- From Dr. Scott MacRae, Professor of Ophthalmology and
Visual Science at the University of Rochester who recently discussed
what patients should know before they have the [Lasik] procedure: "I
recommend they go to someone who is a cornea specialist if there are problems
with dry eye or irregular corneas. Also, choose a surgeon who has a high
reputation and who contributes scientifically by doing research in refractive
surgery."
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- The Food and Drug Administration says patients might
not be getting all the information they need before undergoing Lasik eye
surgery. NPR's Allison Aubrey talked to two experts to find out what patients
should know before they have the procedure. [1]
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- Kerry Solomon, M.D., co-chair of the Joint Lasik Study
Task Force and professor of ophthalmology at the Medical University of
South Carolina, Charleston:
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- What is Lasik?
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- Lasik stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.
Basically what's happening is a small flap is cut on the cornea, the clear
covering of the eye. A blade or a laser is used to make the cut. The flap
is lifted and the cornea is reshaped, then the flap is put back into place.
This corrects the vision.
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- Wavefront is often marketed as the latest innovation
in laser eye surgery. What is it?
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- It's a type of Lasik that uses a more precise measurement
of the eye. The patient looks into a device that takes thousands of measurements
of the eye. The device then converts that into a digitized three-dimensional
measurement that's really a fingerprint of the eye. That information is
fed into the laser, and then the laser makes its cuts based on the measurement.
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- Why the difference in pricing for Lasik?
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- When you look at pricing, it's all about the same. Some
people may advertise a very low price to get you in the door, and then
increase the price to get you to have the procedure best suited for your
eye. So, for example, it's not uncommon for some centers to charge a very
low amount and if you have an astigmatism this ends up costing extra. A
Wavefront procedure might cost extra, or using a laser rather than a blade
to create the flap would cost extra, for example.
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- What's the alternative to Lasik surgery?
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- The other option outside of Lasik is photorefractive
keratotomy (PRK). It's the same procedure for patients, but no flap is
made. Patients who are nervous about having a flap made or who are not
candidates for Lasik, may be PRK candidates. PRK has been around longer
than Lasik. But Lasik is by far the most common laser vision-correcting
procedure. The downside to PRK is that it's a little uncomfortable and
it takes a while for vision to come back.
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- What are the top three indicators that someone isn't
a good candidate for Lasik?
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- One is someone's corneas are too thin or corneal surface
is irregular. Another common reason is someone who has dry eyes. Dry eyes
are not always a contraindication for Lasik, but may make someone a bad
candidate. And the third would be unrealistic expectations. If someone
says, "I have to have perfect vision at all times of day and night,"
that is not realistic. I would tell that patient to stay with their glasses
and contacts, because while this procedure is awesome, nothing is perfect.
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- Scott MacRae, M.D., professor of ophthalmology and visual
science at the Center for Visual Science at the University of Rochester
School of Medicine, Rochester, N.Y.:
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- How should someone looking to get Lasik choose a surgeon?
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- I recommend they go to someone who is a cornea specialist
if there are problems with dry eye or irregular corneas. Also, choose a
surgeon who has a high reputation and who contributes scientifically by
doing research in refractive surgery. People who do research and publish
are more invested in new technology, so they're more likely to have a better
idea of how to treat complicated problems.
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- Ted Twietmeyer
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- tedtw@frontiernet.net
- www.data4science.net
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- [1] http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90081888&ft=1&f=1007
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