LASIK Effective on "Extreme" Prescriptions
in Denver, Indianapolis and Portland
Since the early 1990s, more than 18 million LASIK procedures have been completed to correct vision problems. It has been believed that in low and moderate cases of myopia, also known as nearsightedness, LASIK is a safe and effective procedure. However there appears to be some controversy regarding the maximum correction possible and the effectiveness of this technique.
According to a new study in the American Journal of Ophthalmology the laser based technique is safe and effective in the long-term for patients with severe myopia, or nearsightedness.
Researchers from Miguel Hernandez University in Spain and Ankara University School of Medicine in Turkey studied long-term results of 196 eyes on 118 patients. Prior to surgery these patients needed glasses or contacts of at least 10 diopter power to get 20/20 vision.
Ten years after their LASIK surgery, only 1 percent had cornea problems. Sixty percent were able to go without glasses and contacts completely, and the retreatment rate was only 27 percent.
According to lead investigator Jorge L. Alio, “This study has allowed us to demonstrate that, in spite of the prejudices about the limits of LASIK technique, the results regarding predictability, efficacy and safety for high myopic patients are very good in the long term.”
Christine Stone of 20/20 Institute in Denver, Colorado noted, “Our guests with a high level of pre-operative myopia (nearsightedness) are among the happiest group of patients we have the privilege to serve at 20/20 Institute. “
LASIK Safer than Contacts
A recent report indicates for the first time that LASIK is safer than wearing contact lenses over the course of a patient's lifetime.
William Mathers, M.D., professor of ophthalmology in the Oregon Health & Science University's School of Medicine, found a greater chance of suffering vision loss from contact lenses than from laser vision correction surgery (LASIK). His findings were published in a letter in the October 2006 issue of "Archives of Ophthalmology."
The Oregon researchers reviewed studies to gauge the long-term risks of refractive surgery and compared them with studies on contact wearers.
The study found that:
- Contact lens wearers face a 1 in 100 risk of developing a serious lens-related eye infection over 30 years of use
- Contact lens wearers also face a 1 in 2,000 chance of experiencing dramatic vision loss as a result
- The chances of LASIK surgery leading to significant vision loss is about 1 in 10,000
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