Traditional Lasik Vs. Custom Lasik
LASIK eye surgery restores perfect or near-perfect vision to those with vision problems. While the procedure is similar to previous types of refractive eye surgery, LASIK uses lasers to reduce or improve common vision issues.
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How LASIK Works
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In LASIK eye surgery, a surgeon creates a small circular cut in the patient's cornea. A laser is then used to remove some of the tissue within the cornea to reshape it. This reshaping of the cornea better focuses light into the eye and onto the retina, which allows for clearer vision.
Types of LASIK
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There are two main types of LASIK: traditional and custom. In traditional LASIK, before the surgery is performed, the eye is measured manually, much like an eyeglass prescription. Custom LASIK surgery involves measuring the eye with special mapping equipment that uses light to create a three-dimensional map of the eye.
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Benefits
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Both traditional and custom LASIK improve a patient's vision. Traditional LASIK corrects astigmatisms, and improves nearsightedness and farsightedness in the patient. Custom LASIK corrects the same vision problems as traditional, but improves other eye issues, including glare reduction and double vision.
Issues
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All surgery involves risks. While there are risks involved in both traditional and custom LASIK, custom LASIK has a reduced risk of complications due to the unique mapping of the eye which takes individual shape and structure into account. Traditional LASIK is still the more popular choice, but due to the generic eye measurement, not everyone is a candidate and it may not work on those with unusual eye shapes or aberrations.
Costs
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Because it involves expensive technology and is a more detailed process, Custom LASIK can cost up to twice as much as traditional LASIK and depending on the patient, the results may be the same. Consult your eye doctor to determine which LASIK is right for you.
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References
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- Photo Credit eye image by Artyom Davidov from Fotolia.com
