For those people looking to get ride of bothersome eyeglasses or contact lenses, San Fransisco LASIK eye surgery can be a very appealing option. But LASIK comes with a lot of risks, and there are some people with pre-exising conditions that should avoid this procedure altogether.
There are a lot of people in a medical center that wear those fine white coats, but not all of them are medical professionals. Many people who opt for LASIK surgery never meet their surgeon until the day of their procedure. Additionally, the staff at these clinics are usually paid on commission based on the number of surgeries they have performed. This type of set up can create a situation where staff members play down the risks of LASIK surgery and hype its positive outcomes instead. There have even been some cases where staff that are too eager to make a sale will approve someone for LASIK that has a condition that should have disqualified them.
By learning everything you can about LASIK eye surgery, you will be able to avoid surgery side effects and disappointing results. LASIK surgery permanently reshapes the cornea. You are not guaranteed 20/20 vision, and since this technology has only been in effect for a few years, no one knows the long-term side effects. But the effects of LASIK are usually permanent and will likely effect you for the rest of your life.
Not everyone is a good candidate for San Fransisco LASIK eye surgery. If you are considering LASIK you should be fully evaluated in advance for conditions such as dry eye, which is a pretty common condition. If you are using contact lenses, birth control pills or antihypertensive medications, you are a likely candidate for dry eye. Your eyes will be even drier after LASIK surgery.
You are more likely to have a bad LASIK surgery outcome if you have excessively thin corneas, early cataract formation or big pupils, or underlying conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. Your improved eyesight after surgery may decrease with age if you are far sighted to begin with. Complications can occur even for those people who are considered to be the perfect candidate for LASIK surgery. Typical side effects include starbursts, halos and poor night vision. These types of effects can impact your ability to drive, play sports and engage in other daily activities.
If you are considering LASIK, look for a physician who is fellowship-trained in corneal diseases and try to speak to your surgeon well in advance of the surgery. If the front office staff insist that you meet your surgeon the day of the procedure, you should probably find a different surgery center to work with. When you get the chance to speak with your surgeon, ask him/her as many questions as you want. A confident surgeon should be willing to answer all of your questions patiently and thoroughly.
Ask your surgeon how many surgeries he/she has performed. Ask your surgeon what type of equipment he/she plans on using. Not all LASIK lasers are made equal, and some are more risky than others. Some lasers have even been subject to recall. Once you know the make and model of the laser your surgeon is going to use, you can look it up on the Internet and learn everything you need to know about it online.
Your eyesight is precious. Permanent LASIK side effects can effect the quality of your life for good or for bad. Anyone considering LASIK should learn everything they can about the procedure before getting it, because it could change your life forever.
For over 25 years, Turner Eye Institute has been providing vision correction and LASIK surgeries to residents of San Francisco and the Bay Area. Their distinguished record of excellent results assures their patients of receiving the highest quality of personalized medical care from a highly trained and experienced team.