Nearsightedness has plagued humanity for centuries, probably since Cave Man days. Attempts to correct it have mostly been the engine driving refractive surgery experiments and leading to our modern LASIK procedures.

Ancient Chinese people are said to have slept with sandbags on their eyes, to flatten the corneas and correct for nearsightedness. Leonardo da Vinci in fifteenth century Italy doodled diagrams of the eye and ways vision might be impaired. Nineteenth century Europe came up with a procedure using a spring-mounted mallet to flatten the cornea. Another procedure used a strong rubber band. Luckily for us, eye surgery has become more subtle in recent years.

In the U.S., eye drop anesthetics appeared in the mid 19th century, and after the Civil War, some surgeries were done to treat cataracts. They developed a device to measure the cornea?s curvature after cataract surgery (called a keratometer). Also in the 19th century, Dr. Snellen in Holland came up with the vision chart which eye doctors still use today, with the large E at the top.

The idea that the shape of the cornea is central in good eyesight has been around for a long time, but no effective action was taken until after a late 19th century Dutch doctor, Leendert Jan Lans, wrote a treatise on how astigmatism could be corrected with certain cuts in the cornea. He did some experiments on rabbits and before long, people in Italy and Germany were doing similar work. Experiments were done in many countries for about fifty years.

20th century progress

? In 1936, Tsutomu Sato in Japan noticed that some people with eye injuries had flatter corneas. Having read Lans? treatise, he followed it up with surgeries that placed tiny incisions in the cornea to flatten it, and thus laid the foundation for the procedure we know as Radial Keratotomy (RK).

? In 1948, an American Air Force physician noticed that when cockpit windscreens shattered and sent slivers of Perspex into the pilot?s eyes, it was not a great problem. In other words, the pilots? eyes were able to tolerate the presence of Perspex. So he began designing plastic lenses that could be implanted in the eye. Thus we have the basis of cataract surgery and Intraocular Lenses (IOLs)

? In 1949, a Columbian doctor, Jose Barraquer, used a microkeratome (still used today) to create a corneal flap. He removed it entirely, rather than folding it back as eye surgeons do today. He froze it and then changed its shape with a device called a cryolathe, which precisely shaved a tiny portion of it off. Presumably that thawed-out flap was replaced on the eye and healed up, much as LASIK flaps heal up today.

? During the mid-twentieth century, several Russian eye doctors experimented with RK and determined that 16 incisions or less was enough to correct nearsightedness, and one of them, named Fyodorov, presented convincing evidence that this could be done with great precision to control the exact amount of correction. RK was begun in the U.S. in 1978.

? In 1980, still trying to correct nearsightedness, two American doctors tried using the heat of a carbon dioxide laser to shrink parts of the cornea and thus change its curvature. Now the progress speeded up. Throughout the 1980s and into the 1990s, various lasers were used in Germany and the U.S. and combined with use of a microkeratome to make the corneal flap. The name laser in-situ keratomileusis was coined for this procedure, abbreviated as LASIK. PRK was also developed during these years.

U.S. clinical LASIK trials in the 1990s led to FDA approvals of the excimer laser in LASIK procedures for nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism between 1995 and 1999.

Following the FDA approvals, LASIK surgeons hung their shingles out all over the country, and many people had LASIK who shouldn?t have had it. Patient screening has improved greatly, reducing side effects and giving better results for the good candidates. When choosing your LASIK surgeon, check each doctor?s qualifications and background, and schedule a consultation. Ask how long he or she has been performing LASIK, and how many procedures have been done. With only one pair of eyes, it?s important to trust them only to responsible and qualified eye doctors.

Eye diseases are becoming more prevalent and statistics indicate that the percentage of sufferers is still on the rise. The only proven method for treatment of glaucoma is reduction of pressure in the eyes. Therefore, all treatments are designed to reduce the level of intraocular pressure. This goal can be achieved by a variety of means including eye drops, tablets, laser treatments and surgery. In order to protect your vision, it is necessary to seek treatment if you have any symptoms of glaucoma, in case the loss of vision gets worse.

Symptoms of glaucoma

Even if you display no symptoms of glaucoma(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Glaucoma.html), there is still a possibility that you have it. There have been numerous such cases, where people are suffering from the condition without showing any signs of it. Glaucoma is a result of high pressure in eyes, but how does this come about? The condition occurs when the draining and producing of fluid in the eye is out of balance. When the eye produces too much fluid, or fluid cannot drain out, eye pressure will rise and glaucoma will strike. The tougher the pressure is, the severer the glaucoma would become. Even if you only experience low pressure, if you don’t seek glaucoma treatment, the pressure may become uncontrollable and you may would gradually lose your vision if not treated in a timely way.

Types of glaucoma treatments

Even for some who do not have vision problems, it may necessary to be tested for glaucoma as the condition can become worse without being noticed. Take precautions to prevent it, especially as you age or if glaucoma is in your family. A certain kind of diet matched with glaucoma prevention might be what you need.

Most glaucoma treatments(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Glaucoma.html) aim to reduce the pressure in the eyes. You can choose your proper treatment by consulting with your doctor. Usually eye drops are the first choice over other treatments, and they have been proven effective in reducing eye pressure. Actually you may be prescribed more than one kind of eye drop, and using multiple types can enhance the treatment, according to research.. Eye drops act two ways: one way is to reduce the amount of fluid produced in the eyes; the other is to open the drainage channels to let the excess liquid drain away. The two ways are different in approach but equally satisfactory in result. These kind of treatments would work for those with slight glaucoma, but if they don’t, you would probably be advised to undergo laser treatment or surgery. In terms of laser treatment, different technologies are used according to individual needs. And don’t forget about natural eye healthy practices. Diest containing lots of fruits and vegetables may be effective in easing glaucoma. Likewise, food abundant in vitamin C is a helpful for the natural treatment of glaucoma(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Glaucoma.html).

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Glaucoma has been called the ?sneaky thief of sight.? Victims of this eye disease experience gradual vision loss that may not be recognized until it?s too late. Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. If your family has a history of glaucoma, you have a 6% chance of developing the disease as well.

Glaucoma Effects

Pressure builds up inside the eye of the glaucoma patient. If treatment is not administered early, the optic nerve is damaged and vision begins to fade resulting in blindness.

Glaucoma Types

There are several types of glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of the disease and heredity is the most common factor.

? Open-angle glaucoma is caused by pressure build-up due to clogged drainage canals of the eye preventing fluid to flow out of the eye.

? Vision loss is gradual and can be treated with medication if caught early.

? It is vital that people over 40 have regular eye exams to measure intra-ocular eye pressure, especially if your parents or siblings have the disease.

Angle-closure glaucoma can progress gradually or suddenly. The iris blocks the drainage canals causing blurred vision, ?rainbows? around lights, eye pain, headaches and nausea. Surgery relieves fluid trapped within the eye resulting in a long term or permanent solution. Other symptoms include the following:

? Halos, blurry or cloudy vision

? Vision decreases

? Severe eye pain

? Extreme sensitivity to light

? Excessive blinking and runny eye

? Crossed or out-turned eyes

? One eye becoming larger than the other

? Nausea, headache

Normal tension glaucoma can be treated with surgery or medication.

? The patient?s eye pressure is normal but the optic nerve is damaged.

? Cardiovascular disease can increase the risk of this form of glaucoma.

Congenital glaucoma occurs in babies when the eye doesn?t develop properly in uterine.

Secondary glaucoma is caused by disease, injury or other eye problems.

Other Risk Factors for Glaucoma

Anyone is susceptible to losing his or her eyesight from this devastating disease. Heredity plays a big role but there are other common factors that elevate risk.

• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure for people 60 and over

Race:

? African Americans 40 and over ? glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness

? Hispanics 60 and over have a higher risk of open angle glaucoma

? Asian & Eskimo descent have a higher risk of closed angle glaucoma

? Japanese Americans have a higher risk of normal tension glaucoma

Age

? Risk rises significantly for people aged 40 and over

? 60 and over are 6-times more likely than others to develop glaucoma

• Diabetes ? doubles the risk

Injuries

? Dislocated lens retinal detachment

? Eye tumor

Eye problems

? Myopia ? extreme nearsightedness

? Hyperopia ? extreme farsightedness

? Thin corneas

• Steroid use

Many people who have the desire for Lasik surgery are worried about getting it, because they also have glaucoma. They become concerned that they will damage their eyes through Lasik or that the procedure will make their glaucoma worse. While it is understandable that a person is worried about his or her eyesight and wants to protect it, many concerns about Lasik can be alleviated by talking to an eye doctor and having one?s questions answered. By doing this, a patient can make the best and most informed decision, leading to the best outcome, whatever the decision is.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is an eye disease that causes a gradual loss of vision. It is generally caused by high intraocular pressure (the pressure inside the eye). However, it is important to remember that the thickness of a person?s cornea and other factors can affect eye pressure. What is high to one person might not be high to another person, so checking it over time and watching carefully for any damage or risk factors is important. High intraocular pressure that is uncontrolled and not ?normal? for a person — someone with thicker corneas, for example, will generally have higher eye pressure — can cause a deterioration of the optic nerve. A person will notice that their peripheral vision becomes less and less, and eventually, if not treated, the person will be looking ?through a tunnel? before losing vision completely.

There is Good News

There is some good news on two fronts. First, glaucoma is treatable. Once vision is lost, it cannot be recovered. However, the vision that has not yet been lost can be saved through prescription medications that stop or drastically slow the progression of the disease. Second, there is no evidence that Lasik surgery either causes glaucoma or makes it worse. The Lasik procedure deals with the cornea of the eye, as opposed to dealing with the inside of the eye. Since the intraocular pressure is inside the eye, it is not affected by it. The only ?concern? is that the pressure in the eye after Lasik may read lower than it actually is, so an eye doctor should be made aware of this. Beyond that, however, there are no other concerns when it comes to Lasik and glaucoma.

The Lasik Procedure

The procedure that takes place during Lasik is a relatively simple one. The patient is given a sedative if needed, and anesthetic drops are placed in the eyes to numb them. The eye is held open with a gentle restraint and a flap is cut in the corner. Sometimes this is done with a blade, but more and more people are offering bladeless Lasik, meaning that the laser is used to cut the flap. After the flap is cut and folded back, the laser is used to reshape the inner layers of the cornea. When the laser is done, the corneal flap is put back into place and begins to heal almost immediately. Medicated eye drops are given to the patient to put in his or her eye, and specific after-care instructions are also given, so that the chance of any kind of complication will be reduced. The entire Lasik procedure takes about 15 minutes, and is considered to be extremely safe.

For more and more people, Lasik is becoming the option that they choose to correct their vision. It is much safer than it used to be, and there are fewer complications as well.

Recent studies indicate that laser eye surgery has now surpassed contact lenses for safety, which means more people will likely be getting the surgery. For example, for someone who has glaucoma, there is no need to worry about Lasik making it worse or causing any kind of problem.

For those of us who deal with the ramifications of less than perfect vision on a daily basis, we know how much our routines can center on maintaining our eyewear; from uncomfortable glasses that get in our way, to contact lenses that dry our eyes and always seem to go missing at the most inopportune moments. And when you add to that the expense of vision treatment for those who wear glasses or contacts, it can be downright frustrating. But what most people have come to discover is that corrective laser eye surgery - a procedure that takes less than an hour and costs considerably less than a lifetime of vision correction prescriptions - can not only perfect your vision but address a number of eye conditions with which many people suffer.

Corrective laser eye surgery can allow you to finally have the vision you have always wanted; most patients are able to achieve 20/20 vision even immediately following the procedure. For those who have suffered with poor vision their entire lives, this can be a miracle procedure. And for those who suffer from such degenerative conditions as dry eye - wherein sufferers experience itchy, burning eyes, glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration, corrective laser eye surgery can be a saving grace.

When most people think of corrective laser eye surgery they immediately think of Lasik surgery - a popular procedure that is used to correct vision. But the truth is that corrective eye surgery is rather like an umbrella phrase under which all manner of corrective procedures fall. Lasik is indeed one of the procedures that falls under this umbrella and is considered to be an excimer laser procedure - through which the cornea of the eye is reshaped by laser. Lasik - and the procedures like it - correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The difference between the various excimer laser procedures is the type of laser that is used and the technique that is followed depending on what particular procedure is likely to bring you the most success based on the condition and shape of your eyes.

Non-excimer laser procedures are another group that falls with corrective laser eye surgery. Such procedures involve one of three things: the insertion of permanent lenses into the eye, the reshaping of the eye using laser energy or radio waves instead of lasers themselves, or the actual cutting of the eye. These procedures are meant for those who experience severely compromised vision or cataracts.

Other corrective eye surgery may include more complex and comprehensive procedures such as cornea transplants during which healthy tissue from a donor eye is transplanted into the eye of someone whose own cornea has been compromised due to injury or illness. There is also a procedure that is used to treat Keratoconus - or the bulging of the corneas; during this procedure the surgeon places plastic inserts (Intacs) onto the corners of the cornea to flatten them.

Not surprisingly, as technology continues to advance, corrective laser eye surgery continues to make similar advancements. More and more people have come to discover that it is no longer necessary to live with permanent vision impairment. If you feel that you may be a candidate for such procedures, see your eye doctor for a thorough examination.

When in 1946 a German ophthalmologist named Gerd Meyer-Schwickerath used the focused light beam from a xenon arc lamp to perform a retinal coagulation on a human eye, his procedure completely revolutionized the world of ophthalmology. Light is noninvasive when it comes to reaching internal eye structures. That?s why, when Theodore Maiman tested the first successful laser in 1960, the optometry industry quickly began to research and develop ways of using this new technology. The lasers used in optometry today are incredibly precise and sophisticated. Computer software has made them especially powerful and accurate. Here are five of the most commonly used lasers in the field.

Femtosecond laser
The microkeratome blade is an uber-precise mechanical shaver that cuts a thin flap of exterior cornea during laser surgery. The femtosecond laser performs the same task as the microkeratome blade, but without the risks inherent. All-laser surgery minimizes healing period and reduces post-surgical discomfort.

Nd: YAG laser
A solid state laser, the YAG laser is one of the most commonly used lasers in optometry and in other medical procedures as well. Its typical wavelength is around 1054 mm and it can be used in pulse as well as continuous mode. Cataract surgery and peripheral iridotomy use YAG lasers. At higher frequency, the laser can be used for photocoagulation.

Krypton laser
Krypton lasers are a type of gas laser that employ krypton ions as gain mediums. They are commonly used in the treatment of macular degeneration, a disease that often affects the elderly and results in a loss of one?s central field of vision due to retinal damage.

Excimer laser
The excimer laser is the most widely used laser in the field of ophthalmology. It is extremely precise and, rather than burn through matter, it creates enough energy to break the molecular bonds holding matter together, so that the tissue it targets literally disintegrates into the air without affecting the remaining eye tissue. ?

Argon laser
Because it can be emitted at various different wavelengths in the ultraviolet spectrum, the argon laser is versatile in its uses. Discovered by laser technology pioneer William R. Bennett in the 1960s, it is commonly used in diabetic retinopathy, panretinal photocoagulation and open-angle glaucoma.

The history of ophthalmology has revolutionized since 1946, read about the ophthalmic equipment and the newest technology at Nidek.

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Trabeculectomy Eye Surgery

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What Is Trabeculectomy ?

When glaucoma continues to progress despite the use of medication regimens and possibly laser treatments, a glaucoma filtration procedure (trabeculectomy) may be recommended. In general, a glaucoma filtration procedure is recommended when these other methods of glaucoma management have failed or have insufficiently controlled the progression of glaucoma…

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The Procedure

Once the decision is made to proceed with a glaucoma filtration procedure, the surgery is scheduled. The procedure is completed in the operating room, usually under local anesthesia. Some ophthalmologists will complete the procedure under topical (eye drop) anesthesia. On the day of surgery, one should expect to have several eye drop medications applied multiple times to the eye for approximately one hour prior to the procedure…

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Diagnosis/Preparation

The procedure is fully explained and any alternative methods to control intraocular pressure are discussed. Antiglaucoma drugs are prescribed before surgery. Added pressure on the eye caused from coughing or sneezing should be avoided. Several eye drops are applied immediately before surgery. The eye is sterilized, and the patient draped. A speculum is inserted to keep the eyelids apart during surgery…

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After Your Operation

In most cases, a patch and shield will be placed over your eye on the day of surgery. This is usually removed later that day or the day after surgery and eye drop medications are begun. Your surgeon will usually want to evaluate your eye on the day of surgery or on the first post-operative day. At that time, depending on pressure in the eye, your surgeon might elect to cut sutures on the flap of the filter to modulate the filtration process. This is often done with a laser while in the office…

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Alternatives

Physicians will first try to lower IOP with glaucoma medications. Several types of eye drops are effective for this use. Sometimes a patient must instill more than one eye drop, several times a day. Compliance is very important when using these eye drops; missed dosages will raise IOPs…

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Lasik eye surgery is used to cure three main types of eye conditions-myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. myopia, also know as nearsightedness is the problem of not being able to see what is far away without glasses. hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is the other way round. Astigmatism is something different where the patient has irregularities in his cornea which as a result distorts the image formed on the retina of the eye.

This surgery has been embraced by many a patient over the last decade to correct some specific eye defects. It has caught the imagination of people and has been gaining popularity every year. But this surgery does have its own effects and it varies from one patient to another. So before you actually decide on getting a eye surgery done, you should always consider the pros and the cons.

Operation comes with its own set of risks and they should always be considered seriously before you actually sign-up for an operation. Problems that might be caused due to this eye surgery are double vision, glare, and halo. One’s nighttime vision can also be affected, especially for certain operation procedures. Even permanent blurry vision and diminished contrast may be the effects of this operation.

There are a few basic things that any optometrist will look for before a this surgery. That would primarily include your eye health history. In case of a particular few diseases the chances of you undergoing a surgery will significantly decrease. These would include glaucoma, herpes, eye injuries or thin corneas. Any of these conditions can disqualify you as a suitable candidate for this operation. Another important criterion is whether there has been an alteration in your eyewear prescription over the last year. Before a operation of your eyes should be steady. If they are not then the optometrist might just postpone the surgery for a few months until he is satisfied that your eyes are ready to undergo that surgery.

As more and more people opt for this eye operation, the costs for the same are going down every day. But still the price might be a bit too high for many to bear. On an average one needs to pay around $1800 for the surgery of a single eye.

Laser eye surgery essentially falls into two categories: photorefractive keratectomy, and lasik, or laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis. These two types of laser surgery have been modified to create variations on the same theme. Lasek as opposed to lasik is a more modern version of pkr. All these procedures are conducted with the patient fully conscious, and drops are used to dull any sensations in the eyes.

Not everyone with eye defects is the ideal candidate for laser surgery. The risks involved are many, and serious enough not to ignore. An educated choice is always the best way to proceed.