|
|
Published : June 22, 2009 |
Author : admin
Category : LASIK | Total Views
: 253 | Unrated
|
|
|
"As a surgeon, my vision is critical to what I do and there are many other
professions where that is the case as well," Dr. John Suson, of Suson Eye
Specialists, recently explained. "But one of the most important professions
where vision is vital is the military."
Not surprisingly, a lot of the
most respected and rigorous research work into Lasik and PRK has been by armed forces
ophthalmologists who try to determine the appropriateness of different kinds of
refractive surgery for military personnel. A lot of the best analysis has come
from Navy and Air Force pilots.
"Many individuals in the military would
be rejected as pilots based on inadequate vision," Dr. Suson explained.
"Although they may have good vision with contact lenses or glasses, in the
intense environment of combat, the contact or glasses wearer is seen to be at a
severe disadvantage. As PRK and Lasik continued to advance and develop,
eventually the military began to approve the newer methods for their
personnel."
Eventually, even NASA approved the use of the advanced
blade-free Lasik procedure (iLasik) for
use in astronauts. The physical and visual requirements for astronauts are very
stringent and many individuals that were otherwise very qualified were
previously rejected based on vision only. The zero Gravity and other difficult
space related environmental issues made it difficult for people wearing glasses
or contact lenses to function decently.
"Ultimately, there were so many
people that wanted the chance to become astronauts that those with the
'handicap' of nearsightedness were simply removed from consideration - they were
out-competed by their luckier colleagues who were not 'blind.'" Dr. Suson
explained. "It took the advances of the blade-free Lasik procedure to win
acceptance by the military and NASA for their personnel. This procedure is the
same iLasik technique that we have used for quite some time at our surgery
center. I have had experience with the older diamond blade RK surgery which
didn’t use a laser at all."
"I’ve also had extensive experience with
Lasik from its beginning when it originally used a high speed vibrating razor
blade and now to the most advanced stage where the entire Lasik procedure is
performed using only lasers with no blades whatsoever," Dr. Suson continued. In
many ways, the advancement to the blade free iLasik technology is as big a leap
forward from old style Lasik as the excimer laser and PRK were over RK. Prior to
the development of the excimer laser, refractive surgery was actually somewhat
of a small, almost fringe group within the eye surgery community.
"RK surgeons
were a tiny minority while the vast majority of ophthalmologists chose not to be
involved with refractive surgery. In general, it was the unpredictability and
safety issues of blade based refractive surgery that turned so many surgeons
away," Dr. Suson remembers. It was the availability of the highly precise and
very safe excimer laser that spurred the rapid growth within the eye surgery
community and it is predicted that within this generation, the majority of
comprehensive ophthalmologists will be trained in and perform refractive surgery
to some degree.
"It is bizarre that many Lasik surgeons continue to
cling to the old style bladed Lasik rather than embracing the more advanced,
precise, and safe blade-free iLasik techniques," Dr. Suson mused. "Clearly, the
US Military and NASA recognize the difference for their personnel and we do so
for our patients also." If you are a prospective refractive surgery patient
considering Lasik, you should choose to use the highest standard available as
well.
Source: emailwire.com
|
|
|
|
