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Sometimes it is the little things that make the biggest
difference to people. Like waking up and seeing the alarm
clock without glasses. Or going to the beach and playing
with your children in the water without worrying about your
contacts. Refractive surgery can make these little
differences reality.
Each year thousands of people are delighted with the
effects of the surgery and their reduced dependancy on
corrective lenses. Results from University of Iowa Health
Care show that following the surgery, 80 percent of patients
who have refractive surgery have their vision improve to
20/20, or normal uncorrected vision, and 95 percent of the
eyes treated improve to a minimum of 20/40.
Are you a good candidate for refractive surgery? If you
have healthy eyes and haven't had a significant change in
your optical prescription in the past year, you're a likely
candidate.
You have to be realistic about your expectations when you
consider refractive surgery. Your motivation will influence
your level of satisfaction with the results. John Sutphin,
M.D., University of Iowa Health Care ophthalmologist, says
the best candidates are those who are motivated to get rid
of their glasses.
"This surgery is very gratifying. People like results.
They like not wearing their glasses or contacts. We treat
the patient, not just the eye. We spend time learning what
our patients want to be able to do as the result of the
surgery. This helps insure that the patient has realistic
expectations," Sutphin says.
Refractive surgery is simple, straight forward surgery
done on an outpatient basis. You are likely to experience
more discomfort from the anxiety and stress anticipating the
surgery than pain from the surgery itself. Before the
surgery, an anesthetic is applied to the eye. You are awake
and aware, but you should feel very little.
After surgery, the most common complaint is a scratchy
feeling or the feeling that something is in the eye. PRK and
INTACS are less comfortable than LASIK, but most people are
fine with over-the-counter pain medicine and rest.
If you have a health-related question, or to make an
appointment, call UI Health Access - 800- 777-8442 or
319-384-8442.
More information:
Listed above are several Web sites that offer additional
information on this topic. University of Iowa Health Care
does not sponsor or endorse these sites, or treatment. If
you have any questions, please contact UI Health Access.
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What's wrong with my
eyes?
 Until
recently, only glasses or contact lenses could correct
vision problems. Today, refractive surgery changes the shape
of the cornea, improving how many people focus.
Light is focused, or refracted, by the cornea, the clear
front "window" of your eye. Your vision is clear if the
cornea and lens focus an image precisely on the retina, the
inner layer of the eye that senses light.
If the cornea, lens, and the actual length of your eye
place the image in front of the retina, it causes
nearsightedness. If the image is placed behind the retina,
it is farsightedness.
If the cornea is not round, like a basketball, but has
unequal curves, like a football, the image is distorted and
you have astigmatism.
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What's
available?
University of Iowa Health Care offers three types of
refractive surgery:
Photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK)
Surgeons correct your vision by removing the
epithelium, a thin layer of tissue from the surface of
the cornea.
Laser in-situ keratomileusis (LASIK)
Unlike PRK, LASIK corrects your vision by
reshaping the corneal tissue beneath the surface of the
cornea.
Corneal Ring Segments (INTACS)
This surgery makes a tiny incision in the cornea
and two tunnels are made in the outer shape of the
cornea. Rings are then placed in the tunnel to stiffen
the cornea and the incision is closed.
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Free screening
The University of Iowa Department of Ophthalmology and
Visual Sciences holds free screenings to determine if you
are a candidate for refractive surgery. The screenings take
from 30 to 45 minutes. Bring your most recent glasses
prescription to the screening. Please call 356-2852 for a
screening appointment.
In addition, you can attend a free seminar to learn more
about refractive procedures. Seminars will be held January 9
from noon to 1 p.m.; February 12 from 7 to 8 p.m.; and March
20 from 7 to 8 p.m. The seminars will be held in the Blodi
Conference Room, 11131 Pomerantz Family Pavilion, University
of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics.
Seating is limited, so please call UI Health Access,
384-842 or 800-777-8442, to register.
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