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Wednesday

The Rise Of Lasik Eye Surgery

The days in which eyeglasses and contact lenses were the only option to those with impaired vision came to an end in 1991 when Lasik eye surgery was first performed in the United States. Today, with more than a million patients having undergone the procedure, Lasik has become commonplace among eye patients who wish to minimize the long term expense and inconvenience associated with eye care. Lasik is something of a miracle for those who have struggled with compromised vision. And while it may be something that is relatively new to us, it utilizes technology that has actually existed for quite some time.

Lasik eye surgery focuses on the reshaping of the eye’s cornea – the transparent tissue that covers the iris (the colored segment of the eye) and the lens (the part that rests behind the iris). The lens is the part of the eye that bends or refracts light to the retina – cells that exist in the lining of the back of the eye. The retina’s job is to then take that light and convert it to messages that can be received by the optic nerve in the brain.

When the eye experiences refractive difficulties – such as what is experienced in nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and a host of other issues – the light that our eye receives is not refracted properly and the message that our brain receives is that of a blurry image. Traditionally, eyeglasses and contact lenses have been utilized to correct how light is refracted by our eye. But modern times have seen the rise in popularity of Lasik eye surgery – that makes such corrections with the aid of a laser.

Experimentation with surgically correcting the cornea first began in the late 1940s when a Columbian ophthalmologist was able to successfully treat patients by removing over half of their cornea, freezing it, resurfacing it once it was frozen, and then replacing it in the patient’s eye. In the 1960s, an ophthalmologist in Russia was able to elevate the technology by making adjustments to the cornea while it remained in the patient’s eye; such adjustments were made using a scalpel.

In 1990, Lucio Buratto and Ioannis Pallikaris developed Lasik eye surgery; the first of which was performed in the United States in 1991. Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis and makes correction to the cornea to improve light refraction. During Lasik eye surgery, the patient is first given numbing drops to anesthetize the eye. The patient lies down and the eye is held open with a speculum and immobilized with a cornea suction ring. The surgeon then cuts a thin flap into the top layer of the cornea. The flap is folded back to reveal the underlayer of the cornea – the stroma. Using low-powered laser technology, the surgeon then resurfaces the stroma to improve light refraction. When the procedure is completed – normally in less than 10 minutes – the flap is replaced over the cornea and allowed to heal naturally.

Most patients report virtually no pain during Lasik eye surgery and only mild and infrequent discomfort. Recovery time is short; patients can generally resume normal activities – with a few safety guidelines – the day following the procedure.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik eye surgery

LASIK Questions You Need To Ask Your Doctor

Before deciding whether or not to undergo LASIK eye surgery there are a few questions you should probably ask any doctor you are considering performing your vision correction surgery. After all, your eyes are important and if you’re going to have someone operating on them in order to improve your eye sight you should make sure you have the right LASIK specialist doing the job. Even though LASIK is a simple procedure that is generally quick (as fast as 2 minutes) and painless it still requires a special skill that only a specialized doctor can possess. The good news is that the number of people seeking laser eye surgery is growing on a daily basis and the new techniques have many people noticing a huge improvement in their vision within 24 hours after having LASIK surgery.

Choosing your LASIK doctor can be the biggest decision you will ever have to make. You must make sure to educate yourself prior to undergoing laser eye surgery. Your doctor will appreciate this since a knowledgeable patient who is well informed and knows what to expect following vision correction surgery generally makes a better patient. Even though LASIK is becoming a more common surgery there are still some risks associated with the surgery. Most patients experience a positive benefit associated with their surgery but there are a few that do suffer from minor eye infections and a reduced day and night vision capability following the eye correction surgery.

This brings us to some questions you should be prepared to ask your LASIK surgeon or doctor. The answers to these questions certainly aren’t required for successful LASIK surgery but they do allow you to become a more informed patient and ultimately can lead to a more positive experience with your eye surgery.

The first question that needs to be asked involves whether or not you’re a viable candidate for LASIK surgery. Make sure your doctor performs a thorough analysis and diagnosis of your eyes prior to performing any portion of the laser vision correction surgery. If you are classified as a poor candidate then you may want to reconsider whether or not to have the surgery performed. It has been proven that folks with vision problems that are not right for LASIK surgery usually suffer from complications afterwards.

As quick as the LASIK procedure is there is still an amount of recovery time that is involved for everyone undergoing the surgery. That time factor for recovery is dependant on several factors so it would be wise to discuss this important issue with your doctor prior to having LASIK performed.

Let’s be honest as easy as LASIK sounds and as good as the results are there is one drawback and it’s the cost for having vision correction surgery performed. Even though prices have fallen they still can be in the range of several thousand dollars. With that said it’s important that you find out exactly how much LASIK will cost and what is actually included for the price (don’t let a hidden cost prevent you from having the surgery). As a precaution you should probably estimate on spending upwards of $4000 - $5000 for surgery on both eyes and perhaps $2000 for vision correction in one eye. With prices in that range you may want to inquiry about any type of payment plans that may be offered by the doctor performing the surgery.

As LASIK as grown more popular the treatments and procedures used have also become more evolved. Not all doctors perform the same techniques when they perform laser eye surgery. Your doctor may specialize in one technique or favor a certain type of procedure over others. Find out what procedure your doctor is skilled in and what they will do when performing your LASIK surgery. Additional questions may revolve around what will take place during the actual operating procedure. With the advent of eye numbing drops most surgeries are performed while the patient is awake.

Finally you should discuss what will happen after your LASIK surgery, any post operative instructions your doctor may have and most importantly the risks and complications that are associated with LASIK. The answers to these and the other questions presented in this short article will allow you to have a more positive experience as you undergo laser eye surgery in order to improve your vision.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more LASIK advice, information and LASIK questions you need to ask your doctor that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

What Are The Eye Conditions That Lasik Helps To Correct?

There are four general eye conditions that are treatable with the Lasik procedure. Some people mistakenly believe that Lasik can be used to treat all forms of vision problems and all degrees of short sightedness or far sightedness and this is not true. Even the conditions which are treatable with Lasik must fall within a certain range to qualify for the laser treatment.

Lasik was primarily designed to help those patients with mild to moderate vision problems. Patients with severe vision problems may be helped with Lasix but their eyesight may still remain poor enough to require glasses. Although most patients who undergo Lasik never need to wear glasses or contacts again, this isn’t the case for everyone.

Lasik is mainly used to treat the eye conditions of myopia which is also known as nearsightedness, hyperopia which is also known as farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia if you choose to use the monovision method of correction.

Myopia

Myopia is also called nearsightedness, and is a condition where you can see objects close up much clearer than objects at a distance. This is generally caused by a eye that is longer than normal and the light rays therefore focus in front of the retina rather than on it.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia is called farsightedness and is the opposite of myopia. Objects that are at a distance are clearer than objects that are up close and this is because light rays focus behind the retina instead of on it.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common condition which results in blurry vision which results from an unusual shaped eyeball. Instead of being round, the eye is more of an oval shape and this causes the light rays to focus on two points instead of one. In addition, those with the condition of astigmatism often have myopia or hyperopia as well. When Lasik is used in a case like this, both conditions can be treated at once.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common eye condition that normally occurs with aging and strikes people in between the age of forty to fifty. It is the result of the eye lens losing its elasticity. This causes objects to become blurry the closer they become. This condition is usually corrected with reading glasses. Lasik cannot correct presbyopia in itself but Lasik can compensate for the condition through a procedure know as monovision. One eye is corrected to see far away and the other is corrected to see up close so the brain is tricked into seeing clearly.

Lasik has helped many people with the above conditions to be able to give up wearing glasses and contact lenses and restore clear vision. Only your eye doctor will be able to determine if Lasik is appropriate for your situation.

About The Author

Peter Rankin is a staff writer at http://www.visiondigest.com and is an occasional contributor to several other websites, including http://www.fitness-digest.com.

Why Eye Lasik Is Necessary For Athletes

Most people would have the misconception that eye lasik is a cure to short-sighted or long-sighted problems. The fact is eye lasik surgery is designed to improve the vision of the person under-going the surgery. It is not intended to give you super sharp vision or extreme clear focus. The expectation need to be correct. Many athletes with minor short-sighted eye problem would opt for eye lasik surgery. Now you might ask, why do they do so?

The number one reason is improve on their current performance with the sport they are in. Take for example Tiger Woods, the professional golfer, with severe shor-sightedness and need to wear contacts lens for each of his game. He is always concern about the weather condition like windy or rainy day which can affects his judgement.After his lasik eye surgery, he claim to experience an improvement in viewing the holes on the green. And until now he is still happy with his vision. Many golfers would agree to opt for this eye cosmetic treatment which ultimately can potentially helps in their overall scoring.

Another great benefit to the sportsman is that they not longer need to wear their contact lenses or vision aid device during their training. This would mean one less worry for them. Especially for swimmers, they no longer need to wear degree fitted googel,specticle or sunglasses. The cost in saving can be alot over a period of a few years.

An interesting finding shows that footballers, golfers, basketball players and hockey players are among the top group of people who opt to have an eye lasik surgery. This is followed by divers and swimmers.

With the in-born talent and training, athletes should be able to excel in the sports that they love. Althletes should not be put down by the problem of poor eye sight which hinder the growth of their career as a sportsman. Perhaps the biggest obsticle to the althlete is the risk involved. However, with the advancement of technology in eye lasik surgery operation, the risk factors would no longer be of concern.

About The Author

Adwin Ang is a freelance publisher based in Singapore. He publishes articles in various ezines and free downloadable eye lasik related reports and provides information on Lasik eye surgery at http://www.AboutEyeLasik.com.

Tuesday

Complications with LASIK

LASIK, surgery to reduce or eliminate the need for eye glasses, has become very popular over the past 5-10 years. While most cases proceed quite well, the potential for complications does exist, and is often not discussed prior to surgery. It should be noted that all but one of the complications is NOT due to surgeon error. Most potential problems are simply physiological, and have nothing to do with how well the surgeon performed the procedure.

The first is infection. While topical antibiotics are employed prior to, and after the surgery, there is always the possibility of infection if the individual is exposed to an infectious agent. The cure is simple; proper follow up and more antibiotics. There is minimal risk of further issues.

The second, is movement of the flap. This will occur if the individual rubs his/her eye before the flap has had proper time to reattach itself to the underlying tissue. The patient will experience pain, blurry vision and redness if this occurs. It is an emergency, and does require being brought back into surgery to move the flap back into position. Once this is done, the individual should heal normally without further complications. This flap movement tends to occur more frequently when Intralase (laser is used to lift the flap) is performed. While the incision is more precise, it results in a very thin flap which tends to move easier post surgically. Once the flap heals though, the incision area is barely noticeable.

The third complication is epithelial (outside) cell growth under the flap. This may occur days to months after surgery. These cells grow around the edge of the flap, and move inward causing haziness under the flap. When this occurs, the flap must me lifted up and these epithelial cells washed away. No further problems will occur after this procedure is done.

The fourth issue is striae, or wrinkles in or under the flap. This is corrected by lifting the flap and flattening it out. No long term issues after this point.

Issue five is extreme swelling often called ” Sands of the Sahara”, because it looks like a sand dune to the examining eye doctor. This may occur more frequently, but is dealt with higher doses of steroid eye drops to reduce the inflammation. As with the other complications, the results are most often successful.

The final and most serious of the potential complication is ectasia. This occurs when the inner most layer of the cornea, the endothelium, has irregularities in it. If this issue is not detected prior to surgery the final results after LASIK may be terrible. The patient may have poor, distorted and irregular vision that is NOT surgically correctable, nor corrected with glasses. Most often the individual will either have to wear hard contact lenses, and may even require a cornea transplant to improve his/her vision. This complication is the only one that could be surgeon related. A test called the Orbscan MUST be performed prior to surgery, and the potential for ectasia can be easily detected. NO INDIVIDUAL SHOULD EVER consider LASIK with out having an Orbscan done. Any office that does not have an Orbscan should not perform LASIK.

As with all surgical procedures, patients must be comfortable with the surgeon and the office they choose, and understand all the potential complications prior to surgery.

Dr. Jay B Stockman is an individual contributor to New York Vision Associates

Dr. Jay B Stockman

LasikPlus Offers Superior Patient Care And Optimum Results

Lasik surgery has become one of the most popular elective surgeries in the United States. With more than a million procedures performed in the United States alone, Lasik has grown in popularity as technology has become more streamlined and the procedure has been perfected by skilled surgeons who perform it on a daily basis.

As the demand for Lasik grows, more and more centers devoted to Lasik open throughout the country. LasikPlus – one of the leaders in Lasik technology – has reputable centers that are located throughout the country and are committed to providing their patients with a superior level of care regardless of the center that they visit.

LasikPlus has been able to provide patients with such superior care and affordable prices because of the manner in which they conduct their business. A LasikPlus Vision Center –regardless of where it is located – performs a similar level of care. Each center is a template of the LasikPlus philosophy.

Currently, there are fifty centers throughout the country each dedicated to providing a standard of care that includes skilled and experienced surgeons who are top in the field, comprehensive patient care that extends to pre-operative visits and complete aftercare, advanced technology that represents the most state-of-the-art equipment on the market today, professional and respectful office and medical support staff that work together to ensure a positive experience for the patient, and affordable treatment through a variety of financing options.

Lasik surgery works to correct refractive difficulties experienced by patients and that is manifested in nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Such refractive disorders change the way that light is refracted through the lens to the retina. When the retina receives refracted light it then converts the signal it receives to a message that can be assimilated by the optic nerve in the brain; the optic nerve translates the message that it receives into a visual image. When light is not refracted properly, ultimately the message that is received by the retina is one of a blurry image.

Through the Lasik procedure, a thin incision is created in the top layer of the cornea in order to create a flap. When the flap is folded back, the surgeon is able to access the underlayer of the cornea, known as the stroma. Once the stroma is revealed the surgeon is able to resurface the area with the use of a laser; after which the flap is replaced on the eye and natural healing is allowed to begin.

While this may be a quick procedure it is still a surgical procedure that must be completed with enormous skill and precision. The surgeons of LasikPlus are committed to offering their patients the benefits of their ongoing training. Each procedure is approached independently and begins with a thorough pre-examination to determine the candidacy of the patient and the manner of procedure that will achieve the greatest success.

LasikPlus prides itself on treating its patients with the utmost respect; each patient is given personal service and the opportunity to ask questions of their surgeon prior to the procedure. In addition, the aftercare provided by the center is well-known in the industry and focuses on comprehensive follow-up and ultimate success.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik plus.

Saturday

Finding A Lasik Center That Works For Your Needs

Lasik is a procedure performed thousands of times a day all over the world. Just as contact lenses slowly replaced eyeglasses as the vision correction of choice, Lasik has become the new way in which to correct vision and avoid the cost and inconvenience associated with glasses and contacts.

Of course, deciding on Lasik means weighing the advantages and disadvantages, as well as consulting with your physician and eye doctor to ensure that you are both an appropriate candidate for Lasik and in good enough health to undergo a procedure of this kind. And, finally, you must choose the Lasik center that will meet your needs effectively and affordably.

As with any sort of surgical procedure there is much to consider before embarking on the journey. Not only do you want to consider those centers that are close to home and logistically convenient, but you want to find a Lasik center that has a vast amount of experience under its belt when it comes to performing Lasik and can answer your questions and concerns in an informative, respectful, and professional manner.

First and foremost, think of the pre-procedure process as an interview of sorts. Visit the Lasik center in which you are interested and get a feel for its policies and procedures. It is important to ensure that you are dealing with a center that is committed to patient care, as well as being clean, organized, secure, and professionally staffed.

Speaking of staff – it is important to get to know the people with whom you will be working through this process. Thoroughly research the surgeons who will be performing the procedure; find out where they were educated, how much experience they have, and their reputation in the industry. But don’t stop there when it comes to getting to know the staff; the front office staff and medical support staff are just as important as you will be dealing with them for billing and follow-up. You are looking for organization, helpfulness, and professionalism.

The next best resource for research purposes is the Internet - allowing you to quickly and easily find exactly what you are looking for, thus narrowing and speeding your search significantly. Conduct a specific search for a Lasik center nearest your home and began your research from there.

Finally, ask for references. A Lasik center should have a comprehensive list at their disposal of patients who are willing to speak on their behalf. Or ask around to family and friends; no one is in a better position to tell you about the experience of Lasik – and a particular Lasik center – than someone who has recently had the procedure performed.

This process may seem long and a bit frustrating, but remember that the effort is well worth it. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that you are in the best hands possible and that your comfort and results are paramount. In this way, you can ensure that your procedure is successful – not just for now but for a lifetime.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik plus.

Lasik Surgery Does Not Guarantee Freedom From Glasses

Is LASIK right for you?

With all the advertisements that suggest that LASIK eye surgery allows you to throw your glasses away, it is easy to think that once you have the procedure done, your eyes will be perfect forever. But this is not the case. There is more to it than meets the eye.

It is true that LASIK has allowed many people to see clearly without glasses, but it is also true that not everyone should have this surgery. Conditions such as thin corneas, dry eyes or astigmatism could exclude you from being a perfect candidate for the operation. Also, someone with a disease that hinders the healing process, such as diabetes, may be cause for elimination from consideration.

Even if a person is deemed a viable candidate, issues may still arise. Although less than 1% of patients experience severe vision problems, patients can experience other less critical concerns, such as halos or glare around lights. Most problems are resolved in the months after the surgery, but it is still important to be aware of the risks before undergoing the procedure.

Also, LASIK does not protect against age-related issues such as presbyopia. After the age of 40, the eye's lens loses flexibility, making it harder to focus on near images. Even if a person's sight is corrected to 20/20, chances are, he or she will still need reading glasses at some point. Newer surgical procedures have been introduced to treat this condition, but in general, most people can look forward to reading glasses even after they have laser eye surgery.

Vision correction has come a long way since the days that surgeons made spoke-like incisions, known as RK, in the eye to alter the shape of the cornea and thus, improve sight. Today, there are many different procedures being performed to help people see better. With all the choices available, it makes sense to consult with an experienced professional and learn about all of your options. Your eyesight is precious. Trust it to someone who will treat it as such.

Suzanne Hughes is a frame consultant for the online reading glasses boutique at http://www.readinstyle.com. Given the nature of refractive surgery, Suzanne is pleased to explain why even after LASIK, reading glasses are usually still a necessity of life for all of us age 40 or better.

Friday

Lasik Laser Eye Surgery Demystified!

Over the last number of years the world has witnessed amazing advances in the field of medicine, especially with the advent of LASIK laser eye surgery. This revolutionary procedure has both given hope and excited those who experience problems with their eyesight.

But what exactly is LASIK eye surgery?

What happens during LASIK laser surgery is that the lasers correct refractive errors in the cornea. The laser perfectly controls the tearing of the corneal tissue, thereby reshaping the cornea and changing its focus. LASIK surgery follows a simple two step process:

1. A slight, thin flap of tissue is created on the outside layer of the eye or cornea. This flap encourages healing and provides comfort on the way to better vision.

2. The surgeon folds open the flap on the inner cornea to correct the eyesight. Once this is done, the flap is closed to its original position and sealed with stitches.

The word LASIK refers to Laser-Assisted In Sutu Keratomieusis, a process which is characterized by the reshaping of the cornea to refract light in the lens. While LASIK eye surgery is by no means perfect, it is a very viable and increasingly safe surgery.

Government regulations have led to improvements regarding the types of lasers to be used for LASIK laser surgery. If you or anyone you know are considering LASIK laser surgery I would advise you to carefully research the types of lasers used by your local doctors when performing LASIK.

New improvements coupled with the regulated costs of doctors mean that LASIK surgery has become more affordable, making it a possibility for some who could only dream of such improvement a few years back. Some surgeries are referred to as “bladeless” or “custom” LASIK, meaning they are more tailored towards the individual and are therefore more effective

Finally LASIK surgery is an exciting prospect to anyone who has suffered from vision problems in the past. However, just as when buying a car or house, you need to carefully consider all your options before embarking on LASIK.

About The Author

The author L Jimmy Roos writes widely, offering solutions on various topics that affect the human condition. For more information on Lasik laser eye surgery and how it can help you, please visit now http://www.lasikeyeadvice.com

Lasik - The Right Procedure For Your Eyes

When it comes to eye impairments, there are many concerns. The eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of the body, which means that even a little, tiny mistake may put total vision at risk . With so many doubts, worries and frustration, Lasik vision correction surgery appears to be the number one choice of thousands of people who have any sort of vision impairment. This is because of the safety involved in the procedure plus the benefits. What could please people more than combining safety with benefits?

This surgery is safe due to the unique type of laser used: the excimer. This special light was designed exclusively to be used in Lasik surgery, offering no risk to people who undergo the procedure.

Lasik surgery is declared to be the best and the highest technology procedure to correct vision impairments.

Lasik Procedure

The Lasik procedure is really simple. It's so simple that people who undergo this surgery are able to get back to work the next day. There is no need to stay at home and spend those boring days - as doctors like to say - recovering. The idea lies in the fact that all vision impairment has to do with irregularity around the cornea. Due to this, the procedure consists of cutting away the bad tissue surrounding the cornea and reshaping the cornea, which corrects your vision. The surgery is performed with the patient awake. However, the patient will be given some mild sedative in order to keep the body relaxed and anesthetic eye drops. The surgeon operates the laser and a computer system tracks 4000 times per second the patient's eye position and simply redirects the laser pulses for precise placement.

One day after undergoing the procedure, the person feels a significant improvement in the vision.

Lasik Complications

It's not common, but Lasik surgery can have some complications. Although it is the safest and most technological method to correct vision impairments, some complications are not overruled.

The most common situations are:

- dry eyes
- over/undercorrection
- visual acuity fluctuation
- light sensitivity
- double vision
- decentered ablation

There are some others, but when complications happen, these are the most frequent.

Lasik Benefits

People sometimes are afraid to undergo Lasik surgery in order to correct their vision because, most of the time, they are not aware of what exactly the benefits are. Here, it's important to make clear that although complications may occur, they are rare and the benefits are worth taking the risk. Besides, studies show that less than 5% of people who undergo this procedure experience complications.

The most interesting benefits are:

- elimination of the need for glasses
- the discomfort felt with the use of lenses will be gone
- the quality of vision will be increased
- people will be able to pass a driver's test without glasses.


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Michael Russell
Your Independent guide to Lasik
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Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

Saturday

Do You Need Contact Lenses

Are you about to venture into the world of wearing contacts? Many people in need of corrective lenses choose to wear contact lenses because of the comfort and an aversion to looking awful with glasses. Glasses slip down your nose, weight on your ears and nose, and have glare problems with light. You also have to have special lenses or an extra pair to keep the sun from blinding you when wearing glasses. A contact lens allows you to get rid of this paraphernalia and simply have corrected vision. Most individuals won’t even realize you are wearing a contact lens because they are virtually impossible to see in your eye.

Contact lenses have changed since the 50’s. A hard contact lens was the first lens to be made. This type of contact lens was made of a glass material making it very rigid and very uncomfortable for your eye. Most individuals felt glasses were the only way to go because of the uncomfortable material and expense. After all it was very easy to scratch your eye with a hard contact lens when trying to get it out because of the rigidity of the material. Soon glass material was replaced with a polymer based product making contact lenses a little more comfortable; however the restricted oxygen flow to the cornea was causing eye sight problems like blindness in individuals who wore contacts for several years.

We now have a silicon hydrogel contact. This is known as a soft contact lens. The material is like plastic and conforms to the eye easier than their counterparts. It is also thinner. This thinner material tends to tear easily, but gives more comfort to your eye. It is an almost weightless material so your eye will barely feel its presence.

With the introduction of the silicon hydrogel contact lens we also have the introduction of more color contact lenses available. You may have seen some one with violet, jade, yellow or red eyes. The color contact lenses are available to create whatever effect you wish to, however there are downsides. The color contact lens tends to restrict oxygen flow when you have these type of opaque lenses because the material is a little heavier to create the affect.

Your contact lens is created to fit your eye. An eye care specialist will measure your eye to get the correct lens ordered to fit your eye. This is why most individuals with higher prescriptions tend to wait a week or more for their contact lenses to arrive. You can also have corrective lenses for astigmatisms or bifocal contact lenses. The Toric lenses are weighted at the bottom to keep the contact on your eye and eliminate the blurriness created by the astigmatism. The bifocal contact lens is available for those who need an adjustment for near and farsightedness and don’t want glasses. Your eye care professional will make sure you have the right prescription for your contact lens.

You can also find more info on Bifocal Soft Contact Lens and Buy Contact Lenses Online.Onlinecontactlenseshelp.com is a comprehensive resource to know more about online contact lenses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Faulkner

LasikPlus Offers Superior Patient Care And Optimum Results

Lasik surgery has become one of the most popular elective surgeries in the United States. With more than a million procedures performed in the United States alone, Lasik has grown in popularity as technology has become more streamlined and the procedure has been perfected by skilled surgeons who perform it on a daily basis.

As the demand for Lasik grows, more and more centers devoted to Lasik open throughout the country. LasikPlus – one of the leaders in Lasik technology – has reputable centers that are located throughout the country and are committed to providing their patients with a superior level of care regardless of the center that they visit.

LasikPlus has been able to provide patients with such superior care and affordable prices because of the manner in which they conduct their business. A LasikPlus Vision Center –regardless of where it is located – performs a similar level of care. Each center is a template of the LasikPlus philosophy.

Currently, there are fifty centers throughout the country each dedicated to providing a standard of care that includes skilled and experienced surgeons who are top in the field, comprehensive patient care that extends to pre-operative visits and complete aftercare, advanced technology that represents the most state-of-the-art equipment on the market today, professional and respectful office and medical support staff that work together to ensure a positive experience for the patient, and affordable treatment through a variety of financing options.

Lasik surgery works to correct refractive difficulties experienced by patients and that is manifested in nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Such refractive disorders change the way that light is refracted through the lens to the retina. When the retina receives refracted light it then converts the signal it receives to a message that can be assimilated by the optic nerve in the brain; the optic nerve translates the message that it receives into a visual image. When light is not refracted properly, ultimately the message that is received by the retina is one of a blurry image.

Through the Lasik procedure, a thin incision is created in the top layer of the cornea in order to create a flap. When the flap is folded back, the surgeon is able to access the underlayer of the cornea, known as the stroma. Once the stroma is revealed the surgeon is able to resurface the area with the use of a laser; after which the flap is replaced on the eye and natural healing is allowed to begin.

While this may be a quick procedure it is still a surgical procedure that must be completed with enormous skill and precision. The surgeons of LasikPlus are committed to offering their patients the benefits of their ongoing training. Each procedure is approached independently and begins with a thorough pre-examination to determine the candidacy of the patient and the manner of procedure that will achieve the greatest success.

LasikPlus prides itself on treating its patients with the utmost respect; each patient is given personal service and the opportunity to ask questions of their surgeon prior to the procedure. In addition, the aftercare provided by the center is well-known in the industry and focuses on comprehensive follow-up and ultimate success.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik plus.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Kay

Thinking About Lasik Eye Surgery?


If, like most of us, you wear glasses or contact lenses, the possibility of having good eyesight without them may seem remote. For years you have been stuck with only these two options—or a third, of not seeing very well.

Today, Lasik eye surgery is all you ever hear about and you probably know several people who have already been through the process. They just rave over how quick and easy the process was and that they do not have to be bothered wearing glasses or taking care of contact lenses. And, you are seriously considering doing the same thing. But, are you a good candidate for this surgery?

The best way to find out if you are a good candidate is to schedule an appointment with an eye surgeon and have an examination. There are certain standards that your eyes must meet in order to be considered for the surgery. They are:

* A correctly sized pupil,
* A cornea of the right thickness,
* A cornea that is structurally normal (not an unusual shape),
* Have a healthy pressure within the eye, and
* Have basically healthy eyes (with no diseases or injuries that might interfere with the surgery).

Okay, you are ready to go. You have received your eye examination and have been approved for the procedure by the eye surgeon. Now what? You schedule a date and show up at the appropriate time. You know that you will be awake for the procedure and everything has been carefully explained. Now, it is time to prep for the surgery.

You are finally in the laser suite where you will be positioned comfortable on your back under the excimer laser. Your surgeon will put anesthetic eye drops in your eyes to numb their surface. The eyelashes are taped out of the way and an eyelid speculum is placed between you eyelids to keep you from blinking.

Small reference marks are put on your cornea to serve as positional guides for replacing the corneal flap. A suction ring is placed on your eye to hold it is position and to maintain the pressure within. The corneal flap is now created and folded back. The next step is for the laser procedure to sculpture the cornea by vaporizing small amounts of tissue-this step can take anywhere from 20-90 seconds to complete. The eye is then flushed out to remove any debris and then the corneal flap is put back into its original position.

You will be asked to sit quietly with your eyes closed for about 30 minutes and then the eye surgeon will come back and check to make sure that everything is all right. You may have a sensation that there is something in your eye, but this will pass. When it is time to go home, you will be given antibiotic drops, anti-inflammatory drops, and lubricating eye drops along with a detailed set of instructions on what to do and when to do it. In addition, you will schedule several postoperative appointments to have your doctor check on your eyes.

Now, you know the basics. If you are considering lasik eye surgery, make sure that you do your research and find the best eye surgeon in the area. Once everything is completed, you will enjoy the freedom of not dealing with glasses and contact lenses.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik eye surgery.

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The Lasik Procedure


Lasik is basically a two-phase process. The first phase is the pre-operative phase, while the second phase is the procedure itself. The pre-operative phase of lasik varies for different patients. While some may be asked to stay without their contact lenses for a week, in some cases the timeline may extend to 10 days.

The pre-operative phase is vital to the success of the procedure in its entirety, as it helps the patient prepare for life without glasses or contact lenses, while enabling doctors to examine the shape of the patient’s cornea and determine the kinds of irregularities existing, if any. This helps the doctor know if the patient suffers from astigmatism, a distortion of the shape of the cornea that results in poor vision.

The examination of the cornea itself is a scientific process that involves using a scanner, controlled by a computer to create a map of the patient’s cornea by shooting low-power lasers at it. Once the corneal surface has been mapped, the surgeon works out the different parameters critical to the success of the surgery. These include the amount of tissue to be removed from the cornea, the location of the tissue, and other related parameters. During this phase, the doctor usually advises the patient to use a mild antibiotic. This step is taken to ensure that there are minimal chances of an infection after the actual procedure.

The operation itself is quite simple, and is performed using a local anesthetic. This is usually an eye drop, and the patient remains awake during the procedure. Depending on the requirements of the patient, and also his general physical condition, the surgeon may opt for general anesthesia. However, this is an exception, and is not done usually.

The surgeon first uses the microkeratome to make an incision into the cornea. Other choice of application may be a femtosecond laser. Afer making the incision, the surgeon next cuts out a flap of the cornea at the appropriate location which he has determined from his studies of the corneal surface during the pre-operative phase.

Cutting out the flap of the cornea exposes the mid-section of the cornea, the stroma. The third step in the process involves the surgeon realigning the stroma using an excimer laser. During this entire process, a computer continuously monitors the position of the eye itself. The computer operates at very high speeds; the computer tracks the eye movement up to 4,000 times per second.After realigning the stroma, the surgeon places back the flap of cornea.

As seen above, lasik offers numerous advantages to patients and surgeons. However, it is not totally without side effects. While the complications are not commonplace, they do exist. There are quite a few complications related to lasik, and while all of them are not seen in a patient, different patients may exhibit different symptoms, or a combination of symptoms.

A patient, during the post-operation phase, may sometimes experience starbursts when he is near a light source. The patient sees this kind of an illusion usually in the form of a halo. Other common side effects include double vision, a wrinkling of the corneal flap, induced astigmatism, which is basically secondary astigmatism (the patient may not have had astigmatism prior to the operation), sensitivity to light, under- or over-correction of the corneal defect, fluctuation in visual acuity, and also decentered ablation.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on the Lasik.

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Fears About LASIK



Many people, and perhaps you are one of them, feel extremely anxious at the idea of having someone mess with their eyes. When you learn a little about LASIK, and discover that not only is a laser beam used to vaporize bits of your eye, but also a piece of surface tissue is cut, bent back to enable the laser to do its work, and then replaced, it can seem even more horrifying a prospect.

This is a healthy response! We all have self-protective mechanisms and reflexes which snap into operation before we consciously notice any threat. If a car careens around the corner to where you’re crossing the road, you’ll dash to safety so fast you’ll marvel at your own athletic ability! If a tennis ball jets right for your head, your eyes will snap shut and your head will duck faster than you thought you could move.

That’s all normal and healthy, and in an emergency could be life-saving. But sometimes, for certain desired events to happen, it must be ignored, de-activated, or somehow made unnecessary. Of all the desirable events in life, surely acquiring clear eyesight would be high on anybody’s list!

Ways to increase your knowledge

One way to gain more control over those protective impulses is to gain more knowledge about the events or circumstances which provoke them. If you think that the missile approaching your face at jet speed is a rock, your protective instincts will take over more mindlessly than if you know it’s a soft snowball.

In the same way, learning more about LASIK will help you feel more calm about the prospect of a highly trained and gentle eye doctor treating your eyes. Here are some ways to expand your familiarity with LASIK:

1. Read about it – in books, magazines, brochures, websites
2. Talk to people who have had it – their first-hand “survivor’s” knowledge will be reassuring
3. Schedule consultations with several LASIK surgeons as part of your procedure for choosing one. That will give you first-hand experience being in LASIK facilities and seeing equipment, staff, doctors, and other patients.
4. Watch videos about it – many websites have such videos, such as Griffin & Reed Eyecare in the Sacramento area, California. They have 27 short videos on their website (recorded during a free LASIK seminar they teach), which cover topics such as:
· How the eye works · How precise is the laser?
· The importance of education about LASIK
· What if I don’t look at the blinking red light during my treatment?
· Close-up view of a LASIK procedure narrated by Dr. Reed
· How the flap heals after LASIK
5. Learn more about how the eye works, how it’s structured, and how it heals itself. This will boost your confidence in your own healing ability and strengthen your conviction that you will indeed survive the LASIK procedure, and be far the better for it. There may be some ophthalmologists in your area who give free seminars about LASIK, eye care, how the eye works etc., and this could be a very enjoyable way to start expanding your knowledge.
6. Watch a LASIK procedure being done. Many surgeons will allow you to sit in on a procedure, and many have it videotaped for people to watch.
7. In a quiet moment, write down exactly what frightens you about a LASIK procedure. · Is it the prospect of having to keep motionless while the surgeon works? (Actually, you don’t, because the best LASIK surgeons now use tracking systems which lock on to your eye and in 1/50 of a second cease work until your eye is back where it needs to be.)
· Is it the idea of a sharp blade? (In some procedures, a laser is used instead of any blade.) · Is it the fear that damage will be done? (Talk to some LASIK doctors to learn about how well trained they are and what mind-bogglingly precise instruments they use.)
· Is it a horror of bright lights being shined into your eyes? (This is done no more than in a regular eye examination.)
· Is it fear of having your head held in a fixed position? (Watching a LASIK procedure will help here, when you learn what is happening around the patient.)

By pinpointing exactly what your fears are, you can move forward in overcoming them. Vagueness tends to increase fear, but precise knowledge tends to dissipate it.

When you learn how fast LASIK is, how easy, how safe, how precise, how well-planned it is for each individual patient, and how many safeguards there are, you’ll begin to feel more relaxed about the prospect. Imagine how validated and proud you’ll feel when you emerge from that doctor’s office with clear eyesight, and a stack of old fears discarded behind you!

Friday

Living More Freely with LASIK


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, get your prescription checked

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.

To get the best outcome 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
you will not be a good candidate for LASIK. However, you might be able to have another type of vision correction. Your eye surgeon can explain your other options when he talks to you about LASIK.

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.

Realistic Expectations Of LASIK Eye Surgery


LASIK surgery is correcting people's vision every day with very little complications. The common myth behind LASIK is the effects of the surgery. Many believe that after LASIK they will be free of glasses forever. This is just not the case unfortunately. Having the correct expectations of LASIK will help you not only decide if you want the operation done but also prevent any disappointments in the future.

The first thing to expect if you want this operation is going through the pre-screening process. You can even take the pre-screening questionnaire online to see if there is any chance that you would not qualify. This will prevent someone who is not a good candidate from undergoing the surgery and potentially having more serious complications than normal. Not everyone qualifies for LASIK, however, there still could be an alternative solution.

If you do qualify, understand how LASIK can benefit you before having the operation. LASIK does not 'cure' your vision for the rest of your life; it will however decrease your dependency on corrective lenses. How long the effects last is different for everyone. Many go on without glasses for many decades and other start wearing them again after ten or fifteen years. Since LASIK has only been around for that long, most people today are not wearing glasses but in ten more years, they could be.

Some expect immediate results after the operation. After surgery, many will not have clear vision for at least several hours. Normal recovery is several days before you head back to work or start driving again. While your eyes are healing, expect to go back and forth between clear and blurry vision for several weeks. Everyone's recovery is different, some go back to work the next day and others wait much longer depending on any complications. Do not expect fast results, you could have to return to get a slight adjustment.

Repeat treatment may be necessary, depending on how your eyes heal and the results after surgery. Some need to have an adjustment or re-treatment. Since LASIK costs a few thousand dollars, check to see if the office where you are having the surgery done offers free re-treatments. Most places offer it for a certain amount of time, somewhere between six months and five years. This could save you a lot of money depending on where you go.

Vision results differ between patients as well. The legal driving vision is 20/40 and 95% of all LASIK procedures produce better than 20/40 results. Most people experience between 20/30 and 20/10 vision. If you have less than seven diopters of myopia, you will have close to a 99% chance of better than legal driving vision. Of course, everyone's eye deteriorates over time and you can expect these numbers to get worse but if your eyesight before LASIK was 20/1500, there is an obvious difference.

LASIK is not for everyone and it could take several months before you can 'see' the difference clearly. Technology is getting better and major complications are rare but remember that LASIK is not a permanent solution, but in the short term, you can throw those glasses away and begin to leave free of corrective lenses.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Lasik

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

Michael Russell - EzineArticles Expert Author

What Is Lasik?

LASIK is an acronym referring to the medical procedure of Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, which is intended to correct the vision of those who depend on glasses or contact lenses for flawless vision. It is a refractive laser eye surgery performed by ophthalmologists and is considered an ideal alternative to PRK, or Photorefractive Keratectomy. Compared to PRK, a LASIK surgery requires lesser time for recovery including the overall experience being painless.

In LASIK surgery, the shape of the cornea is permanently changed using an excimer laser. A microkeratome (blade) is used for cutting a flap in the interior area of the cornea. One end of this flap is left with a hinge and is folded back to reveal the middle section of the cornea known as stroma. The flap is then replaced when the pulses of the computerized laser, vaporize a portion of the stroma. However, according to research, there may be other techniques and new terms that are related to LASIK surgery.

Dr. Jose Barraquer first found the technique of LASIK. He developed the microkeratome in 1960 for cutting the thin flap of the cornea. Dr. Lucio Buratto and Dr. Ioannis Pallikaris developed LASIK surgery in 1990. A LASIK surgery is performed with the patient being full awake and mobile, however, with a mild sedative and anesthetic eye drops. Pre-operative screenings and comprehensive tests detecting the suitability and possible aftereffects of the surgery are performed and considered one of the crucial steps prior to the surgery. Although performed with success and ease on a number of patients, according to research, there have been cases wherein patients have developed several complications after the surgery resulting in repeated procedures of enhancement.

The complications following a LASIK surgery might include night vision, double vision, glares and halos to name a few. Proper follow-up care programs are essential for some patients, without which the patient may need to continue with their glasses and contact lenses even after the surgery. It is highly recommended to find out whether the patient is eligible for a LASIK surgery and try out the alternative ways. LASIK is not recommended for people below 18 and pregnant women.

Lasik provides detailed information on Lasik, Lasik Eye Surgery, Lasik Surgery, Lasik Complications and more. Lasik is affiliated with Lasik Eye Surgery Information.

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The Lasik Vision Institute

You are hearing more and more about the Lasik Vision Center both in the media and from friends and coworkers. Many people you know have already had surgery and are thrilled with the final results-not having to wear glasses or contact lenses. Why are more and more people every year choosing to have their vision corrected by the Lasik Vision Institute?

There are a few very important reasons why people like the Lasik Vision Institute. They advertise that they have:

* Extremely qualified surgeons - they employ leading medical professionals from around the country and they are personally responsible for your eye care.

* Secure technology - they use FDA approved laser technology during each procedure.

* Confidence - their medical professionals have performed over 500,000 procedures.

* Personalized care and treatment - the medical professionals are extremely qualified and they work with you to offer you a choice of laser vision correction based on your individual needs (whether you want LASIK, LASEK, PRK and Custom Wavefront technology).

* Affordable - they offer reasonably priced procedures and easy financing so that everyone can have their vision corrected.

It is reasonable to be anxious about any surgery in or around your eyes. The Lasik Visition Institute understands your concerns and wants their patients to know about the pros and cons of having laser surgery.

You may feel some anxiety about laser vision correction. The laser eye surgery procedure is fast and reliable, and most people will be able see better than they did with their glasses or contact lenses. But, there is no guarantee that you will never need glasses or contact lenses again. Lasik is a great procedure, but it is not perfect and everyone's eyes are different. You may find that you still need glasses to drive at night.

If everything is okay, you will have your lasik surgery and go through your recovery period. The Lasik Vision Institute staff will answer your questions and provide you with suggestions on what to do after the surgery. It will take a few weeks during your recovery, but your eyes should get stronger and your vision clearer. Most people can return to work the day after their surgery with little or no discomfort.

Take your time, think about your options and then make an informed decision about your lasik surgery. You may end up with 20/20 vision and never have to wear glasses or contact lenses again. Or, you may find out that you do not qualify for this surgery. Either way, you took the time to learn about the procedure and know your options.

If you still want to use the Lasik Vision Institute perform your surgery you can be sure that they will provide you with all of the information you need up front. This includes the costs involves and monthly affordable payments. Their procedures can be as low as $299 per eye and up depending upon the type of surgery performed.

What are you waiting for? You have always wanted to get rid of your glasses and now you know about the Lasik Vision Institute. Contact them and see if they are the right medical group to perform your surgery. They are just a phone call away.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik Vision Institute

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What Is Lasik Plus?



You have heard about Lasik surgery for several years and you know many people that have had this life changing surgery. But, what is Lasik Plus? You have never heard about this-is it better or just different? Actually, it is a special place dedicated to helping people who want to have Lasik surgical procedures done.

Lasik Plus claims that their surgeons are high skilled and certified through many different medical boards such as the AMA, ABO and NCQA. They have a dedicated medical team that has been performing these surgeries for over 15 years and they have an excellent track record in the Lasik area.

Lasik Plus patients, are treated with sophisticated FDA-approved laser technology. Their centers are outfitted with new generation laser platforms, including Bausch & Lomb, VISX, and Alcon LADARVision. They understand the importance of having different lasers that can provide you with personalized results. This gives you with the ability to be an active participant in your vision correction plan.

They will offer you a choice of both the traditional and custom Lasik platforms. No one laser is suited for every patient or all conditions. There are differences in prescription, corneal thickness, and pupil size that may make the doctors choose with one laser over another with the goal of making your surgery successful.

They know that all Lasik providers are not the same and they tell you that their medical group is setting the standard for the entire industry. They have superior results because of the advance medical laser platforms, technical skills of their staff and their progressive training programs. All procedures are performed by lasers that are computer guided and have eye-tracking technology designed for your personalized treatment.

Lasik Plus facilities charge competitive rates and have promotional financing available to help everyone who wants to have this procedure performed.

If you think you want to have lasik plus performed on your eyes, you should check into the procedure. It is not for everyone and there are risks involved. You might want to read books, magazine articles, and newspapers to see what the latest developed are in this field. Medical procedures are constantly changing and being improved. Maybe you were not a good candidate 10 years ago when you first thought about having this done. But, with the advancements in technology, you may now be a good candidate.

You have made up your mind that you want to use Lasik Plus for your eye procedure. Work with them to ensure that you have all of the information you need and want, that all of your questions have been answered, and that you are ready to move ahead.

Schedule your procedure, following all of the instructions provided by the doctors and medical staff and relax. You are in good hands and soon you will be one of the many people who is able to talk about the wonderful freedom you now have since you do not wear glasses or contact lenses. Soon, friends and associations will be asking you for advice about Lasik Plus and what you thought about it.

http://www.TheLasikZone.com brings you the latest on Lasik. Lasik is very popular, and we want to bring you the most up to date information online! Be sure to check out our latest information page on Lasik plus.

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