Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery is the best known and most commonly performed eye surgery. It is done with lasers and it corrects vision problems. This procedure can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses. Interested in how LASIK works or if it could be right for you? Read on to find out more about the pros of LASIK and what makes a good candidate.
Why LASIK Surgery?
In eyes with good vision, the cornea bends or refracts light correctly onto the retina at the back of the eye. However, for people with poor vision, the light is bent incorrectly which causes blurred vision. While glasses and/or contact lenses are a good fix for some people, LASIK can also correct blurred vision by actually reshaping the cornea, allowing it to provide the necessary refraction for clear vision.
The Procedure
LASIK surgery is usually done in 30 minutes or less. Numbing drops are put in place and your doctor uses an instrument to hold your eyelids open while you lay flat on your back. During LASIK surgery, a special cutting laser is used to change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eye, the cornea, to improve your vision. During the surgery, you may be asked to focus on a point of light. This helps you keep your eye fixed while it is being worked on.
After LASIK Surgery
Right after surgery, your eye(s) may be itchy, feel gritty, burn, or be watery. Blurred vision is likely. Most patients experience little pain and their vision recovers quickly. You may be provided with eye drops or pain medication to keep you comfortable. It takes about 2-3 months after surgery before your eyes will heal and your vision will clear.
PROS of LASIK Surgery
Ease and Convenience
One huge benefit of LASIK is the ease that comes with it. Have you ever thought, it would be nice to wake up in the morning and not need to put on my contacts or glasses? With LASIK, you won’t have to! Since the shape of your eye was fixed to refract light correctly, you will be able to wake up and see without putting in or on any sort of corrective lenses (contacts or glasses)! LASIK adds a convenience to life that you may not have had before and can make traveling, exercising, and even running late to work that much easier!
Clearer, Better Vision
Your vision will be clearer and better. You won’t have to worry about not being sure if it’s safe to drive because you don’t have your glasses on at night. You won’t have to pack your contact lenses on trips. You
also won’t need to worry about how long your contact lenses have been in your eyes. You will no longer have to deal with the risks that come with putting a foreign object (contacts) in your eyes every day.
Cost Savings
While LASIK can be expensive up front, over time, it may actually save you money. If you pay a few hundred dollars for glasses each year and a few hundred dollars for contacts each year, that adds up. With LASIK, you will pay a large sum up front, but they should last your lifetime or most of your lifetime. You will not have to worry about buying contacts and/or glasses every year.
Am I a candidate for LASIK?
Candidates for LASIK must be at least 18 years old. They must also not have certain health problems. Your eyes must be in good condition and free of certain eye diseases. While 18-years-old is the FDA approved age for LASIK, many providers encourage patients to wait until they are in their mid-20s to allow the eyes time to stabilize. Read about if LASIK is right for you. For more detailed information or to see if you are a good candidate for LASIK, contact us today.
LASIK has many benefits. While it can seem like an intimidating procedure, it is done very frequently and safely and can be well worth the cost. Getting LASIK makes living more convenient, gives you better, clearer vision, and can even save you money! Interested in LASIK eye surgery? Contact us today to set up an appointment.
