Dry eye after LASIK

Dry eye syndrome refers to a substandard tear film because of reduced volume of tears or too fast tear evaporation. The disease gives rise to a lot of symptoms equivalent to burning, itching, foreign body sensation, high sensitivity to light, graininess, and other eye problems.

The tear film has three components: an outer layer of fatty substances secreted by the meibomian glands, a center layer of watery tears produced by the lachrymal glands, and an inner layer of mucous produced by the goblet cells within the conjunctiva, the interior lining of the eyelids.
Symptoms of dry eye could be experienced as a result of deficient aqueous tears production, more rapid evaporation (as a result of inadequate lipid secretions), or mechanical causes together with poor blink distribution. With the rising approval for surgery to regard refractive errors within the eye, particularly LASIK, there incidence of dry eye has risen.
LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis)
Laser-based refractive surgery has several common approaches, but there may be greater preference for technique is LASIK. Corneal realignment is the first objective of refractive surgery. Just a normal cornea can bend light rays properly toward the retina to enable properly focused vision. Once the cornea is correctly aligned, light is focused to hit directly onto the retina, correcting problems of vision and removing the necessity for contact lenses or spectacles.
You may commit to have LASIK surgery since you want spectacles and speak to lenses. You’ve got become weary of wearing and taking good care of the contacts, and spending money on replacements and cleansers. Besides, long-term use of contact lenses can have caused dry eye symptoms. Unfortunately, dry eye syndrome may be just as present, and just as painful, after LASIK.
LASIK surgery has high impact, inflicting damage at the nerve network serving the cornea. It’s important to chop out a flap within the centre of the cornea, slicing in the course of the outer layer (epithelium) of the cornea to arrive the internal layers (stroma). It can be crucial to burn a tiny patch of inner tissue with the laser, with the intention to reshape the cornea. The surgery takes only some minutes, with very little pain or discomfort during surgery.
It is extremely likely you’ll suffer dry eye problems within the first month after LASIK. But as healing proceeds over the years, the dry eye problems lessen, and are fully resolved after about six months. This, obviously, is the target. For a lot of, however, the dry eye remains; for some, it may worsen.
Dry eye syndrome can emerge after surgery because of many factors. Some corneal nerves are severed during surgery, causing the cornea to lose sensation (here’s called LASIK-induced neurotrophic epitheliopathy, or just LINE). The lack of sensitivity deadens the triggers for the lachrymal glands and deactivates their capability to secrete tears, so aqueous tear production abates. an analogous interruption happens to the nerve impulses that induce stimulate lipid secretion inside the meibomian glands. The standard blink can be adversely affected, in addition the mucous secretions of by the goblet cells for the tear film. The final effect is an inferior quality tear film and a cornea with a flatter curvature and reduced capability to preserve an absolutely protective tear film.
Management of Dry Eye after LASIK
Even before actual LASIK surgery, dry eye management should already be done. During prepatory preparations, the physician should discover if you’re already showing signs or symptoms of dry eye disease, including blepharitis, contact lens intolerance, etc. Any eye medical conditions existing before surgery can magnify the post-operative effects of LINE. Ideally, these symptoms need to be completely resolved before surgery occurs.
The doctor might also prescribe artificial tears to give added lubrication to the attention. However, the mainstay of treatment is topical cyclosporine in a castor oil base. Here’s usually applied both before and within the months after LASIK surgery. Taking omega-3 fatty acid supplements can be advised, especially where the patient just isn’t responding well to topical cyclosporine or the the drugs isn’t available.
Somewhat relevant and entertaining – for fun, peace and love, enjoy:

Makeup for Glasses
Glasses are sexy, fun and cute depending on our personality. They can do more than help us see clearly =D. They can also be accessories for our eyes (and face). I have been short sighted since I was 11 years old. Without glasses/contact lenses; everything is blurry to me. Being in Hong kong, I know so many girls AND guys who don't even need glasses WEAR glasses. Why? Because glasses are incredibly stylish! They are becoming a fashion accessory as well as a functional product. I am definitely a lot more inspired to wear my glasses now. A lot of you guys feel its pointless wearing makeup since eyes tend to disappear behind the frames. However, its your glasses that make your eyes focal point of your face. A little makeup goes a long way to help them pop from behind the lenses. To be honest- the type of makeup can depend on the type of frames you have. Actually- you can wear whatever look you want. There shouldn't be a certain rule. There can just be suggestions and guidelines. I wear thicker frames because I find them very arty & stylish. But its the thick frames that really make the eyes hinder/disappear. Glasses wash out the eyes. But you don't need super amounts of eyeshadow to help your eyes stand out. Neat groomed eyebrows, eyeliner and lip colour is really all you'll need for all of your facial features to stand out equally. This tutorial doesn't mean this is the only way to wear your makeup. It is just how I like to wear it and perhaps maybe a look you can try out

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Teens and LASIK

For millions of teenage boys and girls, undergoing LASIK surgery may be as desirable as going to the prom with the date of their dreams. Yet, unfortunately for those under 18, LASIK may be as unattainable as that fantasy date. Hormones can easily explain the preference for certain dance partners, but why are teenagers attracted to LASIK in the first place? And why does a freshman have a better chance of taking the homecoming queen to the big event better than he does of having LASIK?
There are several good reasons teenagers may have for wanting LASIK vision correction. First, young people are more likely than adults to develop myopia (nearsightedness), a vision problem that affects 30 to 40 percent of all Americans. The vast majority of those who develop the condition do so before they reach their 20 th birthday, usually between the ages of 8 and 12. By the time a child enters the teenage years, he or she will most likely need glasses or contacts to see clearly at a distance. Myopia is generally attributed to heredity; a child is more likely to be nearsighted if she has a parent with the condition. Thanks, Mom and Dad!

DocShop can help you find an eye care specialist in your area today.

Second, for some teenagers, glasses and contacts may hold very limited appeal. Glasses in particular can put teens at risk for extra taunting; some may find it hard to fit in with large frames perched on their noses. In addition, glasses may restrict the ability of teens to participate in certain sports and may increase the risk of injury while participating in others. As an alternative to glasses, contact lenses eliminate some of these risks, but they are not without hazards of their own. The proper care of contact lenses entails having to follow instructions that are tedious and repetitive, yet they must be strictly adhered to. Poor sanitation and storing techniques, as well as the failure to properly remove and replace lenses, can lead to eye infection and disease. Although LASIK is not completely without risk, millions of people have safely undergone the procedure and are now no longer dependant on bothersome glasses and contacts. It is little wonder, then, that many teens consider LASIK a more desirable solution for their vision correction needs.
However, unlike adults, teenagers are only able to flirt with LASIK. The Federal Drug Administration strictly prohibits LASIK consummation for those who are not old enough to vote. The FDA is not a stuffy chaperone – they do know what they are talking about. During the teenage years, a person’s eyes are still changing, and vision does not usually stabilize until a person reaches his or her twenties. Because LASIK permanently alters the shape of the cornea, it is far too risky to perform LASIK on corneas that are still fluctuating in shape and size. If the FDA allowed LASIK to be performed on teenagers, the procedure would most likely have be repeated again when they reached early adulthood. The results of the first procedure would essentially be null and void.
If you are at least 18 years old, you may be able to dance with LASIK. LASIK physicians will examine your prescription history to see if your vision has been stable for at least a year, and some LASIK surgeons will not proceed with surgery unless your vision has remained stable for two years. For certain custom LASIK procedures, such as Wavefront™ LASIK and ALLEGRETTO WAVE™ LASIK, a patient must be at least 21 years old. In very rare instances, the rules regarding LASIK minimum ages may be waived to treat children or teens who suffer from lazy eye.
So do not worry if you weren’t able to get a date with LASIK. She pretty much wouldn’t give the time of day to the rest of the class either. But that girl in Algebra II, I think I heard her say she would love to go to the prom with you…

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Lessons In Lasik

Ever since it was first performed in the late 90's, Lasik surgery has been hailed as an ideal way to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. Each year, about 700,000 Americans get Lasik, making it one of the most popular elective surgeries available today. But after a spike of complaints from patients who have experienced double vision, blurry vision and other complications following Lasik, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is looking into the risks of the increasingly popular surgery. So if you have your sight set on Lasik, here is what you need to know before you go under the laser.

HOW DOES LASIK WORK?

Lasik, which is short for "laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis,” is the process of reshaping your cornea to allow light to focus more precisely on the retina, resulting in improved vision. A surgeon will use a laser to cut a small flap in the cornea. The flap is then folded back while the surgeon uses an ultraviolet light beam to reshape the cornea by removing tiny fragments of corneal tissue. Afterwards, the flap is laid back in place and covers the area where the tissue was removed.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS OF LASIK?

As with any surgery, complications may arise after Lasik. Though the Lasik Study Task Force reports a 95.4 percent satisfaction rate among patients worldwide, a small clutch of patients have struggled with dry eyes or further debilitating visual symptoms like glare, halos, double vision, and even loss of sight following Lasik surgery, thus prompting the FDA inquiry. And because the surgery involves a relatively new technology, long-term data on the safety and effectiveness of Lasik is unknown, making it an even riskier procedure.

IS LASIK FOR YOU?

Sure, Lasik may seem like a simple way to do away with your glasses for good, but the procedure is not for everyone. For starters, the cost – which can run from $1,000 to $2,500 per eye – may be prohibitive for many. And rule out Lasik if you have early cataract formations, thin corneas, big pupils, chronic dry eyes, or a medical condition like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or herpes. If you are not sure about the condition of your eyes, see an ophthalmologist who can run a battery of tests to determine if you are an ideal Lasik candidate or not.

ALTERNATIVES TO LASIK

If you are freaked out by the risk factors of Lasik, there are other procedures to consider before you resign to hiding behind glasses or contacts for the rest of your life. They include the following:

Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK): The precursor to Lasik, PRK uses a laser to reshape the cornea’s surface, but there is no flap-cutting required.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK): Corrects farsightedness or astigmatism by beaming radiofrequency waves around the cornea’s edge.

Refractive lens exchange (RLE): Fixes extreme near or farsightedness by replacing the patient’s own lens with an artificial one.

Intacs corneal inserts: Tiny and flexible crescent-shaped rings are placed in around the cornea, helping to flatten the front of the eye and decreasing mild nearsightedness.

Of course, each procedure comes with its own risks and rules, so talk to your doctor about determining which one is best for you. And to learn more about Lasik, visit the FDA’s site. 

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