Think about waking up in the morning to a clear view without having to put on your glasses first thing. For many people who have relied on glasses or contact lenses for years, LASIK eye surgery provides an easy way to fix their refractive problems.
LASIK is a very common procedure where the patient undergoes eye surgery through a laser used to reshape the cornea, allowing light to be focused better onto the retina. There have been significant developments in diagnostic and laser techniques that make treatment more accurate, although the process and results differ depending on the individual.
Those who want to undergo LASIK need to know what the process involves, who qualifies for it, its benefits, and the possible side effects.
What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, a laser-based procedure used for vision correction. This is a refractive surgery done on the eye in order to reshape the cornea.
The conditions that can be treated through this surgery include:
- Myopia—problem with focusing on distant objects
- Hyperopia—focusing difficulties with close-up objects
- Astigmatism—distortion or blurriness due to the irregular shape of the cornea
This procedure aims at improving the way light enters the eye in order to be properly focused on the retina.
How does LASIK work?
The procedure of LASIK involves reshaping the cornea using an excimer laser. These are the general steps that take place during a standard LASIK procedure.
- Preparation of the Eye
Eye-numbing drops are used to reduce discomfort. Appropriate preparation of the area under surgery is performed.
- Corneal Flap Creation
As a part of traditional LASIK surgery, a corneal flap is created. However, some LASIK procedures may require using a femtosecond laser in order to create the flap.
- Cornea Reshaping
An excimer laser is used to remove small pieces of corneal tissue.
- Relocation of the Flap
Once the cornea has been altered, the flap is repositioned in its original location, where it naturally bonds during the healing process.
The procedure with the laser is fast, but there are other things that will be done to prepare the eye and then assess it after the operation.
Who Can Benefit from LASIK Surgery?
Not everyone can benefit from the procedure known as LASIK surgery. Before determining whether someone would qualify for LASIK surgery, it requires careful examination of one’s eyes.
Some of the requirements for the procedure include:
- Appropriate age for refractive eye surgery
- Having a stable prescription for glasses or contacts
- Sufficient corneal thickness and a healthy corneal structure
- The absence of particular eye problems
- Realistic expectations
Various health issues, the use of some medicines, pregnancy, and breastfeeding could affect the choice of when and whether to have the surgery.
Your ophthalmologist would run a series of tests on your eyes to determine whether you qualify for LASIK.
Advantages of LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK can offer many benefits for properly selected patients.
Reduced Need for Eyeglasses
Many patients consider LASIK to reduce their everyday reliance on glasses or contact lenses.
Fast Recovery of Vision
Patients often experience an immediate improvement in vision after treatment, although the pace of recovery varies from patient to patient.
Short-Term Operation
Being a rather fast surgery, LASIK allows many patients to leave the clinic right after the procedure.
Convenient Life
Clearer unaided vision can make activities such as exercise, travel, swimming, and outdoor recreation more convenient.
Permanent Vision Correction
LASIK surgery can offer long-term vision correction for the problem which was treated during the procedure. But LASIK surgery cannot stop the age-related process like presbyopia.
Pre-Surgical LASIK Procedures
A comprehensive pre-surgical LASIK consultation is an essential step in developing a plan of care.
Your ophthalmologist will review several important factors during the initial evaluation, including:
- Glasses or contact lens prescription
- Corneal thickness
- Corneal shape and surface
- Dry eyes and tear production
- Pupil size
- Eye health in general
- Retinal health
- Personal medical history
You should remove the contact lenses for some time before a number of measurements because these lenses can distort the cornea’s shape.
All of the above help assess if you can have LASIK or another form of vision correction.
Post-Surgery Recovery from LASIK Procedure
Recovery from LASIK procedure is usually rather fast, but it varies depending on the individual.
Immediate Postoperative Stage
Your eyesight may be slightly blurred, and your eyes might hurt or feel watery, gritty, or sensitive to light. Usually, this symptom disappears as soon as your eyes start healing.
First Few Days
Many patients begin to notice clearer vision within the first few days after surgery. There may be mild discomfort and dryness of the eyes.
After Weeks
Vision tends to continue stabilizing during healing of the cornea. The time when you can start swimming and doing any exercises that can potentially irritate or hurt your eyes will be determined by the surgeon.
Taking eye drops and going to follow-up consultations are some of the important aspects of recovery.
Potential Side Effects and Risks of LASIK Surgery
Although LASIK is safe and has good statistics, it remains a surgery procedure and therefore, it has certain risks and side effects that need to be considered.
Some of them include:
- Dry eyes
- Temporary blurring or fluctuating vision
- Halos or glare around the lights
- Excessive light sensitivity
- Night blindness
- Undercorrection or overcorrection
- Recurrent myopia
Complications are rare but their probability depends on different factors, including the state of your cornea, prescriptions, age, and general health of the eye.
Preoperative examination allows determining patients at high risk of complications.
LASIK vs. Other LASER Eye Correction Techniques
Although LASIK is one of the techniques to correct refractive errors, depending on the characteristics of your eyes, your ophthalmologist can suggest some other techniques, such as
- PRK
- SMILE
- Femto LASIK
- Topography-guided LASIK
- Some other laser vision correction techniques tailored for individual needs
More costly or the latest treatment technique is not always the most effective one. Your specialist should choose the procedure that suits your specific case and requirements.
How to Select a LASIK Eye Doctor?
Selection of the right specialist is one of the most critical steps on your way to treatment. In addition to finding out how much the LASIK eye surgery cost is, try to find out:
- Specialist’s qualifications and experience
- Preoperative examinations’ quality
- Technological level of the center where you will be treated
- Alternative treatment options explained
- Information about costs
- Arrangements about postoperative visits
- Whether you get all risks explained properly
A good consultation gives you enough information to make your choice yourself without any pressure.
Conclusion
LASIK eye surgery has become a proven method for treating refractive eye problems and cutting down on dependency on glasses and contacts. Modern diagnostics and laser technology make it possible to provide highly personalized treatment of eye defects.
But LASIK eye surgery may not be a good fit for all patients, and successful surgery always starts with an eye examination. Talk about your vision goals, potential risks and benefits, postoperative recovery process, and alternatives with an experienced ophthalmologist.
With proper patient selection, realistic expectations, and adequate postoperative care, LASIK eye surgery can turn out to be a perfect choice.
