Farsightedness, near-sightedness, and astigmatism are some of the most common eye disorders in the modern world. Although these diseases can be hereditary, neglecting your eye health will give you a higher chance of developing these problems early in life. Fortunately, there’s still hope that a laser eye surgery procedure could correct these vision issues for those already suffering from them.
Laser eye surgery’s success rate and its quick but precise procedure length make it the best and most recommended eye correction surgery in the world. The benefits of this procedure have also inspired health institutions around the globe to develop technology and techniques to further improve its application.
Whether you’re just looking for information about this method or planning to undergo this potentially life-changing procedure, this article will tell you everything you need to know about laser eye surgery.
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a type of refractive surgery. Also known as LASIK (or laser in-situ keratomileusis), it is a vision correction procedure that uses laser technology to fix problems in the cornea, the clear outer layer responsible for focusing light onto the retina so that we can see clearly.
The LASIK procedure is known to improve several vision impairments:
· Astigmatism
· Blurry vision
· Myopia (near-sightedness)
· Hyperopia (farsightedness)
Are You Qualified to Undergo LASIK Procedure?
While laser eye surgery is a highly recommended vision correction method with an approximately 96% success rate globally, the surgery is not for everyone. Pre-existing health conditions and other age and health-related factors should be considered before getting a LASIK procedure. Here are some other conditions that will prevent you from getting the procedure:
· People younger than 18 years old are not allowed to have this procedure as their vision and eye shape tends to change as they grow older. Whilst the surgery is not harmful, the benefits will just be temporary.
· Laser eye surgery is not recommended for pregnant women because of how hormone fluctuations could temporarily affect their vision corrective prescription. Dry eyes are also common during pregnancy, a condition that could lengthen the surgery’s healing process.
· Surgeons confirm that people taking prescription drugs may react to the surgery differently. Medication can interfere with the results and may delay the healing process. Some drugs also cause dry eyes that could increase the chance of complications like corneal scarring.
· Lasik surgery is not advisable for people with fluctuating contact lenses or glasses prescriptions. They will only be a viable surgery candidate if they can maintain a stable grade for over a year.
· Patients suffering from extreme cases of corneal thinning or acute myopia may not be viable candidates for laser surgery unless they get clearance and a recommendation from a trusted ophthalmologist.
These are just some of the outstanding cases that could prevent you from qualifying for a LASIK procedure. Consult your doctor before booking an eye surgery appointment.
If you’re eligible to undergo this life-changing technique, it’s best to know what goes on during laser eye surgery.
What Happens During Laser Eye Surgery?
With the development of the procedure through the years, laser eye surgery has become a quick and relatively painless eye correction method. It only takes a few minutes and only needs a local, non-injectable anaesthetic. Also, the patient is completely awake during the process.
Your eye surgeon will walk you through the procedure. Once the anaesthesia takes effect and completely numbs your eyes, the surgeon will create a flap in your cornea. They will then use a laser to reshape the misshapen cornea and correct the refraction problems in your vision.
Although the process is fast and the results are accurate, make sure that you make the proper preparations before your first LASIK surgery.
How Do You Prepare for a Lasik Procedure?
Doctors advise patients not to wear their contact lenses—a month for hard contacts and a week for soft contacts—before the procedure. Contacts can alter the cornea and could affect the results of the surgery.
Eye doctors also remind their patients to increase their water intake hours before the procedure. LASIK eye surgery causes temporary dry eyes and hydrating can help relieve the discomfort that this side effect may cause.
Additionally, it is also not advisable to wear makeup, lotion, or heavy perfume on the day of the procedure as chemicals and dust could contaminate your healing eyes.
Most importantly, ask someone to take you to the clinic as the procedure may have temporary side effects that could prevent you from driving safely. Aside from the numbing effects of the anaesthesia after the procedure, you should expect other conditions after laser eye surgery.
What Side Effects Should You Expect After LASIK Surgery?
Aside from dry eyes, patients have mentioned some common but temporary side effects after a LASIK surgery. These include:
·
· Glares
· Starburst
· Halos
· Light sensitivity
· Discomfort from itching and burning.
Usually, these side effects last for three months and will disappear around the sixth to 12th month after the surgery.
Complications after the procedure are not common and should not be a cause of concern, especially if you’re getting the procedure from a trusted eye centre. Lasik is one of the safest surgical procedures globally, with only 0.3% resulting in complications. If you make the right preparations before your surgery, trust that your eye surgeon will deliver the best results possible.
Hopefully, this article has helped you understand the definition, benefits, and expectations of undergoing an eye surgery procedure. Let the information you learned today encourage you to take that first step to change your life by making your eye health a priority.
