LASIK is one of the oldest forms of eye surgery available. It has been around for well over 25 years now and has undergone some major developments. Like any surgery, there still are risks involved, but compared to other forms of surgery, the LASIK procedure is a relatively simple and complication-free process. Healing from the procedure generally takes only 1-3 days.
How it works
LASIK is a 2-step process. A flap in the cornea of the eye is cut open (a process called keratomileusis); then the cornea is shaped with an ultraviolet excimer laser, correcting any myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.
Who’s a good candidate?
As long as your eye(s) are fully developed and your immune system is strong, there’s no reason that LASIK couldn’t help you. This typically means you must be at least 18 years old and have not had any changes in their eye’s refraction.
What will I go through?
With today’s technology, the actual LASIK procedure only takes 15-40 seconds to complete per eye. It is done with the patient awake, but you are given a mild sedative as well as anesthesia in your eye, so it is generally painless. During the first step, when a flap of your cornea is lifted, your vision will become very blurry and you’ll see very bright light, which may be slightly disorienting. To hold the eye during the procedure, a corneal suction ring is used. This occasionally causes blood vessels in the eye to burst, but it is harmless and will resolve to normal within weeks. In the second step, with the corneal flap lifted, a computer controlled excimer laser shapes the eye and then the flap is refitted. The flap adheres naturally to the eye until it’s fully healed.
Complications
Only 3-6% of LASIK patients undergo any lasting complications. Of the 6% that do experience complications, they are generally mild and consist of eye dryness, light sensitivity, or double vision. Some of the more common complications, such as a slipped flap, will generally heal on their own. Though, with today’s ease and speed of the operation, this is becoming less of a problem.
How will my vision change?
Out of several surveys, patients who’ve undergone LASIK have shown to be 92-98% satisfied with their vision after the surgery. In recent years, there has been an increase in claims involving different types of laser eye surgery, but many believe that this is due to patient’s unrealistic view of LASIK, rather than unsuccessful or faulty operation.
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