After Laser Vision Correction, follow-up visits
are scheduled at regular intervals to insure that the cornea is healing
properly. Usually patients are seen the first day after the procedure,
followed by one week, two to four weeks, and then two to three months.
More follow-up visits are initially required after PRK due to the initial
healing stage of the cornea and the use of a bandage contact lens. Except
for artificial tears, eye drops are usually discontinued one to two weeks after
Lasik. Prescription eye drops are used for a few months after PRK.
It is important to
protect the eyes from sun exposure after Laser Vision Correction by using
ultraviolet protecting sunglasses. The eyes may feel somewhat dry after
Laser Vision Correction, and artificial tears should be used liberally.
Most activities are safe to engage in after Laser Vision Correction, but
swimming should be avoided for at least one week.
Clinical Results of Laser Vision
Correction:
CRS Clinical Research coordinated a physician led and funded study to
evaluate the safety and effectiveness of LASIK using the VISX excimer
laser. This laser has been FDA approved for the LASIK procedure based on the data collected
from the CRS studies.
The CRS study looked at the results of LASIK from a variety of surgeons using
the VISX excimer laser. 723 eyes were treated initially by the VISX laser.
- In myopia (nearsightedness) ranging from 1 to 12 Diopters preoperatively, 95% of
eyes treated with the
VISX had 20/40 or better uncorrected vision (without glasses or contact
lenses) within 6 months after LASIK.
- In cases of less than 7 Diopters preoperatively, 63% of VISX treated eyes had 20/20 or better uncorrected vision
after LASIK.
- The refractive result was found to be stable between 3 to 6 months after
surgery, and less than 1% of treated eyes experienced an adverse event with
LASIK.
- Only 0.6% of VISX treated eyes lost 2
lines of best corrected visual acuity after LASIK.
Further clinical studies have expanded the range FDA approved treatment for
nearsightedness, astigmatism, and farsightedness by Lasik to what it is today. With the advent of
CustomVue™ Lasik, visual acuity results after Lasik have continued
to improve.
Complications of Laser Vision Correction:
All surgical procedures
carry risk, although complications following Laser Vision Correction have
generally been uncommon. A thorough discussion of the risks and
complications of Laser Vision Correction can be found at Laser Vision Correction
Complications.
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