What Is LASIK? A Few Answers To Common Questions

If you need vision correction, you have more choices than ever before. Some options, like glasses and contacts, are temporary solutions that call for continuous maintenance. Other options, such as LASIK eye surgery, are permanent fixes that give you back most of the freedom you had before vision problems.

If you're considering LASIK surgery, how can you know if it's for you? And what should you expect from the procedure? Here is a short guide to get you started.

LASIK is an acronym that stands for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. During this short procedure, the surgeon utilizes a laser to open and reshape the cornea which corrects your vision.

This reshaping process corrects vision imperfections by allowing the eye to focus light properly. LASIK can often correct the three most common vision problems: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by either flattening or steepening the curve of your cornea.

Eye surgery is an intimidating idea for most people. Even though LASIK is performed with numbing eye drops, you can still request medication to help you relax during the procedure. Because of the short surgery duration - usually about 15 minutes - most patients won't have much time to be nervous.

During a LASIK procedure, your eyes are kept open with a lid speculum while a ring device helps prevent movement in the eye itself. The rest of the procedure is done with the aid of computers and cool-beam lasers. You may feel some pressure and hear clicking noises, but you shouldn't feel much discomfort. If you're anxious about the surgery, discuss your specific worries with the surgeon beforehand.

Once you've had LASIK surgery, what happens next? Your surgeon will ask that you get a ride home from the procedure and will likely suggest wearing sunglasses and eye shields to protect the eye (or eyes) from harsh or bright light. Rest at home for the remainder of the day. Again, your surgeon will give you protective shields to wear while you are sleeping so that you don't accidentally touch your face or eyes.

You may experience a few common symptoms, such as discomfort as the numbing sensation wears off or excess tearing up. Your surgeon will send you home with proper medication and drops to treat these symptoms and to make the transition more comfortable for you.

In the days after the procedure, your eyes may be more sensitive to light while they recover. In addition, many patients have temporary vision oddities such as halos or blurriness. This is normal, but if you have concerns you should talk with your LASIK surgeon. Finally, you'll likely be prescribed antibiotics and antiinflammatory medication as well as moisturizing drops to help the eye recover.

If you think that LASIK is a good solution for your vision and lifestyle, where should you start? Visit an eye surgeon with experience performing LASIK surgery in your area for an assessment as a candidate for this treatment. As well as your general health condition, the surgeon's team will consider factors such as a history of degenerative eye conditions, dry eyes, old injuries, and the size of your pupils.

The team will also weigh the surgery against the amount of vision correction you require. As with all surgical procedures, there is some risk with LASIK. So your doctor would want to ensure that you aren't taking on additional risk by needing too much correction or that you will see enough improvement to warrant the procedure.

Hummel Eye Associates has provided high quality LASIK surgery as well as a variety of other vision correction options for 50 years. Make an appointment today to learn if you're a candidate for LASIK or if another treatment might be more suited.