About LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and is the best-known laser refractive surgery to correct several vision problems. People choose to undergo LASIK eye surgery as a permanent solution to glasses or contact lenses.
During LASIK eye surgery, a special type of laser is used to precisely change the shape of the cornea (dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of the eye) to improve vision. For people with normal vision, the cornea bends light precisely onto the retina in the back of the eye. However, for people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, the light is not bent correctly, which causes blurred vision.
Although glasses and contact lenses can fix these problems, reshaping the cornea offers a permanent solution without the headache of finding frames, lenses, contacts, and contact solutions.
Commonly asked questions about LASIK Eye Surgery
Before undertaking any procedure, you will want to be confident in your knowledge. Find the details on LASIK Eye Surgery here.
1. What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and is the best-known laser refractive surgery to correct several vision problems. People choose to undergo this surgery as a permanent solution to glasses or contact lenses.
During LASIK eye surgery, a special type of laser is used to precisely change the shape of the cornea (dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of the eye) to improve vision. For people with normal vision, the cornea bends light precisely onto the retina in the back of the eye. However, or people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, the light is not bent correctly, which causes blurred vision.
Although glasses and contact lenses can fix these problems, reshaping the cornea offers a permanent solution without the headache of finding frames, lenses, contacts, and contact solutions.
2. Why is LASIK performed?
Nearsightedness or Myopia – This is when your eyeball is slightly longer than normal (or the cornea has a sharp curve), which means that light is focused on the front of the retina and blurs vision far away. Most people with nearsightedness can see objects that are close very clearly, but objects that are farther away are blurred.
Farsightedness or Hyperopia – This is the opposite of Myopia, as your eyeball is shorter than a normal eyeball, which causes light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. This causes objects that are closer to appear blurred and sometimes objects further away appear blurry as well.
Astigmatism – In this case, your cornea is unevenly curved or flat, which disrupts the focus of close and distant objects.
3. Who is not a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery?
Some health conditions can increase the risks that are associated with LASIK or make the outcome hard to predict. Your doctor may not recommend LASIK surgery if you have certain health conditions such as:
- Autoimmune disorders (e.g., Rheumatoid Arthritis)
- HIV or a weakened immune system
- Eyes that are persistently dry
- Changes in vision causes by medication, hormones, pregnancy, age, etc.
- Inflammation of the cornea, eye injuries or diseases, glaucoma, etc.
Other reasons you may not be a good candidate include family history of eye disease, severe nearsightedness, large pupils or thin corneas, and age-related eye changes.
4. How is LASIK performed?
Step One – Preparation
You will be escorted to a procedure room and asked to lay down in a comfortable treatment chair, and you will be given eye drops in both eyes which will numb them for the duration of your procedure. The surgeon will place a special device that will keep your eyes open so they can have the best access possible to your cornea.
Step Two – Flap Cut
A small laser or a small, bladed instrument will be used to cut a thin flap on the middle of your cornea, and you will feel slight pressure, but no pain. Once the flap has been cut, the surgeon will fold it back in order to access underneath your cornea.
Step Three – Reshaping
The laser will be pre-programmed specific to your eye and deliver the correct amount of reshaping to each eye and correct your vision. The laser will be placed directly over your eye, and you will be asked to focus on a specific light or point while the laser starts its reshaping process. Your surgeon will watch through a microscope.
Step Four – Replace Flap
When the laser has completed the reshaping, your surgeon will place the flap back over your eye and begin on the next one.
Step Five – No Stitches
There are no stitches involved to hold the flap back in place, the moistness of your eye will do this for you, and it heals extremely quickly.
Step Six – Eye Drops
After the surgery you will have eye drops prescribed to you, which will help reduce inflammation and infections. You may also be sent home with a bottle of artificial tears which will help your eyes stay moist, as they might feel dry after surgery.
6. What is the recovery like after surgery?
After your surgery, it is normal to experience some symptoms such as light sensitivity, pain/discomfort, blurry vision, red/pink patches on the white of your eyes, and glare or halos surrounding lights.
You will not be able to drive immediately after getting your LASIK surgery, as people may experience discomfort and/or blurred vision or may have received a sedative prior to surgery. Plan ahead and ask a friend or family member to pick you up and drive you home. You should also avoid driving for up to 24 hours after receiving LASIK.
Rest is very important after your surgery. Your surgeon may suggest going home to relax or to nap. To protect your eye during the earlier healing stages, your surgeon may place a clear shield over your eyes for the first few days of your recovery.
Many people choose to take a few days off before returning to work, depending on their occupation. Some people return to work the day after surgery, but it is better to take some time to rest and let your eyes heal.
It may take up to 3-6 months for your vision to stabilize after your surgery. You will be able to see, but it might be blurry. You will have a follow-up appointment 1-2 days after surgery, and your surgeon will check how your eyes are healing and check for any complications. There might be a few weeks where you cannot wear makeup, participate in any high contact sport, swim, or use hot tubs.
7. How long do the results last?
LASIK eye surgery is permanent.
However, the body doesn’t stop changing with age, and neither do our eyes. Most people see changes in their eyes around the age of 40, mostly in the near range of vision, it becomes not as crisp or clear as it used to be. This is a result of an aging lens, the part of the eye that sits behind the iris. These changes are called Presbyopia. The lens becomes stiff and cloudy, and this is called a Cataract. Neither Presbyopia nor Cataracts can be prevented with LASIK eye surgery. Your eyes can change, but they will never go back to being as bad as they were before undergoing LASIK.
