Imagine reading, watching TV, driving, and seeing the world around you without glasses or contact lenses. LASIK can make this a reality.
LASIK is a vision correction procedure that can help you achieve crystal-clear vision, eliminating or significantly reducing the need for visual aids. Keep reading to learn more about what happens during LASIK.
What is LASIK?
LASIK, short for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis, is a popular laser refractive procedure performed to correct refractive errors, including farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
Refractive errors occur when the cornea is irregularly shaped. A misshapen cornea prevents light from bending or refracting properly and focusing precisely on the retina, distorting vision.
LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea to fix your refractive error and improve vision. After LASIK, you might not need glasses or contact lenses at all.
What Happens During LASIK?
LASIK is an outpatient procedure that usually takes 30 minutes or less. During the procedure, numbing drops are put into your eye so you won’t feel pain. You may also be given medicine to help you relax.
Your LASIK surgeon at VisionFirst Eye Center will then place an eyelid speculum and suction ring in your eye. These tiny devices will keep you from blinking and ensure your eye remains in the right spot. You won’t feel any pain, only slight pressure around the eyelids.
Your eye doctor will create a thin flap in your cornea with a femtosecond laser. Then, they’ll lift and fold the corneal flap back. This allows them to reach the layer of the cornea to be reshaped, called the stroma.
You’ll be asked to focus on a target light. Looking at the light will keep your eye fixed as your eye doctor reshapes the stroma using a programmed layer. Reshaping your cornea helps bend and focus light accurately on the retina, enabling you to see clearly.
Once done, the flap is put back in place. It starts reattaching almost immediately and doesn’t require stitches. LASIK is performed on both eyes on the same day.
What Happens After LASIK?
While you can see after LASIK, your vision won’t be clear immediately.
You’ll go home shortly after your LASIK procedure. However, you won’t be able to drive yourself, so you should arrange for someone to take you home.
Before you leave, your eye doctor will provide post-op instructions and the following:
- Clear shields to protect your eyes: The shields prevent you from accidentally touching or rubbing your eyes while sleeping or taking a nap
- Anti-inflammatory eye drops to prevent inflammation
- Lubricating drops to manage dry eye symptoms
- Antibiotic eye drops to prevent infection
Vision is generally good within a couple of days, but it may take 3 to 6 months to stabilize fully. Most people resume work in 2 to 3 days, sometimes sooner.
To ensure a smooth recovery, follow all your eye doctor’s instructions and attend your post-operative appointments as scheduled.
What are the Results After LASIK?
Approximately 99 percent of LASIK patients achieve 20/40 vision or better, while over 90 percent end up with 20/20 vision. You can enjoy crisp, clear vision without the use of visual aids.
Most people don’t need to rely on contact lenses or glasses for most activities. Those who do usually only need them for a few tasks.
Are you interested in achieving better vision with LASIK? Schedule an appointment at VisionFirst Eye Center in Birmingham, AL, today.
