Lasik - Simple Procedure Or Serious Surgery?
By Tanya Turner, Thu Dec 8th
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Are you considering to improve your vision? Thenyou owe it to yourself to find out exactly what happens duringlasik before you commit yourself to the procedure.
Lasik is a relatively simple and fast procedure. The entiresurgery takes about 30 minutes, during which you will be lyingon your back in the room containing the laser system. The lasersystem is a machine with a computer screen and a microscopeattached to it.
Whether you have shortsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatismthe cause is the same - your cornea is not a perfect shape. Thegoal of the is to reshape (polish) your cornea sothe light going through it focuses better on your retina.
The surgeon can't use a general anesthetic because you have toremain conscious, throughout, and be able to look directly atthe laser. However, anesthetic drops are used for your eyes, soyou will not feel any pain - only some pressure and a littlediscomfort. 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
- First of all the surgeon will drop a few numbing drops intoyour eye and clean the area around it. Then your eyelids will bepropped open.
- Before the laser can start its work, thesurgeon will need to cut a flap in your cornea. This could bedone with either a laser or with microkeratome - a specialcutting instrument. It might sound scary, but don't worry: youwon't feel the cutting.
- After that, the laser will bepositioned over your eye and you will have to look directly atit for about 60
seconds. The reshaping has not started yet, butyour eye needs to get used to being focused on the light. - When your eye is in the perfect position, the laser willstart its work. The laser is controlled by a computer, which ispreprogrammed by the surgeon to remove a specific amount ofcorneal tissue.
- After your cornea is reshaped, the flapis put back on it place.
- Stitches won't be used tokeep the flap in place; instead, doctors use a specialprotective shield to hold it. The shield will protect your eyefrom 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 youmight feel a bit dizzy and your vision will be blurred, atfirst; obviously you shouldn't drive, under these conditions.The improvement in vision is usually noticable the same day, orby the following morning, at the latest
Straight after you might feel some discomfort,like there is something in your eye. The most difficult thing isto resist the urge to rub your eyes, but you mustn't touch themuntil the flap is healed
There are also several restrictions, after
the surgery. Youshouldn't use any eye make-up for two weeks, play
any sports forfour weeks, or swim or take a hot bath for two months.
Also youwill have to come in for a follow up visit within 48 hours
afterthe surgery, plus a few more visits during the following sixmonths
