You’re tired of wearing glasses. You’re tired of wearing contacts. Nonetheless, you need them to see . . . unless, of course, you undergo laser eye surgery.
But you’re wondering: how do laser eye surgeries work? And even more: are they effective? They are!
To show you just how effective they are, we’re going to discuss laser eye surgeries in detail below, explaining how they work as well as their many benefits. Here’s everything you need to know about laser surgery for eyes.
The Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery
There are a number of benefits that come with laser eye surgery. The most prominent of these benefits include the following.
Immediate Correction
One of the great things about laser eye surgery is that it provides almost immediate results. Many patients’ vision is corrected right after the procedure has been performed. The majority of patients’ eyesight is corrected by the next day at the very latest.
Very Little Recovery
Another great thing about laser eye surgery is that it requires very little recovery. While there might be slight discomfort after the procedure, it tends to go away within a day. And because there are no stitches or bandaging involved, there’s no need for the patient to perform any maintenance.
Almost Entirely Eliminates the Need for Glasses or Contacts
The biggest benefit of laser eye surgery is that it almost entirely eliminates the need for glasses or contacts. In fact, in many cases, there is no need for the patient to ever wear glasses or contacts ever again. The surgery corrects their eyesight to the point that they can perform all necessary tasks without the use of glasses or contacts.
Those whose vision isn’t entirely corrected still see seismic positive results. They may have to wear glasses while they read, for example, but can, more or less, see perfectly without the use of corrective eyewear.
Can Be Performed Multiple Times
Laser eye surgery is designed to correct a person’s eyesight permanently. However, in select cases, a person’s eyesight will deteriorate as they age. Fortunately, laser eye surgery can be used to correct these cases as well, allowing affected individuals to maintain excellent eyesight into old age.
How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?
Now that we’ve discussed the benefits of laser eye surgery, let’s discuss how it works. Laser eye surgery is performed by ophthalmologists. It’s done in either ophthalmologists’ offices or outpatient medical facilities.
When you opt to undergo laser eye surgery, you’ll first have to have a consultation with your ophthalmologist. During this consultation, you’ll learn what the procedure will entail and will be able to determine whether you still want to go through with it. You can also, of course, ask questions during this appointment.
The procedure itself will occur at your next appointment. It will begin with the numbing of your eyes. This is done with anesthetic drops.
Once your eyes have been numbed, they’ll be held open with an eyelid holder. This is to ensure that you don’t blink while the procedure is being carried out.
Next, the ophthalmologist will use a laser to cut a flap in the eye’s cornea. They will then fold the flap back, and then use another laser as a means of reshaping your cornea.
Finally, the flap will be folded back to its original position. From there, it will heal on its own, usually within a week.
In the meantime, you might experience some discomfort. As such, as a means of stopping you from scratching your affected eye, your ophthalmologist might equip it with a transparent cover.
Generally speaking, the entire procedure will be completed in 30 minutes or less. Throughout the entirety of the procedure, you’ll be lying back in a chair.
What Conditions Does Laser Eye Surgery Treat?
Does laser eye surgery correct all vision problems or only particular conditions? Specifically, it treats conditions dealing with light refraction issues. These issues are corrected by adjusting the shape of the cornea.
Which conditions fit into this category? They include the following.
Nearsightedness
Also known as myopia, nearsightedness is a condition in which you can see things that are nearby, but struggle to see things that are far away from you. Nearsightedness occurs in situations where the cornea curves too much. Through laser eye surgery, you can straighten out this curve, thereby allowing you to see things clearly from a distance.
Farsightedness
Sometimes called hyperopia, farsightedness is when you can clearly see things that are far away from you but struggle to see things that are close to you. It occurs in situations where the cornea doesn’t curve enough or is flatter than it’s supposed to be. Laser eye surgery can correct this problem by rounding out the cornea, allowing the patient to clearly see things that are close by.
Astigmatism
Astigmatism is a condition in which the patient struggles to see things at both a distance and close by. It comes about due to an uneven cornea. Fortunately, laser eye surgery can be used to smooth out the cornea, allowing for complete correction.
Interested in Laser Surgery for Eyes?
What do you think? Are you interested in undergoing laser surgery for eyes? If so, and if you’re in or around Austin, Texas, we here at Eye LASIK Austin are the people to see.
We’ve performed LASIK eye surgery on countless patients over the years, helping to correct their eyesight without the use of glasses or contacts. If you’re interested in the same, we can help you.
Contact us now to schedule a free consultation!
