Research
Assessment #2
Subject: LASIK eye surgery
Source: BoxerA, Brian S. "A Complete Guide
to the LASIK Procedure." The LASIK Procedure: A Complete Guide. All
About Vision, n.d. Web. 21 Sept. 2014.
<http://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/lasik.htm>.
Assessment:
As I prepare to
conduct research interviews in the near future, I want to learn as much as I
can about the surgeries that eye doctors perform. One of the surgeries I am
most interested in is the LASIK eye surgery as I plan on having one done on me
in the future. Based off my research, in a LASIK eye surgery a small flap on
the surface of the eye is cut, and then a laser is shined into the eye, reshaping
the cornea and correcting the patient’s vision. The whole operation is painless
and can be complete within 15 minutes.
What
surprised me most about LASIK eye surgery is the fact that the patient is awake
the entire operation. Only a few eye drops are used to numb the patient before a
surgeon uses a small blade to cut a flap in the patient’s eye. One thing I am
still confused about is how the surgeon can get the patient to stay still
enough for him or her to cut out the flap. Any small movement the patient makes
could be catastrophic and could cause the surgeon to damage the patient’s eye. This
made me realize that even though technology has advanced rapidly, manual
dexterity is still required from eye doctors. Many parts of the LASIK eye
surgery are still physically done by the eye doctor, and even the most advanced
technology can’t make up for a lack of manual dexterity.
One thing I found
slightly discouraging about LASIK eye surgery is its cost. On average, LASIK
eye surgery costs $2000 per eye while the entire operation only lasts for 15
minutes. I personally think this may discourage some people from undergoing a
LASIK surgery as they will opt for cheaper solutions such as glasses or
contacts. However, in the future as technology improves, the price of such a
surgery will go down, and more people will enjoy the benefits of undergoing a
LASIK.
My
research on LASIK eye surgery has also enlightened me about how optometrists
and ophthalmologists work together. Patients typically see their local
optometrists when they have problems with their vision and are often informed by
their optometrist about potential treatments such as LASIK. However,
optometrists themselves do not carry out such operations, but rather refer
their patients to ophthalmologists who specialize in eye surgery. This is
relevant to my field of study as I need to know what duties each eye doctor is
responsible for and how different eye doctors work together in the grand scheme
of things.
After reading the website and learning more about
Lasik eye surgery, I feel I have a much better idea of what is required of eye
doctors. In addition to being knowledgeable about the eye, eye doctors must
have a lot of manual dexterity as any mistake they make could cause permanent
eye damage to their patients. As well, even though optometrists and
ophthalmologists have different duties, they must work closely with one and
another if they are to give their patients the best experience. Lastly, I feel
I will be able to use the information I learned about LASIK eye surgery to
conduct deeper and more thoughtful research interviews.
