Facts on LASIK Eye Surgery

Before you decide to take LASIK surgery, you should understand all the facts that might affect you. Is LASIK surgery the right option for you? LASIK surgery promises you to improve your vision permanently thus you become independent of eye glasses or contact lenses, or at least lessen your dependence upon them.

You are suggested to consult with an optometrist that specializes in LASIK surgery. The doctor will conduct a number of tests to determine if you are a good candidate for the surgery. Generally, laser eye surgery corrects vision problems, such as Myopia (nearsightedness), where you can see things that are near, but not objects that are far; Hyperopia (farsightedness), where you see objects that are far, but not those that are near; and Astigmatism, where irregularities in the cornea distort images on the retina of the eye.


As part of the tests, the doctor will examine your eye health history. A few things may be taken into consideration, such as whether you have had a change in your eyewear prescription over the last year or so. If the answer is yes, you may not be able to undertake lasik surgery due to the fact that your eyes need to be stable for a period at least one year. Other example is whether you have a history of particular diseases, such as glaucoma, herpes, eye injuries or thin corneas. If this is the case then the doctor possibly would not let you take lasik surgery.

After you pass the eye examination you may be given psychological counselling to prepare you prior to the surgery. An important thing to remember here is to let yourself relax and remain positive about the outcome.

During the actual surgery, you will be seated in a reclined position. The doctor will give you a numbing solution in the eye that is being operated on. A microscope will be aimed right at the eye, which is made constantly open using a special speculum.

The doctor will insert a ring to your eye with hard pressure to create a suction effect on the cornea. He will then use a knife to cut the part of the cornea that requires the reshaping. This procedure will cause a blurry vision to your eye.

After the cornea has been cut the ring is removed, at this point, you will be able to see, although this will come and go during the rest of the LASIK surgery. There are two part of the operation where the laser is introduced, two actually. The first laser is for your eye to focus on; the second is the working laser.

The entire operation is made possible by the use of a smart computer. The computer connects to the machine with the microscope. This computer controls the amount of strength that is available in the laser. Prior to the operation, the surgeon will have programmed how much tissue needs to be removed from the cornea, based on the tests in the first visit. The computer then, stops the laser when the exact amount of tissue has been removed.

Your surgery is practically complete. There are a number of things you should apply after the surgery. Even though you can technically come back to normal daily life after a couple of days, you should be aware of some restrictions to protect your eye over some period of time.

Read also other articles on lasik and laser eye surgery:

Is Lasik Right For Me?
Factors to consider before deciding to undergo a lasik eye surgery, such as: age, activities, cost, career, risks, and other health issues.