A Guide To LASIK Eye Surgery

A lasik eye surgery presentation

Many people that wear glasses or contact lenses don't want to deal with the daily hassle. There is a procedure called LASIK eye surgery that can help to correct vision problems. The following are some facts about your eyes as well as the LASIK surgery procedure.

Understanding Your Eyes

In order to see clearly, the cornea and the lens of the eye must refract or bend light rays so they can focus on the retina. The retina is the layer of light sensing cells that line the back part of the eye. The retina will then convert light rays into a type of impulse that is sent to the brain, where they in turn are recognized as images. If the light rays don't focus correctly on the retina, it results in you seeing a blurry image. This is referred to as a refractive error. Wearing glasses or contacts helps to reduce these errors by making the light rays focus on the retina. Refractive surgery is another option that can correct or reduce these errors. Refractive errors are actually caused by an eyeball, lens, or cornea that is imperfectly shaped. There are three basic types of refractive errors.

• Myopia – nearsightedness, meaning only nearby objects are clear
• Hyperopia – farsightedness, meaning only objects far away are clear
• Astigmatism – nearby and far away objects are blurred

Surgery

The first step to getting surgery is a complete eye exam by your surgeon. You should take any eye prescription records with you to the appointment. During the first exam your doctor will dilate your pupils to get an accurate reading of your prescription. The doctor will also examine the eyes to make sure that they are healthy and will perform a retina exam and a glaucoma test. Your eyes will also be measured during this exam and you are asked to sign a consent form after going over the risks, benefits, and possible complications of the surgery. Your doctor will also be able to tell you at this point whether or not you will be a good candidate for surgery.

If you do qualify for the surgery, your doctor will likely tell you to stop wearing contact lenses as they can temporarily change the shape of the cornea. Your cornea needs to be in its natural shape on the day of the surgery. Your doctor also might tell you to stop wearing makeup, lotions, and perfumes on your face a few days prior to surgery. These products can potentially interfere with the treatment and can increase the risk of infection after surgery.

Lasik is an outpatient procedure, and the only anesthetic used is a drop that numbs the surface of the eye. The surgery takes only ten to fifteen minutes for each eye. Occasionally both eyes are done during the same procedure but some surgeons prefer to wait and see the results of the first eye before performing surgery on the second.

The procedure involves cutting a hinged flap of corneal tissue off the outer layer of the eye. The flap is then lifted out of the way. The laser works by reshaping the underlying corneal tissue after which the surgeon will replace the flap which very quickly adheres to the eye. There are no stitches involved. Either a metal or plastic shield is placed over the eye to protect the flap.

Most people heal quickly after surgery but it is advised that you take a few days off of work after your surgery. You might experience a mild burning up to a few hours after surgery but it is very important to not rub your eyes. If necessary, your doctor may prescribe a painkiller to ease any discomfort. Your vision is likely to be blurry the day of the surgery but should considerably improve by the next day when you will return to the doctor for a follow up exam. If you experience any unusual side effects you should report them to your doctor immediately. Some side effects are possible after surgery but generally disappear over time however in rare situations they can be permanent.

Possible Side Effects:

• Pain or discomfort
• Blurry or hazy vision
• Scratchiness
• Glare
• Dryness
• Light Sensitivity
• Starbursts or halos around lights
• Small red or pink patches on the whites of the eyes

Not everyone is a good candidate for vision correction surgery. Your eyes must be healthy and prescription stable, and you should be in good general health. You need to have realistic expectations for your surgery and follow your doctors advice. It is important to make sure that you are seeing a qualified doctor that is permitted to perform the surgery you are seeking.

• Lasik Surgery – Articles and resources from the FDA on LASIK vision correction surgery.
• Eye Surgery Resources – Educational materials and full-text journal articles on LASIK eye surgery.
• Lasik Tutorial – An interactive tutorial and text summary of LASIK surgery from the National Library of Medicine.
• Types of Procedures - An article explaining the various types of vision correction surgery that can be performed on the eyes
• Is Surgery For You? - An article explaining the advances in refractive eye surgery that will help you decide if it is the right procedure for you.