t ; J Sight Know Pro’s And Con’s Of LASIK Before Deciding by Howard B. Purcell (NAPSA)—Many people, it seems, are eyeing a surgical process for correcting refractive errors. The process is called LASIK, which stands for LaserAssisted in Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK is the most widely promoted eye surgery ' ~~ today. So far, this ; still relatively new pes procedure has been Dr. Howard Purcell Quite successful in correcting vision problemsin mostpatients. Consumers are advised, how- ever, to proceed carefully if they are considering LASIK. Do not make your decision based on price. Choose your surgeon wisely based on his or her experience. While LASIK does bring clearer vision to many patients, long- term results are not known and your early results may not be lasting. In addition, the procedure has caused long-term problems for some patients. Some LASIK patients report seeing haloes and glare from lights following the procedure. As a result, they have increased difficulty driving their cars at night. Others have found their vision to be worse after the surgery than it was before. For more information about these potential problems and other detailed information about LASIK, check out the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Web site www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik. Experts strongly urge that you do your homework before determining if LASIK is right for you. Knowing your risks as well as rewards can be an eye-opening experience. Any kind ofelective surgery is a major decision, particularly when it comes to something as precious as yourvision. Make sure you haveall the facts before you, and then consult with at least two Eye Care Professionals before making up your mind. Howard B. Purcell, O.D., FA.A.O., is Director, Professional Affairs, for Vistakon, Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Ine. ween eee e eeeOUe---- eee ee ee Note to Editors: This is the 12thina series of 12.
