LASIK
LASIK - Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis - is today's most common refractive eye surgery. As of 2011, over 11 million LASIK procedures have been performed in the United States, and as of 2009, over 28 million have been performed worldwide.
LASIK is a type of refractive surgery for the correction of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. LASIK surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist who uses a laser to reshape the eye's cornea in order to improve visual acuity. LASIK provides a permanent alternative to eyeglasses or contact lenses for most patients.
LASIK is most similar to another surgical corrective procedure, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), and both represent advances over radial keratotomy in the surgical treatment of refractive errors of vision. The phakic intraocular lens is an alternative for patients with moderate to high myopia or thin corneas, which cannot be treated with LASIK and PRK.
LASIK is the premier surgery for vision correction. It is quick, almost painless, and there is little or no discomfort after the procedure. Vision recovery is rapid – patients report seeing 20/20 within 24 hours.
LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism. With a technique called mono-vision, it can reduce the need for reading glasses among patients over age 40 who wear bifocals.
Who Are The Optimal LASIK Candidates?
The best candidate for LASIK is at least 21 years old and has healthy eyes with adequate corneal thickness. This is necessary because the LASIK procedure removes tissue from the cornea to reshape the eye.
Chronic dry eye, corneal disease, or other abnormalities may disqualify a candidate from LASIK surgery. A comprehensive eye exam is required to ensure eligibility. We offer LASIK pre-operative exams and consultations at our practice for your convenience.
LASIK is an elective procedure, and proper consideration must include personal needs, potential gain, and willingness to accept the risks. There are no guarantees that LASIK will meet your expectations. The results are not always perfect vision. In some cases, vision after LASIK may be permanently less clear than it was with glasses before LASIK. This outcome must be considered before deciding on LASIK surgery.
Certainly, there are upsides. In normal circumstances, LASIK can reduce your dependence on glasses and almost always allows you to function without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
Specifics of The LASIK Procedure
LASIK is an ambulatory, two-step procedure. You walk into the surgery center, have the procedure, and walk out about an hour later. The surgery takes about 15 minutes for both eyes, but allowances should be made for waiting time at the surgery location, perhaps even more.
First, the surgeon uses a laser to create a thin, hinged flap of tissue on your cornea. This flap is then folded back to begin the laser reshaping of your eye. After the laser treatment lasts a minute or less, the flap is repositioned, and the surgeon moves on to your other eye.
What Is Wavefront LASIK?
Wavefront LASIK, also known as wavefront-assisted, wavefront-guided, or custom LASIK, uses laser treatment mapped by computerized analysis. Wavefront-guided procedures are much more precise than ablations determined by standard eyeglasses prescriptions. They can correct subtle optical imperfections of the eyes called "higher-order aberrations" that regular ablations cannot treat. Studies have shown that wavefront-guided ablations provide sharper vision than conventional, non-wavefront LASIK and can improve night vision while eliminating or reducing the risk of halos or glare.
What to Expect After a LASIK Procedure
Following the LASIK procedure, you will use medicated eye drops and clear protective shields to cover your eyes. You will be able to open your eyes and see well enough to walk without glasses, but you must not drive yourself home.
You will need to use medicated eye drops several times a day for a week or more to prevent infection and aid healing. You may also use artificial tears to keep your eyes moist and comfortable.
Resting your eyes as much as possible on the day of your surgery is recommended. You may find leaving the house lights on low dim is more comfortable.
The next day, you should have good enough vision to drive and resume your normal activities. However, be careful not to rub your eyes until it is safe to do so. If you are currently using Latisse, discuss with your eye doctor how long to wait before restarting the regimen after surgery.
You may be asked to return to visit your doctor the day after surgery for an eye exam. They will want to check your vision and ensure that your eyes are healing properly. Your doctor will provide additional instructions regarding eye drops and/or artificial tears, and you can ask them any questions.
Postoperative care may be performed by an eye doctor other than your LASIK surgeon. This is known as co-management. We are happy to provide post-operative care for you at our practice through a co-management agreement with your surgeon. Please ask us for further details.
What to Do If Your Vision Is Blurry After LASIK
While most patients experience clear vision within a day or so after LASIK, it may take several months for your eyes to stabilize fully. During this time, improvements in your vision may still occur sporadically. If several months have passed and your vision is still blurry, be sure to communicate with and visit your LASIK surgeon.
It may be appropriate to consider a second LASIK surgery, known as an enhancement, to improve your eyesight further. If an enhancement is not necessary, you can use eyeglasses or contact lenses to assist you. We are happy to examine your eyes and discuss your options.
After LASIK Eyewear
Even if your vision appears perfect after LASIK, you may still require or feel more comfortable with eyewear.
When outdoors, protecting your eyes from the sun's strong and potentially harmful rays is important and sometimes urgent. Use sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. The lenses should have poly-carbonate for extra strength and protection for sports sunglasses. Whenever you work with power tools or engage in any activity that could cause eye injury, be sure to wear safety glasses with poly-carbonate lenses.
If you are over 40 (or close to it), it is likely that you will need reading glasses after LASIK. Many LASIK patients find that prescription eyeglasses are beneficial for night driving. Even a mild prescription can improve your vision for added safety and comfort at night.
After LASIK Eye Care
Remember to continue scheduling routine eye exams after LASIK. Even if your vision is perfect, you still need to have your eyes examined regularly for glaucoma and other potential issues. Routine exams will help ensure that your vision remains stable after LASIK.