LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), is the most popular refractive surgical procedure. In this procedure, a laser is used to permanently change the shape of the cornea (the clear covering on the front of the eye) to correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia. This improves vision and reduces a person's need for glasses or contact lenses.
LASIK uses an excimer laser (an ultraviolet laser) to remove a thin layer of corneal tissue, giving the cornea a new shape, so that light rays are focused clearly on the retina. In the case of a nearsighted person, the goal of LASIK is to flatten the too-steep cornea; with farsighted people, a steeper cornea is desired. LASIK can also correct astigmatism by smoothing an irregular cornea into a more normal shape.
LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure with no need to stay at the surgery center overnight, as it will take 10 to 15 minutes to perform for each eye. The procedure is done while the patient is awake, but the patient may request mild sedation. The only anesthetic used is eye drops that numb the surface of the eye. LASIK can be done on one or both eyes during the same session.
How To Prepare For LASIK Eye Surgery?
Before LASIK eye surgery, the eye surgeon will evaluate the patient’s medical history and perform a full eye examination, including measuring corneal thickness, refraction, corneal mapping, eye pressure, and pupil dilation. Afterward, the surgeon will discuss what to expect during and after the procedure.
On the day of the surgery, eat a light meal before going to the doctor and take all prescribed medications, if any. Do not wear eye makeup, creams, perfumes, or lotions on the day before and the day of surgery or have any bulky hair accessories that will interfere with positioning your head under the laser.
Contact lenses shouldn't be worn for at least three days prior to the evaluation. In the case of rigid gas permeable contact lenses, they should not be worn for at least three weeks before. Patients should arrange for a ride home from the place of surgery, as their vision might be blurry.
What Happens During LASIK Eye Surgery?
The LASIK surgeon uses a computer to adjust the laser for each patient's particular prescription. An instrument to hold the eyelids open may be used, and the patient will be asked to look at a target light for a short time while the laser sends pulses of light to painlessly reshape the cornea. During LASIK eye surgery, a suction ring is placed on the eye just before cutting the corneal flap, which may cause a feeling of pressure and may cause vision to dim slightly. Then, an instrument called a femtosecond laser is used to create a thin flap in the cornea. The corneal flap is then painlessly peeled back, and the underlying corneal tissue is reshaped using another laser. After the cornea is reshaped so that it can properly focus light onto the retina, the cornea flap is put back in place, and the surgery is complete. A distinct odor might be detected as the laser removes the corneal tissue, which some people describe as similar to that of burning hair but is nothing to worry about.
What To Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery?
The eyes might temporarily be dry even though they do not feel that way. One eye drop will be prescribed to prevent infection and inflammation, and another eye drop will be prescribed to keep the eyes moist. These drops may cause a momentary slight burn or blurring of your vision upon using them. Do not use any eye drops not approved by the LASIK surgeon.
Healing after LASIK eye surgery usually occurs very rapidly. Vision may be blurry and hazy on the first day, but most patients notice improved vision within a few days of surgery. There will be a follow-up evaluation 24 to 48 hours after LASIK eye surgery, as well as at regular intervals within the first six months.
What Are The Advantages Of LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK has many benefits, including:
- Vision is corrected nearly by the day after LASIK.
- LASIK causes a dramatic reduction in eyeglass or contact lens dependence, and many patients no longer need them at all.
- Adjustments can be made years after LASIK to further correct vision if vision changes with age.
- LASIK is associated with very little pain due to the numbing eye drops that are used.
- No bandages or stitches are required after LASIK.
LASIK Procedure
If you are one of the thousands of people considering LASIK laser eye surgery, then you will probably be gathering as much information as possible about the treatment. By this point, you are probably aware of the benefits that LASIK offers, such as a reduced or eliminated need for glasses or contact lenses and greater convenience in your day-to-day life. However, for many patients, despite the advantages of LASIK, the thought of surgery on their eyes is still a cause of anxiety and fear. One of the best ways to alleviate this concern is to find out more about what the procedure entails.
Your Consultation
Before you can be approved for any form of laser vision correction, including LASIK, you will need to attend a consultation appointment with your surgeon. During the consultation, he will perform an examination of your eyes and use your medical and ocular history to determine if you are a good candidate for the procedure. He will also speak to you about the expected outcome from your surgery, making you aware that while LASIK will dramatically improve your eyesight, there is no guarantee that you will not need to wear glasses in some situations, such as while driving in the dark.
How LASIK Works
LASIK uses a cool, ultraviolet beam of light to reshape the patient’s cornea. Doing so will more accurately focus the light that enters the eye on to the retina, thus improving the patient’s vision. The way in which the cornea needs to be reshaped will depend on the visual needs of the patient. For example, a patient who is far-sighted will need their cornea reshaping to be steeper to experience better eyesight. Alternatively, a patient who is near-sighted will require their cornea to be flattened in order to improve their vision. LASIK can also smooth an irregular cornea into a more standard shape, meaning that the procedure can also be used to correct astigmatism.
The LASIK Procedure
The LASIK procedure is very fast and straightforward. Although you will probably be in the surgical suite for around half an hour, the actual process only takes a couple of minutes per eye. The rest of the time will be spent preparing and ensuring that you are comfortable. Anesthetic eye drops are given to patients before their procedure so that the entire process is pain-free. If you are particularly anxious, it may also be possible for you to be slightly sedated – this should be discussed with your doctor at your consultation appointment.
Once you are in position, we will use a femtosecond laser to cut a thin, circular flap into the outer cornea. This can then be pulled back to reveal the underlying corneal tissue, known as the stroma, so that it can be reshaped using the laser. The exact path that the laser needs to take, known as the topography, will have been pre-programmed ahead of the procedure and can be followed with complete precision and accuracy.
Once the reshaping is complete, the flap is replaced back over the eye, and the surgery is complete. There is no need for sutures or bandages as the cornea will start to heal immediately and without any medical intervention.
Recovery From LASIK
After your surgery, your eyes may feel a little sore, scratchy, or itchy, but this should resolve relatively quickly. Blurriness is also expected, but again, this should disappear within a few days. After being discharged, you will need to have someone pick you up, as you will not be allowed to drive until our doctor has seen you the following day and confirmed that your eyesight meets the legal standard for driving. In most cases, you will be asked to refrain from doing any intense physical activity for at least a week while your eyes begin to heal, but you should be able to return to work within 48/72 hours of your procedure.
Are There Any Risks Associated With LASIK?
LASIK is considered to be extremely safe, and any side effects are minimal and disappear within a few days. However, a very small number of people do report complications following LASIK, which can range from mild problems such as itchy, painful or watery eyes to more serious side effects like a bulging cornea or extreme dry eye. Our doctors will discuss any potential side effects with you during your consultation and give you the opportunity to ask any questions that you may have.
If you are looking for the very best quality LASIK procedure and patient care, then look no further. With our experience, knowledge, and skill, you can rest assured that your vision is in the most capable of hands. Schedule your consultation with us today by making contact with our friendly, reassuring team.
Am I A Candidate For LASIK?
If you already rely on wearing glasses or contact lenses to be able to see clearly, you may be frustrated with the effect that they have on your life. Regular vision tests, finding glasses to suit your face shape, having to remember to take eyeglasses with you wherever you go, prescription sunglasses, fiddly contact lenses… the list of inconveniences associated with conventional ocular solutions is extensive.
LASIK is a modern, minimally-invasive procedure that can substantially reduce or eliminate your need to use eyeglasses or contact lenses, allowing you to enjoy life without limitations or inconvenience. The popularity and success of LASIK laser eye surgery have helped to make it the number one elective surgery across the globe.
Candidacy For LASIK
LASIK has an extremely high success rate. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 96% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better. However, its high success rate doesn't make LASIK automatically the right solution for everyone.
Candidacy for LASIK is assessed by our doctors on a case-by-case basis so that you can be certain that whatever treatment is recommended for you will give you the very best opportunity to improve your vision. During your consultation, our doctors will perform a thorough examination of your eyes and vision, ask you about your general health, and talk you through both the procedure and aftercare.
The general guidelines for LASIK candidacy state that patients must:
- be at least 18 years of age.
- have had stable vision with no prescription changes for a minimum of 12 months.
- have a current prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses that falls between specified parameters (Our doctors will be aware of what these parameters are).
- have no significant medical or eye-related problems such as glaucoma, macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy
- have no history of corneal disease.
- not be pregnant or nursing at the time of the procedure.
Understanding Expectations
An important element of any LASIK consultation is the conversation surrounding the expectations and predicted outcomes of your procedure. Many people mistakenly believe that LASIK will completely eliminate their need for visual aids. While this is a possibility for some patients, a good candidate for LASIK understands and accepts that they may still require the use of prescription visual aids in some circumstances, such as when driving in low light conditions.
If you are interested in finding out more about LASIK laser eye surgery, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, do not hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team. We look forward to supporting your journey to a clearer vision.
Benefits Of LASIK
LASIK is the number one elective surgical procedure today, and more than a million Americans have had the procedure since its inception. The main reason for its popularity is the many benefits that it offers, including minimizing or, in some cases, even eliminating the need for the patient to use eyeglasses or contact lenses after the procedure.
Let's take a look at why LASIK is taking the ocular world by storm.
Better Vision
Clearly, the biggest reason for choosing LASIK is improved vision. While some patients have relatively mild problems with their eyesight, others experience major disturbances in their vision that make functioning day to day almost impossible without the use of visual aids. LASIK can dramatically improve the quality of your vision, reducing the need to wear visual aids or, in some cases, completely eliminating it.
A Good Investment
Eyesight is also notoriously inconsistent, with the majority of people finding that their vision marginally improves or deteriorates with each visit to their optician. When this happens, it is necessary for the optician to recommend a different prescription, and this means expense as the patient finds themselves purchasing new eyeglasses or contacts to reflect their new visual requirements.
Although there is no guarantee that you will be able to be completely prescription-free after LASIK, most patients find that eyesight is so improved that any changes to their prescription are much less frequent.
Eyeglasses and contacts are known for being fiddly and fragile, and the need for maintenance and replacements is a common complaint. However, with less need for such devices, the cost of caring for them is also reduced.
A Short, Painless Procedure
LASIK surgery can be performed in one very short procedure. You should expect to spend around 30 minutes in the surgery suite, but the actual time it takes can be as little as 10 minutes – for both eyes! The remainder of the time will be spent preparing you and ensuring you are comfortable afterward. The entire process is carried out after anesthetic drops have been placed into your eyes, so you can rest assured you will feel absolutely no pain throughout. However, if you are particularly anxious about the process, it may be possible to be given a sedative to help you relax.
Fast Recovery
LASIK eye surgery is renowned for its fast, simple recovery process. You will be able to return home the very same day as your procedure, and the flap that was created in the corneal tissue will start to heal itself without the need for sutures or bandages. Most patients can return to work within a day or two of their procedure. However, you will be expected to attend a follow-up appointment with our Doctors within 48 hours of your surgery so that he can ensure that your eyes are healing correctly.
Extremely Safe
LASIK is an extremely safe procedure when performed by a certified and experienced eye surgeon. Laser technology means that the incisions are made with total precision and accuracy, and the process is completely sterile. The risk of complications in laser vision correction is very low, occurring in only around 1 in every 10,000 cases.
Better Quality Of Life
Eyesight problems can be a huge inconvenience. Activities like swimming and snowboarding are much more difficult if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. In regular day-to-day activities, there can be the worry that your eyeglasses may fall off or that you have left them behind when you need them. If you suffer from pollen allergies, you may find putting contact lenses in nearly impossible. In short, there are lots of ways in which the need for visual aids can interrupt your life, and it can be extremely frustrating. LASIK reduces or removes the inconvenience of eyeglasses or contact lenses and makes it much easier to get on with living life to the fullest.
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