Lasik Vision Surgery
Lasik vision surgery is the most commonly performed refractive eye surgery. It is popular due to its short recovery time and relative lack of pain during the procedure. Patients usually recover and have enhanced vision the day after the procedure.
Lasik stands for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis. It is used to correct astigmatism, myopia, and hypertopia. The procedure itself is relatively short and usually takes less than an hour.
Pre-operation
The patient’s corneas are examined to determine thickness and surface contour. With a low power laser, a topographical map of the cornea is created. This procedure detects astigmatism and any other vision problem associated with the cornea. The optical surgeon uses this information to calculate the amount of corneal tissue that will be removed during the operation. This information is also used to determine how much corneal tissue to remove.
An antibiotic is prescribed beforehand and the patient is instructed to stop wearing contact lenses (if applicable) up to 3 weeks prior to the surgery.
Operation
The patient is awake during the procedure. A mild sedative is sometimes administered along with anesthetic eye drops. The first step in the procedure is flap creation. A suction cup is applied to the cornea which holds the eye in place. A metal blade cuts into the cornea and the flap is folded back. This is generally the most uncomfortable step of the procedure.
The seconds step in the procedure is the use of an Excimer laser to reshape the corneal stroma (inner cornea). Corneal tissue is vaporized with finely controlled laser bursts. The amount of tissue removed is tens of micrometers thick. The patient’s vision becomes blurry during this step and they may experience disorientation.
The third step of the procedure involves replacing the corneal flap. The surgeon carefully checks for any foreign debris, air bubbles, and proper repositioning of the flap.
Post-operation
Bright lights should be avoided for the first 24 hours. Extra sleep is advised during the first week after the surgery. Protective goggles should be worn during sleep to prevent the patient from inadvertently rubbing their eyes.
Another antibiotic is prescribed along with an anti-inflammatory eye drop. Moisture eye drops are also used to keep the eyes moist for several weeks during the recovery period.
A follow up procedure is scheduled to inspect the healing progress of the cornea.
Most patients have improved vision the day after the procedure.
Parent Page: Vision Insurance