Lasik Vision Correction Surgery
Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis, or lasik vision correction surgery. The lasik surgeon uses laser Wavefront technology that allows the doctor to measure and cut the eye extremely precisely, which helps add to the success of the surgery. Usually, patients feel very little discomfort after the surgery, and vision usually clears up within a few days.
What Lasik Surgery Entails
Actually, there are several different types of lasik surgery. Your surgeon will use a special instrument to carefully create a thin round flap in your cornea. Then the flap is folded back and the surgeon removes a small amount of corneal tissue underneath the flap. This reshapes the cornea to improve vision. There are several variations on this surgery that may work better for your particular eye needs, and your surgeon should discuss the various options with you before your surgery. The surgery itself takes less than five minutes, and you’ll be awake during the procedure. The doctor will numb the eye to complete the surgery. The doctor uses a very precise laser to operate on the eye, and usually they do both eyes at once. You won’t be able to drive after the operation, so make sure someone can go with you to your surgery appointment.
How Lasik Works
The surgeon reshapes your cornea because it will focus light onto the retina more effectively, and that leads to clearer vision. After reshaping the retina, the flap then lays back in place, and it becomes it’s own “bandage” to heal the eye. You can benefit from lasik surgery whether you’re nearsighted or farsighted, and it can correct astigmatism, too.
Before your surgery, your eye doctor should perform an eye exam. Among other things, they should look for dry eye disease. If you have dry eyes, you’ll have to clear up the condition before you have surgery. One of the side effects of lasik surgery can be dry eyes, so you should let your doctor know if you have that condition. You should also tell your doctor about any health problems you have, and what prescriptions you take.
After your surgery, your doctor will probably recommend that you rest for as long as a couple of days. They’ll probably tell you not to strenuously exercise for at least a week, because exercise can traumatize your eye and cause it not to heal as quickly. Make sure you don’t rub your eyes after lasik vision correction surgery, because you could dislocate the corneal flap.