vision problems undestanding your eyes

You turned to eyeglasses and contact lenses when life became blurry. When you visited your eye doctor, you probably heard about vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, but all that mattered was that you could see better when you left. So how do your eyes work, and what happens to your eyes when your vision becomes blurry?
How Your Eyes Work How Vision Problems Happen
Your eye works much like a camera. The light and images you see pass through the cornea and the lens at the front of your eye. They focus directly onto the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye, which then sends the image to the brain through the optic nerve.
Light rays must be bent, or refracted, by the cornea and the lens so they can focus on the retina. If you have a refractive error, the shape of your eye doesn't bend the light properly, giving you vision problems.

Common Vision Problems
Your doctor can identify many of the common vision problems, including:
Nearsightedness images focus in front of the retina because the eye is too long or the cornea too curved, so objects far away are blurry.
Farsightedness -- images focus behind the retina because the eye is too short or the cornea is too flat, so objects close to you are blurry.
Astigmatism images are distorted and are not uniform in all directions, so objects both near and far appear blurry.
Presbyopia disorder caused by the normal aging process that typically affects reading vision.
Doctors can also measure the severity of these vision problems by evaluating the shape of your eye and its cornea. The results determine your prescription.
These problems are usually corrected with eyeglasses, contact lenses, or by laser vision correction procedures. However, good visual acuity does not necessarily mean good visual quality. Experts believe other qualitative factors contribute to common low-light vision problems, including glare and halos. You can have these vision problems and still score 20/20 on a vision exam.

Questions to ask your doctor

For more information on questions to ask your doctor please review article "Questions for your Eye Doctor".
Are the desired results I described realistic?
Where is the surgery performed? How long will the procedure take?
How much will my vision improve?
Is it realistic to expect 20/20 vision in my particular case?
Would another procedure, such as PRK, radial/ astigmatic keratotomy, or implantable contact lens work better for me?
Are there other procedures that I should consider to enhance the affects of this procedure?
What kind of anesthesia is used?
What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
What percentage of patients has had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
Will you repeat or correct the procedure if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
May I see testimonials or outcomes statistics of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
May I have the names and contact information for several recent LASIK patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or ask to view one in real life.)
What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
Who will be assisting during the surgery? What are their qualifications? (Does the ophthalmologist perform the entire surgery?)
Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, or suspended?
Do you offer patient financing?

What will happen at the initial consultation?

During the consultation, your physician will talk with you about the changes that you want to make in your vision. He/she will explain the different options available, the LASIKprocedure itself, and the risks and limitations involved. He/she will also explain the kind of anesthesia required; the surgical facility used, and costs. Your physician will begin by asking you for a complete medical history. He/she may also give you specific instructions in preparing for surgery, including guidelines for eating and drinking, smoking, and taking (or avoiding) vitamins, supplements and medications.If you wear contact lenses, you’ll need to stop wearing them for a specified period of time before your initial consultation or examination. The physician may schedule additional visits to ensure that the eye is stable. This lens-free period is different for hard and soft lenses, so you should ask your doctor to be sure that you have prepared properly.Take this opportunity to ask all the questions you have about the surgery, and ask to see testimonials and out-come statistics of the doctor’s recent patients, before and after surgery. Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision.

What are the most common benefits of this surgery?

LASIK eye surgery is used to correct and restore vision to individuals who currently wear glasses for near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism.Using surgery to correct vision is not necessarily a new idea; other older procedures, such as radial keratotomy, have been used to correct vision for many years. Now, LASIK is able to achieve the same or better results with less pain and a shorter healing time.

Lasik Information For Perfect Eyesight

If you need Lasik information, you have come to the right place. Here we will offer you all the information that you need regarding Lasik. Lasik is an acronym for Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a type of refractive laser eye surgery, which, since its approval by the US Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), has been gaining immense popularity. Surveys show that 92-98% of the patients who have undergone Lasik vision correction have been satisfied.
Is Lasik Surgery Right For You?
Lasik vision correction is not for everyone. Therefore, you must have the right Lasik information before opting for this surgery. If you are: - Below 18 years of age- Pregnant- Taking prescription medicines- Diabetic- Suffering from any other health complications like glaucoma, rheumatoid arthritis, herpes infection of the eye or lupus- Averse to taking risksIf your answer is yes to any one of these, then Lasik surgery is not the right option for you. If you answered no, and suffer from refractive errors such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness or astigmatism, then continue reading for other Lasik information and the cost of Lasik eye surgery.
Before you undergo Lasik surgery, you will be asked to stop wearing contact lenses, make-up, lotion and perfume so that nothing interferes with the laser eye surgery. You will be given a mild sedative along with anesthetic eye drops during the operation. You will be awake during the operation. Once the operation is over, your vision may be slightly blurred and you may experience some discomfort. However, this will change over the next few days. As a precaution, you must be sure not to go near a hot tub or swimming pool for at least two weeks after undergoing a Lasik vision correction.What Are The Complications Of Lasik Eye Surgery?Like any surgery, Lasik surgery also has certain complications. The most common ones would be:- Dry eyes- Light sensitivity- Ghosts or Double vision- Blurry vision- Discomfort- Corneal scarring or infection- Overcorrection or under correctionYet, Lasik vision correction is an FDA approved safe way of permanently improving your eyesight.
What is the Cost of Lasik Eye Surgery?
The cost of Lasik eye surgery varies considerably, depending on the condition of your eyes, the centre and the surgeon. The cost of pre-surgical investigations and post-surgical treatment can increase the overall costs. The cost of laser eye correction surgery is quoted in terms of per eye. It can cost anything between $500 and $3000 per eye. Prices have been increasing due to improved technological equipment being used for surgery. Get adequate Lasik information before settling for a surgeon and a centre. After all, your eyes are at stake.

What should I expect before, during, and after surgery?

What to expect before, during, and after surgery will vary from doctor to doctor and patient to patient. This section is a compilation of patient information developed by manufacturers and healthcare professionals, but cannot replace the dialogue you should have with your doctor. Read this information carefully and with the checklist, discuss your expectations with your doctor.Before SurgeryIf you decide to go ahead with LASIK surgery, you will need an initial or baseline evaluation by your eye doctor to determine if you are a good candidate. This is what you need to know to prepare for the exam and what you should expect:If you wear contact lenses, it is a good idea to stop wearing them before your baseline evaluation and switch to wearing your glasses full-time. Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea for up to several weeks after you have stopped using them depending on the type of contact lenses you wear. Not leaving your contact lenses out long enough for your cornea to assume its natural shape before surgery can have negative consequences. These consequences include inaccurate measurements and a poor surgical plan, resulting in poor vision after surgery. These measurements, which determine how much corneal tissue to remove, may need to be repeated at least a week after your initial evaluation and before surgery to make sure they have not changed, especially if you wear RGP or hard lenses. If you wear:soft contact lenses, you should stop wearing them for 2 weeks before your initial evaluation.toric soft lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, you should stop wearing them for at least 3 weeks before your initial evaluation.hard lenses, you should stop wearing them for at least 4 weeks before your initial evaluation.

Lasik Surgery Checklist

Know what makes you a poor candidateCareer impact - does your job prohibit refractive surgery? Cost - can you really afford this procedure? Medical conditions - e.g., do you have an autoimmune disease or other major illness? Do you have a chronic illness that might slow or alter healing? Eye conditions - do you have or have you ever had any problems with your eyes other than needing glasses or contacts? Medications - do you take steroids or other drugs that might prevent healing? Stable refraction - has your prescription changed in the last year? High or Low refractive error - do you use glasses/contacts only some of the time? Do you need an unusually strong prescription? Pupil size - are your pupils extra large in dim conditions? Corneal thickness - do you have thin corneas? Tear production - do you have dry eyes?Know all the risks and procedure limitationsOvertreatment or undertreatment - are you willing and able to have more than one surgery to get the desired result? May still need reading glasses - do you have presbyopia? Results may not be lasting - do you think this is the last correction you will ever need? Do you realize that long-term results are not known? May permanently lose vision - do you know some patients may lose some vision or experience blindness? Dry eyes – do you know that if you have dry eyes they could become worse, or if you don’t have dry eyes before you could develop chronic dry eyes as a result of surgery? Development of visual symptoms - do you know about glare, halos, starbursts, etc. and that night driving might be difficult? Contrast sensitivity - do you know your vision could be significantly reduced in dim light conditions? Bilateral treatment - do you know the additional risks of having both eyes treated at the same time? Patient information - have you read the patient information booklet about the laser being used for your procedure?Know how to find the right doctorExperienced - how many eyes has your doctor performed LASIK surgery on with the same laser? Equipment - does your doctor use an FDA-approved laser for the procedure you need? Does your doctor use each microkeratome blade only once? Informative - is your doctor willing to spend the time to answer all your questions? Long-term Care - does your doctor encourage follow-up and management of you as a patient? Your preop and postop care may be provided by a doctor other than the surgeon. Be Comfortable - do you feel you know your doctor and are comfortable with an equal exchange of information?Know preoperative, operative, and postoperative expectationsNo contact lenses prior to evaluation and surgery - can you go for an extended period of time without wearing contact lenses? Have a thorough exam - have you arranged not to drive or work after the exam? Read and understand the informed consent - has your doctor given you an informed consent form to take home and answered all your questions? No makeup before surgery - can you go 24-36 hours without makeup prior to surgery? Arrange for transportation - can someone drive you home after surgery? Plan to take a few days to recover - can you take time off to take it easy for a couple of days if necessary? Expect not to see clearly for a few days - do you know you will not see clearly immediately? Know sights, smells, sounds of surgery - has your doctor made you feel comfortable with the actual steps of the procedure? Be prepared to take drops/medications- are you willing and able to put drops in your eyes at regular intervals? Be prepared to wear an eye shield - do you know you need to protect the eye for a period of time after surgery to avoid injury? Expect some pain/discomfort - do you know how much pain to expect? Know when to seek help - do you understand what problems could occur and when to seek medical intervention? Know when to expect your vision to stop changing - are you aware that final results could take months? Make sure your refraction is stable before any further surgery - if you don't get the desired result, do you know not to have an enhancement until the prescription stops changing?