What is LASIK eye surgery?
LASIK is a laser-based procedure designed to correct vision problems. It is an outpatient surgery, meaning you can go home the same day. LASIK addresses refractive errors, which occur when the eye cannot bend light properly, causing blurry vision. This procedure can enhance your vision and improve your quality of life by reducing the need for glasses or contact lenses.
LASIK may be a treatment option for individuals who wish to reduce their reliance on glasses or contact lenses to improve their vision. After the procedure, you might not need glasses or contacts at all, or you may only require them in specific situations, such as night driving or reading.
What does LASIK do?
LASIK reshapes the cornea to improve how light focuses on the retina. The cornea, the outer dome-shaped layer of the eye, is made of transparent tissue.
What conditions does LASIK treat?
- Nearsightedness: You can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry.
- Farsightedness: You can see distant objects clearly, but nearby objects are harder to focus on.
- Astigmatism: Blurred vision at all distances, caused by an irregular corneal shape, often accompanying nearsightedness or farsightedness.
**What to Expect**
**Before the Procedure**
Long-term results from LASIK are generally better for individuals who are thoroughly examined to determine if they are good candidates.
If you wear contact lenses, you will need to stop using them and rely on glasses for a few days to weeks before the evaluation and surgery, as contact lenses can alter the shape of your cornea.
During the evaluation, your eye doctor will review your medical and surgical history and conduct a comprehensive eye exam to ensure the procedure can be performed safely.
Doctors often use pre-LASIK technology to create a highly detailed map of your eye, similar to a topographic map. The more precise the measurements, the more accurate the corneal tissue removal.
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**After the procedure**
Immediately after surgery, your eyes may feel itchy, burning, or watery. Your vision will likely be blurry. You usually feel little pain, and your vision usually returns quickly.
You will be given pain medication or eye drops to help you feel comfortable for several hours after the procedure.
You will be able to see after surgery, but your vision will not be clear right away. While vision after LASIK is usually good within a few days, your chances of improving your vision depend in part on how well you saw before LASIK.
You will have a follow-up appointment with your eye doctor 1 to 2 days after surgery. This is to monitor how your eye is healing and check for any complications.
What are the side effects of LASIK?
It is common to have some side effects after LASIK surgery, which are usually not serious and go away on their own.
**Dry eyes** are the most common side effect, affecting about 30% of people. Most patients experience discomfort for up to three months after surgery, but it usually goes away.
Other possible side effects include:
– Seeing glare around lights.
– Small red or pink spots on the white of the eye (sclera).
– Sensitivity to light.
**What are the risks or complications of LASIK?**
Complications are more serious than side effects and may require treatment. However, more than 99% of people do not experience complications.
Is LASIK safe?
More than 7,000 research studies have confirmed that LASIK is a safe procedure. Modern technology is reducing the risk of complications, which is already less than 1%.
All surgical procedures carry some risks. That’s why it’s important to talk to your eye doctor to learn more about LASIK and whether the benefits outweigh the risks for you. For example, LASIK may not be a good option if you have medical conditions such as corneal damage or chronic diseases that affect healing. It can be frustrating to learn that you can’t have the surgery you want, but your eye doctor puts your safety first.
Will I need to restrict my activities?
You should restrict some activities while your eyes heal. Follow your eye doctor’s advice based on your specific situation. Some general guidelines include:
– Wait three days before exercising (non-contact sports).
– Wait two weeks before using makeup or products near your eyes.
– Wait at least a month before playing contact sports (such as soccer or karate). Or before swimming.
**What could make me ineligible for LASIK surgery?**
-You are under 18 years old
-Unstable vision
-Severe nearsightedness, severe farsightedness
-Cornea that is not thick enough for the procedure.
-Severe dry eye disease.
-Keratoconus.
-Cataracts
-Autoimmune disease that is difficult to control.
**Which is better, LASIK, Femto-LASIK, or another type of laser eye surgery?**
The best type of surgery for you depends on many factors, determined by your doctor. There are several types of laser surgery, so these may be better for you if you are not a candidate for LASIK, such as:
– Femto-LASIK
– Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
– Implantable contact lenses (ICL).
Talk to your eye doctor about these options and which one is best for you
