Lasik – Simple Procedure Or Serious Surgery?

Are you considering lasik surgery to improve your vision? Then
you owe it to yourself to find out exactly what happens during
lasik before you commit yourself to the procedure
Lasik is a relatively simple and fast procedure The entire
surgery takes about 30 minutes, during which you will be lying
on your back in the room containing the laser system The laser
system is a machine with a computer screen and a microscope
attached to it
Whether you have shortsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
the cause is the same – your cornea is not a perfect shape The
goal of the lasik surgery is to reshape (polish) your cornea so
the light going through it focuses better on your retina
The surgeon can’t use a general anesthetic because you have to
remain conscious, throughout, and be able to look directly at
the laser However, anesthetic drops are used for your eyes, so
you will not feel any pain – only some pressure and a little
discomfort You will be able to see during the entire procedure,
although your vision might blur or flicker, for a few moments
Lasik surgery can be separated into 6 steps

1. First of all the surgeon will drop a few numbing drops into
   your eye and clean the area around it Then your eyelids will be
   propped open
2. Before the laser can start its work, the
   surgeon will need to cut a flap in your cornea This could be
   done with either a laser or with microkeratome – a special
   cutting instrument It might sound scary, but don’t worry: you
   won’t feel the cutting
3. After that, the laser will be
   positioned over your eye and you will have to look directly at
   it for about 60 seconds The reshaping has not started yet, but
   your eye needs to get used to being focused on the light
4. When your eye is in the perfect position, the laser will
   start its work The laser is controlled by a computer, which is
   preprogrammed by the surgeon to remove a specific amount of
   corneal tissue
5. After your cornea is reshaped, the flap
   is put back on it place
6. Stitches won’t be used to
   keep the flap in place; instead, doctors use a special
   protective shield to hold it The shield will protect your eye
   from being touched accidentally

That’s it! Usually you can go home straight after the procedure,
but you will have to organize a lift for yourself because you
might feel a bit dizzy and your vision will be blurred, at
first; obviously you shouldn’t drive, under these conditions
The improvement in vision is usually noticable the same day, or
by the following morning, at the latest

Straight after lasik surgery you might feel some discomfort,
like there is something in your eye The most difficult thing is
to resist the urge to rub your eyes, but you mustn’t touch them
until the flap is healed

There are also several restrictions, after the surgery You
shouldn’t use any eye make-up for two weeks, play any sports for
four weeks, or swim or take a hot bath for two months Also you
will have to come in for a follow up visit within 48 hours after
the surgery, plus a few more visits during the following six
months

Tags | anesthetic, corneal, farsightedness, lasik, minutes, shape, tissue, worry