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Healthy Living
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Vision Correction Procedure Hits a Milestone
(ARA) – More than 150 million Americans, or approximately 50 percent of the U.S. population, require eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct common vision problems. For these people, waking up in bed and reaching over to the nightstand for eye glasses is a normal ritual. Life requires good vision, and for many of us, we need the assistance of glasses or contact lenses.
This was the situation for Jenny Conley just a year ago. Conley started wearing glasses when she was 13 years old and contact lenses when she was 15. At eye exams, she couldn’t even see the big “E” on the eye chart without glasses. Now 28, she is a pediatric dental hygienist and became tired of the glare of bright lights at work and children reaching for her glasses when she was busy peering deep into their little mouths.
For years Conley wanted to get Lasik surgery performed, but like many people, the “fear factor” held her back. Through research, she learned some of the history of the procedure. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first laser technology in 1995 for a type of vision correction surgery, called PRK.
After learning this information and having seen numerous friends and co-workers have the procedure performed successfully at LasikPlus, she decided she was ready to have the Lasik procedure performed as well. As the wife of a former Marine Sergeant, she was even more convinced once she discovered that certain laser correction procedures had been approved for use by the United States military.
Conley’s surgery was performed by Dr. Eugene Smith, a surgeon at LasikPlus vision center located in Atlanta, Ga., on May 23, 2008. Shortly thereafter, Conley discovered that she was the patient who received the one millionth procedure at LasikPlus -- a great milestone and a testament to the procedure’s success. She was in awe once she returned to the recovery room with her mother, amazed at what she could see with her new eyes. Her Rx in both eyes was -4.25, and now she sees 20/15.
In 1997, the FDA approved the technology for a more advanced outpatient procedure for laser vision correction called laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), to treat nearsightedness. Throughout 1997, consumer demand for laser vision correction grew rapidly in the United States due to broader market acceptance, improved technology and expanded treatment options. LasikPlus surgeons have performed successful laser vision correction surgeries that have transformed the lives of over 500,000 people.
“Laser refractive surgery has gone through an amazing evolution since the technology was first developed in the 1980s. Ten years ago there were only two laser refractive procedures available to consumers in the United States, PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) and traditional LASIK (Laser in situ Keratomileusis),” says Dr. Smith. “Over the years, as newer technology has won FDA approval, laser vision correction has become available to a broader segment of the population. Today, more people are potential candidates than ever before. Advances in iris registration and pupil tracking technology as well as FDA approval of hyperopia, wavefront and femtosecond treatments makes laser vision correction a safe and effective option available to many more people than in the past.”
Today Conley doesn’t have to remember to take out contact lenses or make sure her glasses are sitting on the nightstand right next to the bed. She can see the alarm clock, the computer, and across the street without the aid of corrective lenses, and best of all -- it takes less time to get ready for work each day.
Lasik surgery can be costly, and it is generally not covered by insurance, although many vision plans do provide discounts. But in Conley’s opinion it is definitely worth the investment. “It’s transformed my life in ways I can only try to explain. I encourage anyone with vision impairment to look into this option. You can even finance the procedure and I’m positive you won’t be disappointed in the results,” concludes Conley.
Courtesy of ARAcontent
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