Glasses be gone! 20 to 25 million Americans have received laser eye surgery over the last 25 years. LASIK surgery is one of the most popular and effective elective surgeries in the country.
Yet millions of people who can benefit from LASIK don’t get surgery. They don’t know much about it, and they don’t understand what it does. If you’re interested in curing your vision, you need to study LASIK.
Who can benefit from a LASIK procedure? What is LASIK surgery like? How can you have a speedy and successful recovery?
Answer these questions and you can start your path to 20/20 vision today. Here is your quick guide.
Determine Your Candidacy for a LASIK Procedure
To qualify for LASIK surgery, you need to be in good health. Your eye health should also be good, even if you have a vision problem. You need to be at least 18 years of age and have a good vision prescription.
LASIK surgery involves reshaping your cornea. A misshapen cornea can cause farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
If you experience one of these problems, you qualify for LASIK. LASIK cannot help with other issues like glaucoma.
Talk to your doctor about the procedure. Your doctor may recommend that you wear contacts or glasses instead. They may also ask that you speak to an ophthalmologist to get more information about corrective eye surgery and alternatives to LASIK like RFE surgery.
Get Tested
If your doctor thinks you are a good fit for the procedure, they will ask you to go to an ophthalmologist in order to get tested. Most people go through six tests in order to see if they are a good candidate for surgery.
An ophthalmologist will test your pupil and cornea size. They will examine what shape your cornea is and how thick it is. If your cornea is not misshapen, you may have another issue that needs treatment besides eye surgery.
Dry eyes can cause vision problems, so your doctor will measure the amount and quality of your tears. If your tears are cloudy or if you cannot make tears, you need to get your dry eyes treated first.
If it seems like you have a cornea problem, your doctor will check how your corneas refract light. Astigmatism occurs when corneas refract light and create multiple focal points, blurring your vision. Nearsightedness occurs when you have a focal point in front of your retina while farsightedness involves a focal point behind your retina.
After examining your cornea, they will see if your vision has changed recently and if the other parts of your eyes are healthy. If your corneas alone are causing your vision difficulties, you will likely qualify for surgery. These tests can take place within one session, and your doctor can determine if you are a good candidate by the end.
Prepare for Your LASIK Surgery
Read a guide on how to prepare for LASIK surgery so you have a smooth operation. 24 hours before your surgery, you should stop using creams and lotions on your face. You should not wear makeup or perfume as well.
You should switch from contact lenses to glasses. Contacts can affect the shape of your cornea and impact your surgery. Try resting your eyes during the hours before your surgery, avoiding bright lights that can strain your eyes.
Drink plenty of water so you avoid dry eyes after your procedure. Pick a comfortable outfit to wear during the surgery. Loose clothes that don’t create lint often work well.
The operation may only take 15 minutes. But your appointment at the surgery center may last roughly two hours. A doctor will check on you before and after the procedure to see if you are doing okay, so be prepared to wait.
Undergo the Operation
The surgeon will help you lie down, then they will put drops in your eyes. This will numb your eyes so you don’t feel any pain. You will remain awake during the procedure.
The surgeon will then place eyelid holders and suction rings around your eyes. These tools keep your eyes from moving, which can make your vision dim or black.
They will use a laser to create a flap in your cornea. Many people feel pressure akin to a finger pushing against their eyelids, but the feeling is not painful.
The surgeon will lift and pull the flap back, then they will ask you to look at a light shining directly in your eyes. This holds your eyes in place so the laser can reshape your cornea.
The surgeon will take the flap of tissue in your cornea and fold it back down. Your eyes will immediately begin to heal, and most people have healed corneas within a few minutes.
After lying down for a few minutes, you will be allowed to go home. Someone else should drive you home, and you should spend the rest of the day resting.
Dry eyes are a common side effect. You may also experience blurry or hazy vision, and you may see halos and starbursts around bright objects. Be patient and wait for these side effects to pass.
Consider a LASIK Procedure
A LASIK procedure can cure your blurry vision now. You can qualify for a LASIK procedure if you have a problem with your corneas. An ophthalmologist will run tests to make sure your corneas are the cause of your vision issues.
Prepare for surgery by switching to glasses and drinking plenty of water. The surgery is brief, and you will experience no pain during it. You may experience dry eyes or light sensitivity, so rest and remain in contact with your doctor.
Don’t go far for great eye care. Eye LASIK Austin serves the Austin area. Contact us today.
