Scared of LASIK? Get the Facts!

If you’ve been living for years with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, constantly annoyed with contact lenses and glasses, you’ve undoubtedly heard about how LASIK can improve your vision. You may have even gone so far as having a LASIK consultation to find out that you are, indeed, a good candidate for the procedure. So why haven’t you taken the plunge and had LASIK eye surgery?

Maybe it’s the cost of the procedure (although there are excellent financing options available). But maybe you are apprehensive – scared, even – about having someone perform a procedure on your eyes. It is understandable to have anxiety about LASIK, but consider this: According to the Eye Surgery Education Council, “LASIK vision correction has the highest patient satisfaction rate of any elective surgery: 95.4%, according to a 10-year survey of scientific studies from around the world. And new advances in technology now deliver better outcomes than ever. The majority of patients enjoy 20/20 vision or better after laser vision correction. Nearly all patients achieve 20/40 or better, which is fully functional and good enough to drive legally in most states without corrective lenses.”

Other studies have shown that there are more than 700,000 LASIK procedures performed in the United States every year. Satisfied patients express feelings of amazement because they can see with clarity, first thing in the morning; play sports, swim and travel without worrying about glasses or contacts; and have clear peripheral vision.

LASIK is not something to jump into; you should take time to fully research the LASIK surgeons in your area to determine who offers the best technologies and has the best track record of success. Notice we didn’t mention finding the best price. Advances in LASIK technology have bumped up the cost of LASIK slightly, but the overall results are superior and, according to most who’ve had it, well worth the money.

You should also be fully aware of the potential complications of LASIK, which can include:

·         Dry eye syndrome

·         Possible need for glasses or contact lenses after surgery

·         Potentially debilitating vision problems like glare, starbursts, halos or double vision

·         Vision loss

If you want to find out all the facts about LASIK, contact Dr. Wright at Wright Vision Center to schedule a free LASIK consultation at wrightvisioncenter.com or call 605-718-5123. You can also take a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation.

LASIK: Good Enough for NASA

If you’re still concerned about the safety of LASIK, consider this: The National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) now accepts astronaut applicants who have undergone LASIK. Many studies were done to ensure that acceptable vision quality was achieved after the procedure. There were also concerns about the stability of the corneal flap that is created for the first step of the surgery. By folding back this flap, the surgeon has access to the underlying corneal tissue to correct the nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. When the procedure is complete, the corneal flap is folded back into place so it can re-adhere.

                                                          

The extensive research showed that advanced LASIK provided excellent results:

• Corneal flap fared well in extreme conditions (especially when created with blade-free femtosecond laser technology as opposed to conventional procedures using a metal blade)
• Wavefront-guided LASIK produced superior results (this is technology that uses laser light to identify imperfections in the patient’s eye and create a 3-D map to guide the laser treatment for the most precise vision correction possible)

People in the aerospace environment benefit from being able to see without the hindrance of glasses or contacts (think about glasses floating through the air or trying to clean contacts without gravity!). LASIK has also made it possible for nearsighted people to become astronauts (this wasn’t possible in the past).

Even if you haven’t set your aspirations on being an astronaut, LASIK can open up a whole new universe of possibilities for your everyday life. Many people achieve 20/20 vision – or better – after the procedure and enjoy years of their lives without glasses or contacts.

Of course, not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. Your corneas may be too thin, you may have medical conditions that will interfere with your healing or your vision problem may be better corrected by a different type of procedure. A quick glance won’t let you know if LASIK is right for you – you need a full eye examination. 

If you’re ready to fix your vision, visit the website of Dr. Wright at Wright Vision Center to schedule a LASIK Consultation. Visit wrightvisioncenter.com or call 605-718-5123 today.

Got the “Luck ‘o the Irish” When it Comes to Your Eyesight?

If you look up the origin of the saying, “Luck of the Irish,” you’ll find that most people use it to mean you are actually lucky. Ironically, Irish history states that the Irish often had bad luck. 

Regardless of how you might use that popular Irish saying, let’s take a moment to think about luck when it comes to your vision. Let’s face it, some people are just born with great genes and perfectly shaped corneas, while others have refractive errors that lead to problems with how the eye focuses light. You may have:   

·         Corneas that are longer and steeper than normal, resulting in nearsightedness (or myopia) where close objects are seen clearly and far away objects are blurry

·         Corneas that are shorter and flatter than normal, resulting in farsightedness (or hyperopia) where far away objects are seen clearly and close objects are blurry

·         Corneas that are football-shaped instead of round-shaped, resulting in astigmatism where you may have some degree of blurred vision at all distances

·         Eye lenses that become stiffened over time, making it harder to focus properly, especially up-close, resulting in presbyopia

No, it’s not fair. But there is a way to combat what Mother Nature gave you: LASIK Surgery. Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK; however, if you have the right eye health and corneal thickness, your corneal shape might be corrected through this procedure. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. A LASIK process called Blended Vision is sometimes used to correct presbyopia, by correcting one eye for near vision and one eye for far vision to eliminate the need for reading glasses.

There is no need to be miserable with your eyesight – especially when LASIK financing exists to help you afford this amazing procedure. Even if LASIK isn’t right for your eyes, there may be other vision procedures that can be done to produce the results you desire.

So, Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Let Wright Vision Center help you get the good “Luck of the Irish” in regard to your vision. Go ahead and enjoy yourself on March 17, then call us to schedule your free LASIK Consultation so we can discuss your unique situation. Call 877 576 0202 or visit wrightvisioncenter.com/.

Daylight Savings is Coming Soon – Get Your Eyes Ready for Spring

Daylight Savings this year is Sunday, March 10, 2013. That means the start of longer days, more sunshine, warmer temperatures and spring just around the corner (in fact, only 10 days after we “spring forward!”). This also means the start of spending more time outdoors enjoying the activities you love.  

If your glasses or contacts hinder your outdoor fun, and you’ve been considering treating yourself to LASIK to improve your natural vision, now is the perfect time to explore your options.

By scheduling a LASIK consultation now, you can find out if your eye health and corneal thickness is right for this procedure – and if it might give you 20/20 vision. Picture yourself camping, bicycling, hiking, swimming or just enjoying a barbeque with friends – without those annoying plastic covers on your eyeballs or heavy frames sliding down your nose.

Once you are given the green light for LASIK, learn all about the risks and rewards and locate a surgeon with which you feel 100% confident, you’ll be amazed at how quick the LASIK process really is. In fact, most people see improvements in their vision immediately after the procedure (which only takes a few minutes per eye).

At Wright Vision Center , we’re excited that Daylight Savings Time is coming and we’re ready to help you see your way through spring and summer (and beyond!) more clearly. Contact us today to schedule your free LASIK consultation. Call 877 576 0202 or visit wrightvisioncenter.com.

Enjoy Winter Activities Without Glasses

It’s February and most U.S. states are in the full swing of winter. Whether you live in a cold climate or travel many miles to enjoy skiing, snowboarding or snowshoeing, just think of how much more you could enjoy these activities if you didn’t have the hassles of glasses or contacts.

LASIK eye surgery can provide the freedom to wake up in the morning seeing clearly and go all day without worrying about fogged-up lenses or irritated eyes from contacts. You could enjoy après ski by a roaring fireplace and not think once about contact lens solutions or accidentally breaking your frames.

Let’s face it: Even if you don’t care for cold weather sports, LASIK can bring a whole new level of enjoyment to your everyday activities. The simple action of rolling over in the morning to see your alarm clock – without glasses – should be enough to spur you to consider LASIK. Many LASIK surgeons offer free consultations to let you know if you are a good candidate for the procedure, how much it will cost and if there are LASIK financing options available. 

Know the risks: LASIK can result in dry eye syndrome; vision loss; vision issues such as double vision, halos, glare or starbursts; and the need for glasses after surgery.

Before your next trip to the mountains or frolic in the snow, have a LASIK consultation to see if you can eliminate your nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism through LASIK.

Dr. Wright at Wright Vision Cenrter offers free LASIK consultations and a free online LASIK Self-Evaluation to take the first step in the LASIK discovery process. To schedule your consultation, visit wrightvisioncenter.com/or call 877 576 0202.