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Learn about how LASIK vision correction can free you of your dependency on vision correction devices such as glasses and contacts.

If you need glasses or contact lenses to get through your daily activities, you know the downside of that. Whether it’s glasses or lenses:

• They get lost at times
• They can be damaged or broken
• They need to be cared for and cleaned
• You have to have them updated periodically

There have been many advances in vision correction, so you can choose from many types of glasses or contact lenses, but that doesn’t change the fact that you still depend on them every day.

If your vision limitations are caused by a refractive error, you could consider the alternative of LASIK surgery. Refraction refers to the bending of light rays as they enter your eyes.

Refractory error
In a perfectly shaped cornea (the front surface of the eye) light rays bend at just the right angle to focus on your retina (the back inside surface where images are formed, as on a camera film). From the retina, the optic nerve picks up the image information and takes it to the brain, which interprets it, finds the right name for it, and tells you, “That’s a daffodil.”

Many of us have imperfectly shaped corneas. Maybe they’re too short, too long, too flat, too steep, or have tiny irregularities on them.

This causes the light rays to bend at the wrong angle.

• They might bend too sharply and focus in front of the retina. This creates nearsightedness (myopia)
• They might bend too little, and come to a focus behind the retina. This creates farsightedness (hyperopia)
• They might bend inconsistently because of small irregularities on the cornea, and focus inconsistently, creating blurry patches in your vision (astigmatism)

What LASIK does
LASIK vision correction surgery corrects the shape of your corneas, so that the light rays will bend at the correct angle and focus sharply on the retina. It’s a short, safe, and painless procedure and gives permanent vision improvement.

There’s something you can do to enhance your LASIK results:

• Choose a quality eye surgeon
• In turn, the surgeon will choose you if you’re a good candidate for LASIK. Good outcomes are not possible on poor candidates.

You might see advertisements for LASIK at “$399.99 per eye!” or some such amount. Those facilities may indeed offer a lower price, although you’ll probably incur extra expenses in the end (“hidden costs”). But they make up for the lower fees by cutting corners:
• Minimal pre-screening
• Cheaper equipment
• Older lasers
• Less staff
• Less surgeon time for you
• Little or no follow-up
• Pre-screening

There’s more to being a good candidate for LASIK surgery than having:
• Myopia
• Hyperopia, or
• Astigmatism

Some other conditions can disqualify you. If you’re:

• Diabetic
• Under 18
• Pregnant
• Are taking certain medications
• Have any of a variety of diseases

A quality eye surgeon will carefully select his LASIK patients and give them as much time as necessary to ensure the best possible results. If you qualify, your outcome will be astonishing. You’ll notice the difference immediately! You’ll wonder why you didn’t get around to freeing yourself up sooner from those glasses or contact lenses.

ArrivaCostaRica.com is the primary web site for information about plastic surgery and dentistry in Costa Rica. See www.arrivacostarica.com