Lately, I realized that I was due for some new contacts. Since I fall into the "blind as a bat" category, I've been wearing soft contacts for 20 years now. (I'm one of those people who needs my glasses to find my glasses!) I'm a recent transplant to northern California, so I had to do the great eye doctor search to find a new guru to care for my "baby blues." (OK, so they're actually green, but that doesn't flow as well.) Either way, I had to endure some serious eyestrain to find a new professional for my peepers.

A new generation of extended wear soft contact lenses have been introduced that the FDA has approved for up to 30 days of continuous wear. Not everyone can tolerate 30-day extended wear lenses for a full month of continuous wear, just as some people cannot wear 7-day extended wear lenses safely and comfortably for a full week. Flexible wear may be a safe and comfortable alternative if you are unable to tolerate full-time continuous wear of extended wear lenses.

Lasik eye surgery otherwise known as Laser assisted in-situ keratomileusis eye surgery is a technique by which the refractive errors of an eye are corrected. The advent of lasik has brought cheer among those wearing glasses or contact lens because they are relieved of a carrying an extra burden. Yes, glasses or contact lens are always a burden. Can a bespectacled lad ever enjoy a game of football with freedom? The answer is a big NO. So this lasik eye surgery is indeed a boon to those with problems in their vision.

Sometimes, dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses can become so strenuous that individuals turn to alternative methods of repairing and correcting their vision. Lasik eye surgery is becoming increasingly popular because of its high success percentages. LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, and is a surgery by which the shape of the cornea - the clear covering of the eye - is permanently altered to improve the quality of vision.

If you're anything like me, you're sick and tired of trying to put your contacts in every morning or worse yet, trying to find your glasses as you're running late for an important meeting. I decided to do something about my poor eyesight and look into LASIK eye surgery. According to the latest LASIK surgery marketing, there are constant improvements to the field.

The Development of Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery is a refractive surgery that using the assistance of lasers. The lasers produce small incisions along the edge of cornea to flatten it and change the shape. "Lasik" is an anagram for "Laser-Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis."

Changing the Shape of the Cornea

A new generation of extended wear soft contact lenses have been introduced that the FDA has approved for up to 30 days of continuous wear. Not everyone can tolerate 30-day extended wear lenses for a full month of continuous wear, just as some people cannot wear 7-day extended wear lenses safely and comfortably for a full week. Flexible wear may be a safe and comfortable alternative if you are unable to tolerate full-time continuous wear of extended wear lenses.

Not long after RK, or radial keratotomy, came a new technique for shortening the focal length of the nearsighted eyeball. This was the long awaited PRK, photorefractive keratotomy. The procedure reshapes the cornea, in effect, shortens the focal length. A laser with low-heat UV radiation removes corneal material literally microscopic layers at a time. The procedure is robotic; the laser is pre-programmed, literally vaporizing a few molecules with each pulse from just the right place on the corneal surface.

A lot of people are apprehensive before going for laser eye surgery. However, for cosmetic and/or corrective purposes, they want to have the surgery done. In order to erase pre-surgery apprehensions, a lot of research and knowledge about the surgical process can come in handy.

Laser Assisted In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is currently the most common elective surgical procedure in the world with over one million people having LASIK each year. Although very popular and safe by surgical standards, LASIK is not for everybody. It is important to understand the advantages and limitations of LASIK and to select a qualified doctor to be assured of the highest probability of a desired outcome.

What is LASIK?