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High Astigmatism, Keratoconus, Pellucid and Other Corneal
Pathology
Analysis and Rationale in Patient Selection for
Laser Vision Correction
Laser vision correction surgery can be a significant
life-changing event. On the positive side, it can help someone who
previously was dependent upon eyeglasses and/or contact lenses to
achieve excellent unaided vision. This is why in less than 6 years
LASIK has become the most popular elective surgical procedure in the
world.
We have all seen the "infomercial fairytale" promoting LASIK,
which goes something like this: Someone chooses to have LASIK;
seeks a consultation from caring and capable provider; has a few
minutes of painless surgery; achieves overnight recovery of
extremely clear vision; and lives happily ever after.
On the negative side, we do not hear much about are the stories
of those that have problems and complications as a result of laser
vision care. Some patients achieve clear vision ("20/20" on the eye
chart) but observe annoying glare, halo, and difficulty with night
vision after LASIK. Some patients fail to achieve optimum vision in
both eyes and find that their depth perception, driving comfort and
other factors are impaired. If surgery is performed in certain
situations where corneal anatomy and shape are abnormal, or if
significant surgical complications are encountered, it can lead to
severe vision impairment, need for rehabilitative surgery including
corneal transplantation, severe psychological stress, depression,
loss of work, and diminution of quality of life. Neither positive
or negative effects of this care should be underestimated.
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