How Does Lasik Eye Surgery Work

Updated on November 23, 2020

LASIK surgery is a widely known and effective refractive eye surgery that helps correct visual issues. It’s the best alternative to wearing contact lenses or glasses. Whether you experience hyperopia, myopia, or astigmatism, it’s best to check with a reputable eye doctor to see what treatment works best for you. 

If you are scheduled for Lasik eye treatment, it’s best to understand how the procedure works and its efficacy. Several patients will check for alternatives or weigh their options whether this surgery is worth it and it’s overall methods. 

Is Lasik Eye Surgery Worth It and Safe?

Your vision is one of the essential senses you need to take extra care with. It enables you to explore and see the world at a new level. Differentiating colours, shapes, and stunning landmarks, our vision plays a vital role for us to be functional. 

If you experience visual issues like astigmatism, farsightedness, or nearsightedness, that means your cornea doesn’t bend the light properly into your retina. This is the leading cause of blurred visions and other visual problems. Corrective eye surgeries are now available to help us regain normal vision. 

While wearing contact lenses and glasses helps aid with visual issues, however, reshaping your cornea can offer the excellent refraction your eyes need. Though there are plenty of reputable clinics out there, Saddleback Eye Center offers the best Lasik eye treatment to help correct vision issues. The success of every surgery depends on the experience and expertise of your chosen doctor. 

Lasik (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery is a widely-known treatment for astigmatism, hyperopia, and myopia. Like most known refractive methods, it reshapes your cornea, which enables light to enter into your eye and helps focus appropriately in the retina for improved and clear sight. 

This pain-free fast eye surgery usually takes a few minutes and gradually improves your vision. While it can take a few days to recover from the surgery fully, you’ll see visible results immediately after treatment. It helps you ditch using contact lenses and glasses, and it’s guaranteed safe eye surgery.  

How Does It Work?

During the procedure, your chosen eye or Lasik surgeon creates a superficially thin flap in the cornea using a microkeratome, a small tool for surgery, or with the aid of a particular laser. Next, your surgeon folds back this hinged flap to approach the stroma (underlying cornea) and removes several corneal tissues with the excimer laser. 

The excimer laser then creates a calm, safe ultraviolet beam that removes tiny amounts of corneal tissue from your cornea, which reshapes it, which enables light to enter into your eyes accurately and improves your vision. 

Lasik treatment aids with various eye issues. For instance, people that have hyperopia or farsighted people, but require steeper cornea. However, with nearsighted people or with myopia, the focus is flattening your cornea. Aside from that, if you have astigmatism, excimer lasers help smooth irregular cornea and refract it into the standard shape. 

Once laser ablation has finished reshaping the patient’s cornea, your surgeon will then put the flap back in its place. This will cover areas where corneal tissues were removed. 

Following this surgery, the flap will seal its underlying cornea while into the healing process. Lasik eye surgery is safe and requires a topical sedative eye drop when healing. There are no stitches or bandages required.

People who want to consider Lasik treatment are generally those who wear contact lenses or glasses to aid with current visual issues. Check with your doctor whether you’re qualified for the procedure. That way, you’ll have a comprehensive overview of how this process is done together with the risk and benefits associated with the procedure. 

There are several restrictions with Lasik eye treatment, including people with:

  • Severe myopia or nearsightedness
  • Family history of eye diseases which causes your cornea to bulge and thin
  • Very big corneas or pupil
  • Fairly good sight
  • Participates with various active sports that require blowing in the face
  • Age-related visual changes that cause unclear vision

Your eye surgeon will first assess your overall health condition and whether or not you are qualified for the procedure. Lasik treatment is not suitable for people with:

  • The dry eye condition is tenacious
  • Autoimmune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis
  • A frail immune system that is caused by HIV or immunosuppressive medications
  • Cornea inflammation and lid disorders
  • Eye illnesses or injuries like herpes simplex, uveitis, cataracts or glaucoma
  • Recent visual changes due to hormonal changes, age, breastfeeding, pregnancy, or medications

Conclusion

Understanding the benefits and potential setbacks of this eye treatment is essential. Finding a well-experienced and reputable physician helps increase value and success to the surgery. While this eye treatment is safe and fast, it’s best to discuss with your attending surgeon whether you’re an excellent candidate to regain normal vision.

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