foolproof, but they do lessen the odds.
In a few weeks, you will find your vision has improved immensely and it will continue to improve more in the coming months. Your recovery will be monitored by your doctor, and once your vision has proven to have stabilized, if you had worn glasses before, you will be examined and fit for a new prescription. What you thought may be blurred vision for the rest of your life, has finally become clear.
Cataracts are almost an expected part of aging and indeed, this eye disease affects millions of people over the age of 60 every year. Surgery to have cataracts removed is the only option for fixing this ailment, although not everyone chooses to do so. Still, when people understand the facts about cataracts and what causes them, it may make cataract surgery in San Diego less daunting.
First, it is important to understand some basic facts about the make up of the eye. Water and protein are the two basic things that the eye is comprised of. Water keeps the eye moisturized, while the protein helps keep clarity on the lens so we see more clearly. As we age, these proteins change and lead to cloudiness on the lens. This is a slow and gradual process that is barely noticed—if at all—while it is happening, but eventually this protein change and breakdown becomes what are known as cataracts and clear vision seems to be a thing of the past. Now, in some rare cases babies might be born with broken down eye proteins, but in most cases it is just a result of the body’s natural aging process.
Like many ailments, outside factors can bring them on as well. While we cannot slow down aging and naturally happens to our eyes, we are able to speed up the occurrence of cataracts with lifestyle choices. Statistics have shown those who smoke cigarettes or expose themselves to excessive UV rays over a long period of time are more apt to develop cataracts and may even develop them at an earlier age. Of course, some outside causes cannot be helped, and these included suffering from diabetes and having to take steroidal medication for some health conditions.
When cataracts do develop, they are characterized by poor vision. It is almost like seeing through a very dirty windshield that no amount of cleaning will help. Some people are able to accept this and live with it, while others choose to seek out help. Once cataracts are diagnosed, San Diego cataract surgery is usually recommended, although not completely necessary as cataracts do not do damage to the overall health of the eye. Some people know they will need to have San Diego cataract eye surgery somewhere down the line, but may choose to wait until the cataracts become a nuisance or too much to bear. More extreme cases can not only cause vision impairment, but also cause pain. If you think you are suffering from cataracts, take the first step to getting help and call us today.