LASIK Surgery
Imagine starting your day by seeing the alarm clock, exercising, doing active lifestyle things all without the hassle of contact lenses or glasses. LASIK eye surgery can potentially make this a reality. The LASIK procedure typically only takes a few minutes to perform and many patients are able to see with extreme clarity. However, LASIK surgery is not for everyone as it cannot cure all vision problems.
What is LASIK?
LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that corrects certain vision problems, reducing or eliminating the need for eyeglasses or corrective lenses. LASIK actually stands for Laser in-situ keratomileusis, the technical term for the surgical procedure. LASIK eye surgery is the most common type of refractive surgery. Refractive surgery changes the shape of your cornea to correct your vision. This procedure can be quite effective, and has very few side effects. LASIK is a great option for many individuals considering laser vision correction for a variety of very personal and professional reasons. LASIK may not promise perfect vision, however; it is a highly successful procedure that can at the very least reduce a person’s dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The lifestyle benefits can be tremendous for active and social people. These benefits can enable people to more freely pursue their hobbies, sports activities or career options.
LASIK is a non-invasive, refractive procedure using the technology of the excimer laser along with a well-known instrument called a microkeratome. (Please note, some LASIK is performed using a femtosecond laser or a microkeratome.)
LASIK uses a beam of cool light to reshape the top layer (less than 10 percent) of the cornea, so that images focus correctly on the retina. A computer, controlled by your LASIK eye surgeon, is used to precisely calculate the exact amount of cornea that needs to be removed for each person’s individual eyes. Numerous tests will be done on the eyes to achieve the measurements that will be treated with the laser.
What happens in LASIK surgery?
Your eye is anesthetized with drops to ensure you do not feel the procedure. Two small marks which disappear in a few hours are placed on your cornea. A suction ring is placed on the eye to secure the eye and maintain pressure while a corneal flap is created. During LASIK, the microkeratome or femtosecond laser will be used to create a thin cellophane flap from the surface of the cornea. The flap is then lifted to expose the deeper layer of cornea to be treated. This corneal flap stays attached to the rest of the cornea on one side. If any abnormality is noted the procedure could be aborted and reattempted. The laser is then positioned into place, and delivers a programmed number of pulses of ultraviolet light onto the newly exposed part of the cornea. Each pulse of the laser removes a microscopic layer of cornea.
Before LASIK surgery
Prior to LASIK surgery you will be invited to an eye care office for a complete eye health examination known as your pre-operative LASIK eye exam. During this process we will perform series of diagnostic test to make sure your eyes are suitable for LASIK surgery. Measurements of your corneal thickness will be reviewed and your overall eye health will be checked. If it is determined that you are a candidate our office will help you schedule your LASIK eye surgery and provide you with a thorough list of surgery day details.
After LASIK surgery
After LASIK surgery is complete, the corneal flap is put back in place. This flap will naturally adhere to the treated cornea, eliminating the need for sutures. Pressure from the eyelid and other factors will hold the flap in place as it heals, minimizing discomfort. The center of the cornea is now flattened, allowing light rays to be focused more precisely on the retina and images will be seen more sharply. Most LASIK patients notice a dramatic improvement in their vision immediately after the procedure. However, maximum improvement will occur over the next three to four weeks. Both antibiotic drops and steroid drops will be used for a period of two weeks following LASIK surgery to ensure proper healing. Artificial tears will also be used abundantly to help keep the cornea smooth and moist during the healing period.
Follow-Up after LASIK
The final outcome and speed of healing of the LASIK procedure is directly related to the care that is taken of the cornea after the procedure. It is very important to keep all postoperative appointments with your doctor.
The recommended exam dates following LASIK are:
- One Day
- One Week
- One Month
- Three Months
- One Year
Following LASIK surgery, patients usually experience a rapid recovery due to the fact that only a tiny portion of the eye is actually operated on.
Blade-Free LASIK
When LASIK first arrived as a laser vision correction procedure, a microkeratome was used to create the corneal flap. Over the years we have found that when complications arise from LASIK they are typically from a poorly created corneal flap. Unlike mechanical instruments, the blade-free LASIK technology is uniquely able to program the dimensions of your flap based on what’s best for your eyes. Then a femtosecond laser creates your flap from below the surface of the cornea-without ever cutting it. This process is done in a series of steps:
- Ultra-fast pulses of laser light position microscopic bubbles at a precise depth predetermined by your doctor.
- The laser light passes harmlessly through your cornea. Then the laser creates rows of these bubbles just beneath your corneal surface as it moves back and forth across your eye in a uniform plane.
- Next, the femtosecond laser stacks bubbles around your corneal diameter to create the edges of your flap. These bubbles are stacked at an angle that is determined by your doctor and is individualized to the way your eye is shaped.
- The process takes only about 30 seconds from start to finish- it’s quiet and it’s comfortable.
- Your doctor then gently lifts the flap to allow for the second step of your LASIK treatment. When treatment is complete, the flap is gently put back into position and the healing process begins.
Advantages of Blade-FREE LASIK include:
- Faster LASIK procedure time, increasing patient comfort
- Stronger, more secure LASIK flaps
- Improved corneal sensitivity
- Fewer dry eye symptoms
LASIK Alternatives
Perhaps you have learned or been advised that LASIK surgery is not a good choice for you as you suffer from diabetes, presbyopia, cataracts or you are highly myopic. In the case that you are not a LASIK candidate you may still be able to have vision correction. Please investigate our services website page regarding Visian ICL, or Refractive Lens Exchange with Premium IOLs. Please be advised that a vision correction consultation would be the best way to determine the best possible vision correction procedure for you. Always seek the advice of medical professionals after reading eye care or LASIK information to best assess your personal best vision correction choices.