The Most Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK Eye Surgery

If you have worn contact lenses or eyeglasses before, you would have experienced some inconveniences and discomfort on different occasions. No strong feelings; I have been there before. So, I know how annoying those things can get at crucial times. 

When your eyeglasses may find get broken, you need to repair them immediately. When it becomes outdated, that requires a replacement cost. For contact lenses, you are removing them for maintenance at regular intervals unless you want to damage your eyes. Considering both traditional options, it is reasonable to conclude that refractive surgery is the best option. You can read more about lasik eye surgery by clicking here.

There are three primary options in the refractive laser surgery space: LASIK, SMILE, and surface laser treatments (PRK, TransPRK, and LASEK). All the eye laser options listed above have similar results, but LASIK remains the most commonly performed and generally accepted procedure.

Ever since LASIK became widespread, many people have developed an interest in going for surgery to correct any irregularities in their sight. As the number increases, it gets more recommendations amongst healthcare providers, especially when the situation gets more severe.

While you can also be swept away by the hype and mouth-watering results, it is safe to ask a few questions about the trend to know if it’s the best for you or resonates with your health status.    

To help you find the correct information about LASIK, here are some helpful questions you need to ask LASIK consultants. I have specifically selected the best out of the most frequently asked questions about LASIK with professional answers from LASIK experts. These answers will give you a complete understanding of the surgery and inform your next step toward the procedure. 

5 FAQS About LASIK Eye Surgery 

1. How do I know I am a good LASIK candidate?

Of course, LASIK is the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery. However, the downside is that few people are qualified to have the surgery. Hence, the first question you need to ask about LASIK is to know whether you are qualified or not.

One thing about LAISK is that it is reasonably inclusive. That means many people with different sight imperfections are eligible to undergo the procedure. upon its approval for public practice, FDA gave a wide standard for LASIK, which state that patients must have:

• Up to -12.00D of near-sightedness, also known as myopia 
• Up to +6.00D of farsightedness, also known as hyperopia
• Up to 6.00D of astigmatism, a common imperfection in the eye curvature    

Before you go for LASIK, you are advised first to meet your eye doctor for a thorough check-up. During this exam, your doctor would have to examine the shape and thickness of your cornea and your pupil’s size and check for refractive errors like near-sightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and any other eye infections. Your doctor would have to check the overall health of your eyes and the level of moisture in them. If need be, he will prescribe some necessary medications to prepare you for the LASIK procedure. Visi http://self-helpcancer.org/the-less-known-pros-and-cons-of-the-lasik-procedure/ to read about The Less known Pros and Cons of the LASIK Procedure.

On a general note, every LASIK candidate must:

• Be 18 years and above 
• Have healthy eyes 
• Have overall sound health 
• Not have any autoimmune disease 
• Not be pregnant or breastfeeding babies

2. Is the LASIK procedure painful?

Since it’s still a surgery, many people avoid LASIK for the fear that the procedure might be excruciating. Well, that is far from the truth. On the contrary, LASIK eye surgery is quick and painless. 

Before the procedure, your surgeon would administer numbing eye drops into both eyes. That eye drop is meant to keep your eyes active and relaxed during the procedure. You may want to feel nervous at the beginning of the surgery, but you don’t have to expect any pain.

Your surgeon would also give you another medication to calm your nerves and relax your body. Although, you may have to feel a little itching sensation after the procedure. It is nothing to worry about. That minor imbalance would disappear after a few minutes. 

It is also essential to find an expert to do the surgery to avoid unnecessary discomfort and complications. 

3. What does the procedure involve?

Your surgeon’s ultimate goal is to change the shape of your cornea and make them refocus better pictures to your retina to give you better vision after all. That’s the process in a nutshell. 

However, to make it more elaborate, here are the things you should expect on the LASIK day.

• Your surgeon will examine your eyes and check your overall health history to know whether it’s up to date and make necessary recommendations to aid a smooth procedure. 
• Before he begins the procedure, your doctor would have to apply numbing eye drops into your eyes to make them responsive throughout the procedure.
• Using a femtosecond laser, your surgeon will create a thin, circular flap in your cornea. He will then fold the flap back to enable him to access the stroma.
• He will then use an ultraviolet beam to remove some tissues from the cornea to reshape it. That will enable your cornea to focus more light on your retina, resulting in improved vision. 
• Your surgeon will return the flap to its initial position to cover where he removed the small tissues.
• He will then allow the eyes to heal naturally.

The above process may seem long, but it doesn’t take up to one hour. 

4. What does recovery after LASIK look like?

After the LASIK procedure, your doctor would ask you to go home immediately to get some good rest. Meanwhile, you are not expected to drive yourself home as it can cause complications in your vision. 

You need a sound sleep after LASIK eye surgery to relax your eyes and aid in quick recovery. After a week, you can visit your doctor for a post-LASIK examination. On the meeting day, your doctor will conduct every necessary test to know the progress of the healing process.

You also have to take some aftercare medications to faster your healing process. Your doctor must have given you all that before you return home on the LASIK day with instructions on how often you should administer them.

5. How quick is LASIK results?

On average, it takes up to 10 – 14 days before you start seeing the expected result of LASIK eye surgery. Besides, you would begin to see early signs of sharper vision within the first 24 hours. 

However, it might take some people up to 6 months to have a perfect vision, while others might heal faster. It all depends on the health of the individual patients. 

Final Words

LASIK surgery gives a permanent solution to different levels of vision imperfections, and it doesn’t cost much. The first step to having the laser procedure aid is to contact your eye doctor for assessment and recommendations.