LASIK expands to laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses. This is an eye surgery done to correct errors in vision such as near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. All these errors are due to the improper focusing of light by the eye. The surgery involves using a laser beam to shape the cornea of the eye. The cornea is the transparent area with refractile properties at the front of the iris. By reshaping the cornea, the light passing into the eye can be focussed appropriately on the retina.
LASIK is an elective procedure, generally performed for cosmetic reasons to avoid wearing glasses or contact lenses. It is often done by personnel wishing to join the military or by competitive athletes for whom their profession requires a certain visual acuity unaided by glasses or contact lenses. The cost of Lasik eye surgery in 2021 can be found here.
A thorough history and physical examination are done along with a detailed examination of the eye. If contact lenses are regularly worn, these are to be removed prior to evaluation as they can temporarily distort the structure of the cornea.
The eyes are to be kept clean. Special solutions may be prescribed to use in the days leading up to surgery to clean the eyelids and lashes. Avoid eye makeup as this can also increase the risk of infection.
This is a relatively short procedure taking only 30 minutes to an hour which is done on an outpatient basis. You will be made to lie on your back for the procedure. Your eyes will be numbed using local aesthetic drops after which a clamp is used to hold the eye open.
During the procedure, you will feel a sudden pressure on the eye which is from the suction ring, This is used to prevent the eye from moving out of position. An excimer laser is used to cut around the cornea to raise a flap. The flap is pulled back and the necessary corneal tissue is removed using the same excimer laser.
After the appropriate amount of corneal tissue is removed, the flap is replaced. This heals on its own without any sutures.
In the immediate moments after the surgery, there may be discomfort in the eyes. Vision remains blurry and it may be difficult to see in bright lights. It would take a few hours to feel comfortable. Shades or patches to cover the eyes for a few hours is recommended.
Over the next few days to weeks, vision progressively improves to reach a stable level after a few months.
Like any procedure, there are potential for certain risks, but these are minimal. The most common post-procedure complication is dry eyes which resolve over time. Individuals may be concerned for vision loss although, this is very rare.
In most individuals, there is an improvement in the vision with the resolution of visual acuity to 20/25 or better providing adequate vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses. However, there is variation in results depending on the type of error. Severe near-sightedness and astigmatism do not always have good results.
Occasionally, some people may experience a return of their original vision over time. This may be because of some other underlying condition for the worsening vision which would need to be evaluated and addressed appropriately.
This post was last modified on June 24, 2021 10:09 pm
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