LASIK Eye Surgery: Risks and Benefits
I often get asked about how the results of my Rebuild Your Vision Program compare to the popular LASIK Eye Surgery option. While I certainly cannot guarantee that my program will offer the immediate results that LASIK surgery can, comparing the two is really like comparing apples and oranges.
Unlike LASIK surgery, my program does not involve a laser coming at your eye! Since my program involves natural eye strengthening exercises and natural supplements, the risks and benefits between the two cannot really be compared.
LASIK may be a viable option for some, but let’s talk about some of the risks and benefits associated with it.
LASIK Eye Surgery is a type of refractive surgery that is performed by an ophthalmologist, or a medical doctor trained to work with the eye, using a laser. It is designed to correct problems in the structure of the eye that lead to common vision problems such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. These are the most common eye problems that lead to a patient requiring glasses and this type of surgery can correct these problems.
The procedure itself involves the doctor making an incision in the eye to create a flap, which is peeled back and allows the laser access to remodel the corneal stoma. After the procedure the flap is carefully placed back to ensure there is no air or dirt trapped and is left to heal naturally.
In most cases the patient is awake during LASIK eye surgery, though mild sedatives can be offered at the patients request.
The benefits of never having to wear glasses or contacts ever again make LASIK surgery really appealing to anyone who has had to suffer with them for any period of time. Why else would someone let a doctor cut through his or her eye, and then zap it with a laser?
The truth is that while the technology behind LASIK eye surgery has become increasingly more effective and safe, there are still a number of risks associated with the procedure:
The most common complication from refractive surgery is the incidence of “dry eyes.” According to an American Journal of Ophthalmology study of March 2006, the incidence rate of dry eyes from LASIK after the six month post operative healing period was 36%. However, it’s hard to find a number everyone can agree on, as the incidence of dry eye varies widely from research studies.
A study by Hovanesian et al. reported that 48% of patients experienced dry eye symptoms at 6 months period post surgery. The actual number is probably somewhere between the two, but in either case is quite high. Also, the FDA (Food and Drugs Administration) website states that “dry eyes” may be permanent.
Dry eyes, if left untreated can compromise the visual outcome and result in regression of the effect of LASIK, or in severe cases result in “chronic dry eye” where permanent chronic pain and visual impairment is a possible outcome. It also must be noted that some incidences of dry eye cannot be successfully mitigated using the above mentioned techniques, so a potential lasik patient must consider that dry eye can be a permanent outcome and untreatable.
Another risk is Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis or DLK. Many call this disorder the “Sands of the Sahara”.
It results when dead cells lodge beneath the corneal flap. The cornea mistakenly assumes these cells are harmful and initiates an inflammatory response. Unfortunately this may result in scarring, and permanent vision loss may occur if not immediately treated.
As if these weren’t unpleasant enough, the list below are some of the most frequently reported complications of LASIK:
- Overcorrection or undercorrection
- Vitamin D deficiency from Sun sensitivity
- Visual acuity fluctuation
- Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
- Light sensitivity
- Ghost images or double vision
- Wrinkles in flap (striae)
- Decentered ablation
- Debris or growth under flap
- Thin or buttonhole flap
- Induced astigmatism
- Corneal Ectasia
- Floaters
- Epithelium erosion
- Posterior vitreous detachment
- Macular hole
Now I’m not trying to scare you away from LASIK or say that it doesn’t work. I just want you to be aware there are risks you should be aware of from the surgery. In the The FDA website on LASIK sums it up nicely: “Before undergoing a refractive procedure, you should carefully weigh the risks and benefits based on your own personal value system, and try to avoid being influenced by friends that have had the procedure or doctors encouraging you to do so.”
Ask yourself “Wouldn’t it be nice if there was a more sensible, less invasive option, that didn’t carry any of the same risks of LASIK?” Well it turns out there is, but once again the big business of the medical industry has tried to cover up the benefits of a more natural approach.
My eye has some myopic vision problems (-2.5); willing to get treated by your natural way; but opted for LASIK; now, it’s o.k. but, again little blur on vision; can it be rectified by natural way!
Hi Remo,
We have had many customers use the Rebuild Your Vision program after lasik surgery when their vision starts to deteriorate after lasik. They use the Rebuild Your Vision Program located on our home page to maintain their perfect vision.
Hope this helps!
I find it difficult to understand how people are so prepared to risk their precious vision with a surgery that has, by statistics been shown to have so many after effects of a detrimental nature including vision deterioration. Many people even have to resort to further operations to repair problems caused by the initial surgery. Possibly the answer here lies in the knowledge and ability of the surgeon in question, but nevertheless the best recommendation is to check out in depth the previous performance of your Lasik surgeon, ask for testimonials from other patients. Don´t turn a blind eye to these details, you may end up that way!
The benefits are good but rather scared with the risks involved in this surgery. Thanks for providing this information.
In lasik surgery, the laser beam is applied in a II on the layer of cornea. I believe that in a 200-250 micron gape. There will be a chance of corneal abrasion. Another thing is that a tear field flows can be changed and it reflects a poor vision sometimes during surgery.
I am considering the PRK surgery. What do you think about it? I have -3.25 diopters on each eye.
Do you think I can reverse my myopia with your program? I am 37 years old.
Hi Miguel,
Lasik surgery helps to correct your vision by physically reshaping the cornea and adjusting the focal point of the light entering your eye. This has no bearing or effect on how our program works. The exercises and techniques are designed to strengthen and relax the muscles of your eye just as you would any other weak part of your body, improving your vision and helping you to see clearly — naturally.
The catch is dedicating 25 minutes a day to the exercises and techniques. The program is very easy-to-follow and is laid out in a step-by-step, minute-by-minute format. Once you receive the package you can begin the exercises within 10-15 minutes. Most people see a marked improvement within the first few weeks, with significant improvements in the following 2-3 months.
There’s a great testimonial from a woman with your same condition (prior Lasik) that I recently spoke with. Her name is “Pearl” and her story can be read at: http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/success_stories/
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi, i want to know if the program( exercise), is in spanish language????
Thnsks!!
Hi Alberto,
Unfortunately at this time we don’t offer the Rebuild Your Vision Program in Spanish. Currently it’s only produced in easy-to-read English.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi
I injured one of my eyes and found using
eye glasses was a poor cure for me as I
worked in the forest. It was actually hopeless
trying to work for a number of reasons.
The main one beaning distorted preception.
I was concerned about dry eyes, glair and
light sensitivity Lasik might create.
Well a few years on I can tell you I
have all those problems.
Lasik is not a cure.
hi, where can i buy the Rebuild Your Vision Program? iv’e been searching over this blog to find it but i don’t have any luck. can you give me a link to it or tell me where it is?
I had a lasik surgery only in my right eye and got many problems, is it possible treat my other eye with this program ? only one eye ?
that will cause any problems to the other ?
Fred Gehring
From Brazil
LASIK is useless because we have a chance of getting other eye disorders later on in life.
The doctor was recommending his patients to get LASIK and when they asked about side effects:
- He spoke about the immediate vision improvement aka magic pill
And there’s no guarantee from cataract.
Once I got that, I realized considering LASIK was useless. We are more likely to have cataract later on if we do Lasik.
I would not submit to LASIK surgery even if it were offered to me for free!
My UDVA is 20/100, but I have never worn glasses. I have managed without any visual correction for years, after rejecting the suggestion when I failed an eye test at school at the age of 12. (I am now 45.) Even at that young age, and with no alternative influence, I had the wisdom not to get hooked on glasses as I knew that my vision would only get worse. I had seen that happen to my elder brother. No-one’s vision has ever improved from wearing glasses. (Of course, the optical establishment/industry deny that wearing glasses exacerbates poor vision!)
Although I have known about natural vision therapy for years, my problem is that I have never managed to make the proper commitment necessary to rendering it a success. I do, however, maintain the right visual habits which have been instrumental in arresting further deterioration. So at least I’m floating even if I’m not swimming!
I wish everyone success in their endeavours to improve their vision NATURALLY.
Regards.
Hey Orlin.
I think your program is great. And Lasik has ruined a lot of lives. I wanted to share with you this petition. It is fro the FDA to stop Lasik eye surgery from being performed until all the risks are further understood. At the bottom you can read statements of people whose lives were ruined due to lasik and suffer dry eyes and partial blindness. I hope you read this and comsider signing the petition. It takes no longer than a minute and you will help a good cause. Thank you. Heres the link
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-petition-to-withdraw-lasik-approval/
My experience getting assessed for Lasik:
I went through a lot of very careful measurement tests and questionnaires. I am near-sighted and can read and see perfectly close-up. But I was told I would LOOSE that ability after surgery and would need glasses to read! (Now THAT’s something not advertised!)
Finally, after about 45 minutes of interviewing and measuring, I had to pass the Final test which is where they test you for TOUCH sensitivity. It turns out that NOTHING can get near my eyeballs without a strong involuntary (and Quick!) reaction to snap my eyelids shut – followed by involuntary tears!
So, based on that, I was immediately rejected. It turns out you need to be able to hold your eyes wide open for 8-10 minutes while they mess with your eyeballs. Now, most women it turns out have no problem because of years applying eye makeup. And I guess folks who already use contacts would also have no problem touching their eyeballs. I creeps me out and I get tears just thinking about poking my eyeballs.
You would think that the Lasik people would do the eyeball-touch test FIRST, or even asked WAY beforehand instead of wasting my time.
Or, am I a rare case?
-Just thought you all would like to know what to expect.
my number of both eyes are very large nearlly about -8.25 .. can i do laser operatoin of my eyes i’m am 18 years old……
or i should opt natural thearpyyyy
Has anyone ever heard of ORTHO-C? (not ortho-K).
Thanks Orlin,
I think your website is a ray of hope anyone who is suffering eye problem… definitely, its a procedure most safe if it works… I hope that opticians will accept the reality soon… as its not fair with people who wore glasses that they are not told any other solution….
I’m working on these, hope for good
Hi Justin,
To buy The Rebuild Your Vision Program visit our home page http://www.rebuildyourvision.com.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Fred,
You can use The Rebuild Your Vision Program to specifically focus on improving your vision in your other eye that wasn’t worked on. We provide an eye patch in the program to work on each eye individually.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Versha,
The exercises and techniques are designed to strengthen and relax your visual system just as you would any other weak part of your body, improving your vision and helping you to see clearly — naturally.
Higher degrees of correction can be helped with our program but it will likely take more time and dedication on your part. The exercises have been designed to be adjusted for all ranges of clarity.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Sir,my doctor said am having ambylopia or lazy eye and am 19years old.it is told that for the weaker eye to improve,it should be detected between the age of 7-12.so Sir,do you reckon the rebuild your vision program can give me significant improvement ?(using my weak eye,i cant read small letters even with glasses)……
thanx
Hi Orlin,
Can children do the exercises in the Rebuild your vision program or they are only for adults? My child is ten years old and has some myopic vision problems.
Is it appropriate for her to do the exercises
Thank you
thanxx for ur advise orlin .I will definitely do ur exercise will my full dedication..
Hi Mohammed,
Unfortunately the Rebuild Your Vision Program will not help medical conditions like a lazy eye. It was designed for normal refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, aging vision/presbyopia, astigmatism, and computer vision syndrome..
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Ross,
We recommend that your child be old enough to understand the basic ideas and principles of the Rebuild Your Vision Program. This usually occurs in children around the age of 10 to 12.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Orlin
have you taken some info from the Bates method ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bates_method
kind regards
hi orlin, ,i am very keen to improve my vision and found ur program as a ray of hope. i hv some queries as my case is a little diffrent, i had undergone lasik surgery 4 years ago.i was suffering from myopia -2 in left eye and -4 for right, but even after lasik now i again hv to wear glasses with -2 for left eye and +1 for right .is it myopia in one eye and hypermetropia in other.can your programme help me to restore my vision.
Hi Priyanka,
We have a ton of success stories of people who have used “The Rebuild Your Vision Program” after Lasik Surgery to restore their vision back to 20/20.
Checkout the personal stories of Pearl Tantivongsathaporn and Lisa Lisa Jameson on the following page.
http://rebuildyourvision.com/success_stories/
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Iacopo,
Although Dr. Bates is credited for pioneering the subject of natural vision improvement and paving the way for its progression, it has been nearly 80 years since his work.
The subject has been greatly refined and advanced. We have extensively researched and compiled those technological advances into the Rebuild Your Vision program.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
hi,sir.I’m 17 yrs.old and have -5 in left n -4 in right one.Can I hope to ever be able to bring it to 0 in both eyes….I’ve astigmatism as well.-1.75 in left and -1.5 in right eye…please respond soon.
Hi Orlin,
Thanks for this website.
I have undergone the laser surgery way back in 2005 and have had good vision for about 6 years or so however recently i have developed regression but i do not wish to go for lasik once more though i feel it would not be that much of a harm.
I would like to tell one thing is that people have to have patience if they do not wish to go for lasik, and those who believe lasik is harmful should research first thoroughly before going thru the same.
hi orlin, i have lots of queries , iam having myopia -6 in rt eye, -6.25 in lt eye and some times i feel dry in my eyes and i went yearly check up to eye doctor and he told me that i have glaucoma, i feel so depressed,as i am 31 and in my family no body having glaucoma but i didn’t find any symptoms especially in my rt eye if i keenly notice a very tiny round one moving according to my eye ball movement, but i feel so wexed, soo plz can u tell me any solution..
Hi Gaurav,
The exercises and techniques of the Rebuild Your Vision Program are designed to strengthen and relax your visual system just as you would any other weak part of your body, improving your vision and helping you to see clearly — naturally.
The catch is dedicating 25 minutes a day to the exercises and techniques. The program is very easy-to-follow and is laid out in a step-by-step, minute-by-minute format. Once you receive the package you can begin the exercises within 10-15 minutes. Most people see a marked improvement within the first few weeks, with significant improvements in the following 2-3 months.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Sai,
To learn more about Glaucoma and how it can be prevented, please read the following post:
http://www.rebuildyourvision.com/blog/vision-conditions/glaucoma/can-glaucoma-be-prevented/
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Thanks Orlin for sending me mails on the topic “Rebuild your vision”. Thanks a lot…
Regards,
Divas Ghanaksh
I became myopic during childhood, and over the decades my vision got worse. When it got to the point that no one made contact lenses the strength I required, and my special glass lenses had to be so precise that they were made in Germany by a telescope company, I considered LASIK. What a godsend. My eyes could not be completely perfect, but one eye 20/20 and the other 20/60. It has been four years, and I am still quite happy with my vision. I am, however, now doing the Rebuild Your Vision” exercises and nutrition in order to maintain the fabulous gift of good vision!
Orlin,
Had a few questions regarding the Rebuild Your Vision program –
I’ve had detached retina surgery on my left eye followed by cataract surgery…currently I have a corrective lens implant on my left eye so I cant really do exercises for it but would I still be able to do the Rebuild Your Vision for just the right eye? If I did the ones that require both eyes would it affect anything that one of my eyes sees clearly(w/ the implant) while the other doesnt?(the one Im trying to exercise).
Also my vision is about -9.5 to -10, is it still possible that eye exercies could help?
Hi Martin,
You will need both eyes to preform the eye exercises in the Rebuild Your Vision Program.
Unfortunately the Rebuild Your Vision Program will not help medical conditions. It was designed for normal refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, aging vision/presbyopia, astigmatism, and computer vision syndrome.
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Hi Orlin, I had LASIK and have every side effect you can imagine. Can your course help me?
Regards
Jay
Hi Bessie,
We have a ton of success stories of people who have used “The Rebuild Your Vision Program” after Lasik Surgery to restore their vision back to 20/20.
Checkout the personal stories of Pearl Tantivongsathaporn and Lisa Lisa Jameson on the following page.
http://rebuildyourvision.com/success_stories/
To your vision — for life,
Orlin
Sir, I am a 15 year old boy and suffering from the problem of myopia.I wear glasses(4.0 d) and it really hurts me.Can you let me know whether i will be able to see without glasses or not after using your program???.If yes then how can i order your program??Plz sir plz help me