LASIK Eye Surgery: Top Tips for a Stress-Free Procedure

You want to see without glasses, and this may be your chance. It’s called LASIK eye surgery, and it’s a special procedure that promised to restore your vision to 20/20. Here’s what you need to know.

What Is It?

LASIK is a special type of eye surgery that uses an instrument called a microkeratome or femtosecond laser to perform the surgery on your eye. The goal is to reshape the eye so that light entering through the cornea is bent at the correct angle. This will allow light to focus on the retina, instead of in front of it or behind it. It’s becoming increasingly popular, with procedures involving LASIK in NY and many other places now readily available for patients.

During the procedure, the doctor makes a cut along the cornea and then it is peeled back. The underlying corneal tissue is then reshaped using a different laser. After the procedure is finished, the top layer of the cornea is them put back in place and allowed to heal.

Once it’s completely healed, you will be able to see again – only this time your vision will be 20/20.

You only need to be under local anesthesia, which consists of eye drops being place in your eyes. You may also request mild sedation if the surgery makes you uneasy. You should have someone drive you home, regardless of whether you have the sedative or not. You will not be able to see very well after surgery.

The doctor will also advise you to wear sunglasses during the day or protect your eyes from bright light.

What Else Happens?

After the surgery is over, you may experience dry eyes temporarily. Even if they don’t feel that way, they will be dryer than normal. Your doctor will give you prescription eye drops to prevent infection and fight the inflammation that normally occurs during the healing process. These drops may also cause momentary burning when you put them in your eyes.

Healing from LASIK surgery is pretty straightforward and happens relatively quickly. You should have blurry or hazy vision for the first day. But, you will notice improved vision within a few days.

You also need to follow up with your doctor to make sure no problems have developed since surgery. Usually, the followup happens within 24 to 48 hours after surgery. And, you may need to visit the doctor periodically for 6 months post surgery.

What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages of Surgery

First, the advantages. Many people love LASIK because they get 20/20 vision from the surgery. There is no need to wear contacts or corrective eyeglasses anymore.

It’s a permanent fix, too. Around 96% of people have the vision they expected post surgery. An enhancement after the first surgery can further increase the correction. LASIK is also associate with very little pain. This is due to the numbing drops. And, vision correction is near-instantaneous.

No bandages or stitches are required after surgery. And, most patients never need to wear eyeglasses again. However, not all eye surgery is the same, especially if we talk about blepharoplasty, which is a form of upper eye-lid surgery essentially to delete the upper eye-lid. However, do not fret because it is also a simple surgery which could beautify your eyes. If you plan to get an upper-eyelid surgery, why not get all the information on blepharoplasty before proceeding.

However, many people do complain of some side effects. LASIK is technically complex and, because of that, a mistake could permanently cause a loss of the best possible vision. Changes made to your eye are not reversible. Problems might occur when the doctor creates the initial corneal flap, which may permanently affect your vision. Some patients do experience discomfort and pain during the first 24 to 48 hours. Other side effects include glare, difficulty in adverse conditions (including night vision), dry eyes that never go away, and fluctuating vision as well as halo vision.

Usually, these side effects are not permanent, but they may be for some patients.

Bio: Melissa Berry has worked as a medical receptionist for several years now. She enjoys chatting to patients but also learning, and is always questioning the doctors to understand more on how our bodies work! She writes health articles in her spare time which are published online.