What Is LASIK
Michalis 'BIG Mike' Kotzakolios


Defined Tag: Lasik.

It's said that one in two people will (or should) wear glasses at sometime in their adult lives. For this reason eye care is a hot topic, particularly the relatively new LASIK technology. This eye surgery, often mispronounced "Lasix," is short for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. But what exactly does this procedure entice?

First, let's look at who exactly this type of surgery is for. LASIK is aimed at aiding people who suffer from myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness), astigmatism (a term for a general fault in sight), and numerous other conditions more specific to each individual -this includes sometimes unknown conditions which may exist that will affect a person in later life and can only be detected by an optician.

Though costly at times, the LASIK technique is surprising simple. First, the surgeon simply cuts a flap from a part of the eye called the stroma, and pulls up the flap. Beneath this flap are tiny lines, ripples, and other sedimentary-looking particles which distort sight.

The result of this material beneath the stroma often manifests in a few different ways. One effect is a cornea that is too steep, resulting in myopia. The opposite is true for hyperopic people, whose cornea is not steep enough -that is, it's rather flat and prevents good sight at close range. With astigmatism all the excessive "stuff" beneath the stroma is often the outright cause of this eye problem, and when removed allows the cornea to smooth out and take on a more normal shape for optimal sight.

There are numerous boons to LASIK, the foremost being improved sight. This fact coupled with a freedom from wearing glasses or contact lenses has convinced many people of its benefit. Adding to this advantage is the amount of time for the procedure. This is an incredible one minute per eye, on average!

However, despite the wonders of LASIK, there are a few caveats. One of these is the price, which can be a bit prohibitive to some. Due to ever-new increases in technology (and thus the machines that go along with such advancement), prices have actually gone up in certain places in the United States, to as much as $1,000 per eye. However, with this increase in technology does come the reduction of 'older' procedures which are often still available and at a more modest price.

Likewise, there are ramifications to be considered, such as side affects. These complications include -but are not limited to dry eye, inflammation, epithelial ingrowths, infection, haze, oozing of the eyes, and even a regression of the initial problem. However, in the last 7 or 8 years the incidence of such problems has declined by over 4 % as opticians and ophthalmologists improve their knowledge of the human eye.

The final major consideration is that of qualification. Not everyone is accepted for LASIK surgery. For instance, age is a great consideration. The eyes of those under eighteen years of age have yet to experience stabilization in their growth rates, and so are rarely accepted for such medical procedures (often an eye problem will simply "work itself out" for teens). Pregnant women will also experience a change in their eyes -particularly in their shape, and so are often discouraged from such procedures. A visit with the eye doctor will aid in determining if LASIK is right for you.

BIG Mike is a well known author, developer and Adsense expert as well as the owner of Niche Maniacs - a unique Adsense Marketing System designed to build long-term passive income streams from Adsense, YPN, Chitika and other PPC services.