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Lasik - Simple Procedure Or Dangerous Surgery?
By Tatyana Turner, Thu Dec 8th
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 astigmatism the cause is the same - yourcornea is not a perfect shape. The goal of the isto reshape (polish) your cornea so the light going through itfocuses 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 1. 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. 2. Before the laser can start its work, the surgeon will need tocut a flap in your cornea. This could be done with either alaser or with microkeratome - a special cutting instrument. Itmight sound scary, but don't worry: you won't feel the cutting. 3. After that, the laser will be positioned over your eye andyou will have to look directly at it for about 60 seconds. Thereshaping has not
started yet, but your eye needs to get used tobeing focused on the light. When your eye is in the perfectposition, the laser will start its work. The laser is controlledby a computer, which is preprogrammed by the surgeon to remove aspecific amount of corneal tissue.4. After your cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back on itplace. 5. Stitches won't be used to keep the flap in place; instead,doctors use a special protective shield to hold it. The shieldwill protect your eye from being touched accidentally. 6. That's it! Usually you can go home straight after theprocedure, but you will have to organize a lift for yourselfbecause you might feel a bit dizzy and your vision will beblurred, at first; obviously you shouldn't drive, under theseconditions. The improvement in vision is usually noticable thesame day, or by 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. You shouldn't use any eye make-up for twoweeks, play any sports
for four weeks, or swim or take a hotbath for two months. Also you will have
to come in for a followup visit within 48 hours after the surgery, plus a few
morevisits during the following six months. |
