Living healthily means more than just diet and exercise. Eye health is a part of it, as well. If you have been living with conditions affecting your sight for a while now, then you might have come across the prospect of undergoing LASIK surgery. The concept of surgery, especially when it’s targeting the eyes, can be a daunting prospect for some, but it’s so widely practiced, not to mention true and tested, that it really is worth thinking about. Here, we’re going to look at what you should know about LASIK surgery, what it is, how it can help you, and whether you should consider it.
What is LASIK?
Put simply, LASIK (or Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis) is a type of eye surgery that makes use of precision lasers to fix imperfections in your vision. Lasers are used in a controlled manner to change the shape of the cornea, which, in change, changes the ways in which light hits the cornea. Given that our vision is based primarily on how our eyes absorb light, this can fundamentally change the ways in which our eyes see.
What does LASIK treat?
LASIK is a form of refractive eye surgery, meaning that it primarily treats eye conditions related to the way that our eyes refract light. It cannot treat all vision issues, such as cataracts. It can, however, treat both nearsightedness and farsightedness. It is also highly recommended for astigmatism, an issue caused by irregularly shaped cornea or lenses, that is known to be difficult to effectively treat using corrective lenses, alone. By adjusting the shape of the cornea, LASIK can potentially fix all of the issues above.
Is it safe?
When the average person thinks of having their eyes operated on, especially with the use of lasers, it is only natural to have some questions about how safe the treatment could possibly be. However, the good news is that LASIK is amongst the safest eye surgery procedures available, with both a very high success rate and a low complication rate (expected to be lower than a single percent.) Of course, there are side-effects that could be expected for every form of surgery. For LASIK, this is mostly in the form of some discomfort in the eyes, such as dry eyes or light sensitivity, but these usually improve over time.
Is LASIK right for you?
Before making a decision, you should think about whether or not the treatment you’re considering is the best fit for you. If you experience shortsightedness, nearsightedness, or astigmatism, then LASIK surgery might be the solution best suited to your needs. With the help of an eye doctor, you can get a complete diagnosis and assessment of your readiness for LASIK surgery. It’s important that you have reached ocular maturity, which is typically assured if you are over 18, and have a prescription that hasn’t changed in over two years. There are a few medications and conditions that can alter the effectiveness of LASIK surgery, so ensure that you are able to provide a complete medical history during your consultation with your eye doctor.
What to expect from the procedure
Understanding what you’re getting into when you sign up for a procedure can help you feel al little more prepared and assured about it. To that end, let’s break down what you can expect after your initial consultation. Typically, anesthesia is provided through eye drops, which ensure you cannot feel the procedure. A thin flap is made in the cornea with a laser or tiny blade, and a laser is then used to reshape the cornea before the flap previously made is put back in place. There, it will heal naturally. As mentioned, LASIK treatments have a lower complication rate than most surgeries.
Recovery from LASIK
As with any surgery, there should be some recovery and aftercare expected. You might see an immediate improvement in your vision following the surgery, but you should ensure that you rest your eyes for the rest of the day after the surgery, avoid rubbing or touching your eyes, and use the medications that are provided to prevent infections and keep the eye clean. You will need further check-ups to ensure that the healing process has been carried out smoothly and to ensure that your vision is improving as expected with vision tests. It takes a few months after the surgery for the results to stabilize.
To say that LASIK surgery is a modern marvel of medicine is to put it lightly. This treatment can offer truly life-altering improvements to people with a wide range of vision issues. If you’ve been getting frustrated with the need for corrective lenses and want to see more long-term changes in your vision, consider asking about LASIK.