Are you one of the more than 190 million Americans who have trouble with their vision? Are you sick and tired of your glasses fogging up when you wear a mask?
If so, iLasik could be a great way for you to say goodbye to glasses and contacts. In fact, recently there’s been a huge uptick in the number of people choosing to get laser eye surgery.
If you’re considering it too, then you’ve probably got a few questions about exactly what it entails.
You’re in the right place. We’re here to guide you through every step of the process, from consultation to recovery, so keep reading below!
What Is iLasik?
iLasik is a popular form of laser eye surgery. iLasik is the more advanced cousin of Lasik. Rather than using a blade to make a flap in the cornea, it uses a more precise laser instead.
Lasik and iLasik are very common procedures, with 700,000 surgeries performed each year. It involves reshaping the cornea so that it refracts light correctly again. This surgery can correct astigmatism, short-sightedness, long-sightedness, and presbyopia.
iLasik benefits include:
- Corrects vision in 96% of patients
- Long-lasting results
- Quick recovery
- Many no longer need glasses or contact lenses
Every patient is different. The first step is a consultation to find out whether you are a suitable candidate for iLasik.
The iLasik Process Stage One: Consultation
Before eye surgery can be planned, you need to find out whether you are a good candidate for iLasik. You can complete a brief online quiz that covers the basic requirements. The main ones are:
- Must be over 18
- Have stable vision
- Not have chronic, untreated dry eye
Next, you need a consultation with an iLasik specialist. They will complete some tests to confirm whether you are a suitable candidate or not. They’ll talk to you about your general health and look at the health of your eye.
A key indicator of suitability is your corneal thickness. If your corneas are too thin, it may not be possible to reshape them.
If you are a good candidate for iLasik, the specialist will talk you through the procedure. They will create a custom iLasik plan for your surgery. They will answer any questions that you have and let you know how to prepare for the surgery.
Then it’s up to you to choose whether you would like to go ahead.
Preparing for iLasik Surgery
Before iLasik surgery, it’s good to take some practical steps to get yourself in good shape for the surgery.
Although there are no rules around what you should eat or drink, it’s good to keep well hydrated beforehand. Also, staying away from alcohol or caffeine just before your surgery will help you to relax on the day.
No Contacts Before Surgery
One major no-no before iLasik surgery is wearing contact lenses. You will be asked to stop wearing them for a certain amount of time before your surgery date. This could be:
- Up to 7 days before your pre-operative exam and surgery for soft contact lenses
- Up to 14 days before surgery for toric lenses
Why do you need to stop wearing contact lenses, we hear you ask? That’s because, unlike glasses, contact lenses change the shape of the front surface of your eye.
As you can imagine, taking precision measurements of your eyes is extremely important ahead of your surgery. It’s crucial that there is no distortion. Your iLasik specialist will talk to you about exactly how long before your surgery you need to stop wearing lenses.
Arrange a Driver
On the day of your procedure, you will not be able to drive yourself. You will still feel groggy from the sedative, and your vision won’t have settled down yet. You’ll need to arrange for someone to collect you after the procedure.
Come “Au Naturale”
We all like to look our best, but on surgery day, you need to come without any makeup or perfume. You’re going into a sensitive environment with precision instruments. It’s important that nothing gets in the way.
Prepare Yourself Mentally
Our eyes are naturally sensitive parts of our body, and we’re designed to protect them from harm.
One of the best things you can do is ask your iLasik specialist any questions ahead of the procedure so that you are fully aware of what will happen. Try to get a good night’s sleep the night before so that you arrive calm and relaxed.
Think about what helps you to relax. You’ll be awake during the surgery, so plan to breathe deeply. Remember that it only takes a few minutes, and will be over before you know it.
On the Day
On the day, your surgeon will again talk you through the process so that you are relaxed and ready. You will be given a mild sedative to help you relax.
You will lie back in a reclining chair in the operating room. The surgeon will put numbing drops in both eyes, your eyes will be cleaned, and an instrument will keep your eyes open. Then the surgeon will begin the procedure.
He or she will use a laser to make a flap in the cornea. You may feel mild discomfort now as the surgeon uses the laser to prepare your cornea. You will then be asked to focus on a light and the laser shaping process will begin.
After the laser has finished its work, the surgeon will carefully replace the flap and place a shield over your eye.
Recovery From Eye Surgery
After your surgery, it’s normal to feel some discomfort or have the sensation that something is in your eye. Your vision will be hazy and you will need to resist the temptation to rub your eye!
A day or two after your surgery, you will have a follow-up visit with your surgeon. Your vision will be tested and you will be given eye drops to help your eye to heal. Artificial tears can also help to keep your eye lubricated.
Your vision will stabilize over the next few months. If you develop any issues, contact your doctor immediately.
Are You Ready for iLasik?
It’s natural to feel a little apprehensive about iLasik at first. But this tried and true surgery for vision correction has helped millions of people to regain their sight and confidence. By understanding what happens at every stage, you too can feel confident to go ahead and achieve better vision!
At iLasik Austin, our team is ready and waiting to answer any questions you may have. We want to make vision correction affordable and achievable for as many people as possible.
Schedule a free initial consultation with us today!
