What To Expect From LASIK Laser Eye Surgery?

In today’s world, many people experience vision problems. This is due to the fact that now almost no one can do without technological devices such as a telephone, computer or TV. All these things negatively affect vision and over time it gets worse. People have to wear glasses or contact lenses in order not to experience visual discomfort. Good vision is positive emotions and good mood. For example, if you come to the mountains and look into the distance, then a blurry picture will bring little pleasure. Well, if you manage to observe every little detail and clearly see all the beauties, this will give a lot of positive impressions. Therefore, good vision is indispensable. But glasses and contact lenses can be uncomfortable and cause some discomfort. Lenses need to be constantly removed and put on, and glasses can not hold well on a person and fall off all the time. And if you want to get rid of these everyday inconveniences, then today it can be done with the help of LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK is a high-tech microsurgical technique, thanks to which it is possible to restore visual acuity very quickly. During this procedure, the shape of the anterior surface of the cornea of ​​the eye is changed, which allows the light entering the eye to be focused on the retina without the help of glasses or contact lenses. In this way, myopia, farsightedness, and astigmatism can be cured. It should also be noted that, compared with PRK eye surgery, this method of treatment is more gentle and is characterized by a shorter recovery period. For example, after PRK, vision is fully restored within 1-3 months, and after LASIK this period will end in two weeks – a month. However, the advantage of PRK is that such a procedure can be done for people with fairly thin corneas, as well as the cost of the correction itself. The cost of such an operation is 1800-2800 dollars per eye, while the cost of LASIK eye surgery is 2200-3200 dollars per eye.

Before doing laser vision correction, an ophthalmologist will definitely conduct a thorough examination of the eyes. This is necessary so that the doctor can determine whether this operation is suitable for you, and can also give the necessary recommendations before the procedure. First, the doctor will examine your eyes for the possibility of dry eye syndrome after surgery. He will also ask about your medical and surgical history to see what problems you had with your eyes before. The ophthalmologist will definitely measure the thickness of the cornea, determine its shape and identify irregularities. This is done using a special tool called a corneal topographer. It creates a detailed dot map of your eye. These steps will help the doctor determine areas where the cornea needs to be reshaped and the amount of tissue to be removed. After that, the data is loaded into the computer and it calculates all the parameters necessary for the operation.

Also, the ophthalmologist will definitely give advice that you need to follow in order to prepare for the procedure:

• Do not wear soft contact lenses for 14 days and hard contact lenses for 30 days. This is necessary in order for the cornea to fully restore its shape. At the same time, wearing glasses is not prohibited.

• Sometimes the doctor will prescribe special drops for you, which should be dripped for a certain period of time before the operation.

• Do not take alcoholic beverages for 2 days of surgery.

• Make-up, hairspray, perfume and cologne should not be used on the day of surgery.
• On the day of surgery, you need to take a shower and wash your hair thoroughly
• Eyelash extensions must be removed before surgery
• A few hours before the laser correction you need to eat
• Please wear comfortable clothing and bring sunglasses.

Also, LASIK eye surgery has certain restrictions on its use:

• Myopia: up to -15D
• Hyperopia: up to +6D
• Astigmatism: up to +(-)3D

The operation is performed on an outpatient basis and in most cases results in 100% vision. Before the procedure, local anesthesia of the eyes is carried out with the help of special drops. As a result, the patient does not experience any pain.

After that, the eyelids are fixed with a special eyelid expander and proceed to the procedure itself. The patient is offered to fix his gaze on the red dot on the laser unit. The surgeon needs to provide access to the deep layers of the cornea. Therefore, the doctor cuts the superficial corneal flap with a special instrument and turns it to the side. Next, the laser beam forms the correct shape of the cornea and returns the flap to its place. This is where the operation ends. The patient’s eyes are washed with a special solution and drops are instilled for recovery.

Immediately after the procedure, the doctor gives the patient a little rest. Although laser eye surgery in this way is considered one of the most gentle options, a person may still experience some discomfort after the operation is completed. During the first hours after LASIK, the patient will feel a temporary burning sensation and itching. There is also profuse lacrimation, a feeling of sand in the eyes, their redness, slight discomfort when blinking, severe photophobia begins. Therefore, you need to take sunglasses with you, which must be worn after laser eye surgery. You should not smoke in the early days, and it is also better to avoid getting smoke in your eyes.

The next morning after the operation, you need to visit the ophthalmologist again. It is better to exclude driving a car on this day, being in dusty rooms, playing sports, and using a computer and phone for a long time. Also, do not visit the sauna or bath. The doctor will check your eyes, give you all the necessary instructions and, if necessary, prescribe certain drops and medicines.

All unpleasant symptoms pass quickly enough, but the full recovery of the eye occurs only a few months after the operation. At this time, your distance and near visual acuity may fluctuate depending on the time of day. Blurred vision may also occur. Do not worry if you notice ghosting, increased sensitivity to light, and eye fatigue at the end of the day. All these symptoms usually go away within a month or two. After this time, it will be possible to start exercising regularly again, apply makeup and restore your normal pace of life. You will be able to perform all the basic daily activities within a few weeks after the procedure.

Most often, LASIK completely restores vision, but it may be that you have to wear glasses or lenses after the operation. Even so, your eyesight will improve greatly.

If you want to change your vision for the better, LASIK eye surgery is a great way to do it. This is a safe and gentle version of the operation, but despite this, you need to prepare for everything in advance, and you also need to understand what you can expect after the procedure. If you carefully consider this issue, then this procedure will make your life better and give you many positive emotions in the future.