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[A486]Americas Best Glasses And Contacts

by Jay Smith, Jay

There was a time I'm sure when having some form of visual impairment was generally considered a bit of a downer, an unfortunate affliction that one might associate with social awkwardness. Think of all those geeky stereotypes littered across television from the 50's onwards, the fragile, physically inept dork with, inevitably, a pair of thick-rimmed prescription specs perched crookedly on his (or very occasionally her) nose. The knowing archetype would, I reckon, be Milhouse in the Simpsons.

The stigma is undoubtedly fading though. For one, the bespectacled dork clich? was long ago embraced by the fashion world, lent an air of dandyish credibility by those seeking a new outr? fashion accessory. These days, it seems, the streets of Britain are filled with Milhouse look-alikes. It's clear the look has spread way beyond a small collection of geek-chic fashionistas.

Beyond this however, the biggest revolution in corrective eyewear has surely been the seemingly unstoppable popularisation of the contact lens. Where once they were cumbersome, uncomfortable and potentially damaging slabs of rigid plastic, continuous technological advances have made them a convenient, almost imperceptible alternative to specs. These days the burgeoning contact lens market (125 million people now use them) is offered a dizzying array of options to suit the individuals particular needs. New developments like disposable lenses so you can forgo the fiddly cleaning ritual and lenses that can be worn all the time thanks to silicone hydrogel are attracting a lot of people who might previously have been put off. Thanks to Toric lenses the option is also now available to sufferers of astigmatism or myopia who were previously denied the opportunity.

One of the most significant developments related to the continual advancement of contact lens technology has been the improved accessibility to sports and other active pursuits for people with less than perfect eyesight. As a wearer of glasses who enjoys the odd game of football I've always faced the dilemma - keep the specs on and duck out of every header or take them off and end up getting flack for continually passing to the opposition. In many cases contact lenses have been enthusiastically embraced by sportspeople, not only because they offer an alternative to impractical glasses but because they will often improve depth perception and peripheral vision - obviously important factors in most sports.

Wearing contact lenses might once have represented a slightly inconvenient admission of vanity but their appeal now extends well beyond wanting to look good or even a reluctance to wear glasses. It's not hard to make a case for contacts as a lifestyle choice these days in terms of comfort, convenience and ever increasing affordability. In many ways the world of corrective eye wear has witnessed something of a reversal - where once glasses were the practical but not very style conscious option it seems increasingly that the only reason one might choose them over contacts is as a fashion choice.

Copyright (c) 2007 Jay Smith

Lasik surgery nowadays is the most popular surgical procedure to correct visual problems. This is a laser-assisted surgical operation done on the retina. The small instrument used by surgeons to cut the cornea is called Microkeratome. There is also a newly-developed technology using laser energy, a chill ultraviolet light flash called the IntraLase. This laser energy is now used to assist eye surgeons in this surgical procedure, thus lessening the danger of Lasik surgery.

The surgeon removes some of the corneal tissues under to reshape it. The objective of this removal is to reshape the cornea to refocus the light into the eye passing through the retina, providing better vision. For near-sightedness, the target is to level the cornea. In far-sighted persons, a sharper curve on the cornea is preferred. Astigmatism also can be corrected through this procedure by smoothing out some irregular corneal shape that causes the problem.

But before taking this kind of procedure, it is must to know some steps or preparation. First, you should know how to choose the best Lasik surgeon. Although this procedure is not as complicated as any other surgical procedure, it's better to find out for the best results. Finding a good refractive surgeon is not just through advertisements. Some ads, though informative, are not all true; they are just good as your starting point in finding one. Do not make a decision based on just what the ads want to express or the prices they offer.

Check if they are at least associated with any academic, medical centers because they are likely to be currently informed of the latest innovation and techniques about eye surgeries. They are more exposed and updated with any related procedures and problems that may arise in relation to Lasik surgery. Ask for a referral from your regular eye care consultant. Check your local Ophthalmology association or visit their website and look for their specialization. Ask for an appointment and meet with them, ask some intentional question like:
• How long they have been doing these surgical procedures.
• How many procedures they did and the intention of the surgical treatments.
• Percentage of success of the procedures they did.
• Any malpractice complaint or insurance coverage failure.
• About their license, issuance, any revocation or suspension.
• Any conviction of felony?
Before deciding, always ask for a second opinion.

Lasik surgery is an outpatient surgical procedure, which means that you will walk in to the center, have this eye procedure and then walk out afterwards. In fact, the surgery procedure will only take less than five minutes and you are also awake all through out the procedure. This operation is highly delicate and a very highly skilled surgeon with the proper tools must only do it.

During the surgery, the doctor will only give you a mild sedative and then the eye will be anesthetized with a special eye drop. You are told to lie down directly under the laser and a retainer will be placed over your eye to keep it open. A pressurized suction ring is also used to keep your eye pressured. The doctor then can easily cut through your cornea flap. A marker is also used to mark the cut and the corneal flap is created by the use of laser or by the Microketome.

To precisely adjust the laser, the doctor uses a computer. You will be directed to focus on a particular target for a brief period while adjusting. The doctor watches your eye through a microscope while pulses of light are sent through your cornea. The laser light pulses, painlessly reshapes your cornea. The length of the surgery is all dependent on the amount of prescription you need, the higher the prescription the longer the surgical time. Medication maybe prescribed after the operation to minimize any pain after the operation.

Just like any surgical procedure, it is very important to follow all the doctor's instructions precisely. You must rest for sometime, take some of the prescribed medicine, and must call the doctor immediately if you suspect any problem. Avoid any thing that will traumatize your healing process and rubbing your eyes has a big chance of ruining your eye operation.

After your operation, your vision may improve right away but in some instances, gradual improvement is experienced, some after the next day and some after few days. Most patients achieved a total vision improvement, regaining their 20/20 vision rate but others get a 20/40, but this is a fairly good vision. Statistic says that 93% of those who have undergone Lasik surgery are very satisfied with their operation.

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Both Jay Smith & Jayesh Bagde are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jay Smith has sinced written about articles on various topics from Social Issues, Fitness and Mortgage Insurance. Take advantage of great savings on a comprehensive selection ofcontact lenses at Visiondirect. Jay Smith's top article generates over 12100 views. Bookmark Jay Smith to your Favourites.

Jayesh Bagde has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home Management, Fitness and Home Management. For more information on Lasik Surgery Facts please visit our website.. Jayesh Bagde's top article generates over 135000 views. Bookmark Jayesh Bagde to your Favourites.