Lasik Eye Surgery Procedure

The Lasik eye surgery procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, and approximately 80 percent of patients have the vision improvement expected prior to the operation. The entire process only takes about 15 minutes; and, most people experience an improvement in their vision within a day or two. However, to improve the chances of a successful outcome, patients must follow the instructions of the medical staff before and after undergoing Lasik.

Before Lasik

Seeking an ophthalmologist to perform Lasik is a little more complicated than an exam for corrective eyewear. Unfortunately, not everyone who wants the Lasik eye surgery procedure will be granted the opportunity. The surgery is to correct refractory problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If other vision problems exist, or the eye is not healthy, the doctor will not want to take the chance of impairing vision further.

In addition to a regular eye exam, the doctor will want to take a complete medical history. Also the condition of the eye will be carefully examined. If the patient already suffers from dry eye or a thin cornea, the doctor may suggest the Lasek procedure instead, or simply state that the surgery is too risky under the circumstances. No one wants to have their vision impaired further.

Prior to the date of surgery, the medical staff will give specific pre-operative instructions like:

• Don’t wear hard contacts up to 3 weeks prior to surgery
• Don’t wear soft contacts for at least 3 days prior to surgery
• Eat only a light meal before the procedure
• Don’t wear anything in your hair that would impede the laser
• Make sure someone is going to drive you home after undergoing Lasik

A lot of patients don’t understand how important it is to adhere to these instructions. Unless they are obeyed to the letter, the patient risks not achieving the outcome anticipated from the Lasik eye surgery procedure.

During Lasik

The prep time for Lasik will take a little longer than the actual procedure. The eyelid will be held open and be numbed, so you cannot move your eye during the laser treatment. It sounds simple on paper; but, the procedure is very precise.

The doctor will actually make a small incision in the cornea, and peel it back. Then, it is reshaped to correctly let light reach the retina. The actual surgery only takes about a minute to complete on each eye.
It will be difficult to tell the success of Lasik for a day or two. At first, vision will likely be blurry. But, most patients realize improved sight within 48 hours.

After Lasik

After the Lasik eye surgery procedure, it is critical to adhere to the post-operative instructions. The doctor will give warning signs of problems. In most cases, this is just precautionary advice. But, if any negative symptoms occur, seek medical attention right away.

The medical staff reiterates what to avoid, until the eye has a chance to completely heal. For example, if a patient participates in activities that result in getting hit in the eye, it can dislodge the cornea. In addition, the doctor will prescribe eye drops. Even if it doesn’t seem necessary, the eyes will be dry. The drops will also help prevent infection. Even if the drops sting temporarily, it is vital to keep using them as instructed. Failure to take proper care of the eyes can result in vision that is impaired worse than prior to Lasik.

Lasik is not a one-time fix-all procedure. Vision made need corrected again at a later date. Once the surgery has been done, there is no going back. Lasik is the only way to possibly achieve pre-operative sight. However, scar tissue may become an issue.

What If

If the ophthalmologist does not want to perform Lasik because of a preexisting eye condition, Lasek might still be a viable option. The procedure is a little more invasive; but, it has been successful performed on patients with thin corneas and dry eye.

However, it is important to understand that the healing process takes much longer. In addition, it may be weeks before the patient or the doctor know if it has been successful. The recovery is generally more uncomfortable than Lasik, and the potential side effects are more numerous than with Lasik.

Although a few patients have been disappointed with the Lasik eye surgery procedure, the overwhelming majority find the operation a complete success. Many can put down their glasses or donate them to good will. Still others only need to wear corrective lenses for reading. Especially for the patients with extremely impaired vision, the potential benefits generally outweigh the risks. In no time at all, they see the world more clearly than they ever have in the past.