subject: What Is Lasik Eye Surgery and How it Works [print this page] What Is Lasik Eye Surgery and How it Works
A lot of people have been hearing about lasik eye surgery, and many have undergone the treatment already. This procedure is actually one of the technologically advanced ways to cure and treat different eye conditions like myopia for example, as well as astigmatism and hyperopia.
How Laser Eye Surgery Works
The term lasik is actually short for laser in situ keratomileusis. The process involves the use of a special laser which corrects visual problems like near or far sightedness, and may also lessen or eliminate the need for wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses.
The laser, under the guided hand of an experienced eye surgeon, reshapes the cornea to allow incoming light rays to enter the eye properly, resulting in a clearer vision. When you wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, these allow you to see better because they compensate for the refractive errors your eyes have. With lasik eye surgery, you can get clear vision without the need for glasses and contact lenses.
Getting Laser Eye Surgery for Yourself
Although lasik eye surgery has been said to be painless, offers a quick healing time as well as permanent results, this procedure is not for everybody. Consult an eye doctor or an eye surgeon and he or she will conduct a series of rigorous tests to determine if you are a good candidate for lasik eye surgery.
Do keep in mind that lasik eye surgery, even though it makes use of lasers instead of the traditional methods of making incisions and stitching up the affected area, there are still some, but very minimal risks involves. For instance, if you find that your prescription or the grade of your eyes continues to increase by the year, then you may not be a good candidate for lasik eye surgery.
Believe it or not, your lifestyle can also affect your chances of becoming a candidate for lasik eye surgery. People who engage in sports with physical contact like boxing or martial arts may not be a good candidate for lasik eye surgery. This is because the flap in your eyes may get dislocated, which can cause negative effects to your vision.
Age is also another factor in determining whether you can have lasik eye surgery or not. As a general rule of thumb, patients who are at least eighteen years old and above can have lasik eye surgery performed, but some patients, even at this age, still do not have a stable vision. Elderly patients are also more prone to developing cataracts, so it is still best to find out from an eye doctor whether or not you can have lasik eye surgery carried out on your eyes.
Preparing for Laser Eye Surgery
Once you have been determined to be a good candidate for lasik eye surgery, your doctor will discuss with you certain things in order to prepare for the surgery. One of them is to not wear any eye makeup for at least a week before the actual treatment. Another thing your eye doctor may advise you of is to not wear your contact lenses for a certain period of time before the procedure is carried out. This depends on whether you are wearing hard or soft contact lenses. Make sure you follow everything the doctor says because not doing so can lead to errors during the procedure, which could leave you with a negative impact on your vision.
After having lasik eye surgery, some people experience headaches, blurred vision, itchy eyes, and even a burning sensation on the eyes itself. It is very important not to scratch the eyes as you risk dislocating the flap in your eye, and this also increases your chances of getting infections especially if your hands are not clean. Ask your doctor about what you should and should not do after the procedure.
An eye doctor is your best resource when it comes to addressing all of your concerns about lasik eye surgery. He or she can help you prepare for the treatment, explain how the whole process works, and sets your expectations on the outcome of the surgery. Patients who need glaucoma treatment can also make use of laser eye surgery to cure their condition.
