Posted by: Albany Cornea | Center For Eye Care Excellence in LASIK,Uncategorized

The decision to have LASIK surgery is both exciting and nerve-wracking. After years of depending on glasses or contacts, the promise of clear vision feels incredible, but the surgery itself can feel intimidating. That’s exactly why preparation is so important

Keep reading to learn more about the 7 questions to ask your doctor before LASIK surgery.

1.     Can LASIK Fix My Vision Problem?

LASIK is a popular laser surgery that corrects refractive errors, including farsightedness, astigmatism, and nearsightedness. Refractive errors are eye conditions that affect how light passes through the cornea and focuses on the retina. 

When you have a refractive error, light entering your eye doesn’t refract or bend as it’s supposed to, preventing it from landing precisely on the retina. This leads to blurry vision.

LASIK changes the shape of your cornea so it bends incoming light properly, focusing it sharply on your retina for clear vision.

2.   How Do I Prepare for My LASIK Procedure?

Your eye doctor will provide detailed instructions prior to your LASIK procedure. Generally, you’ll be asked to:

Refrain From Using Makeup

You’ll need to stop using makeup, perfumes, lotions, and creams on your face the day before LASIK surgery. These products can get into your eyes and increase the risk of infection.

Make Prior Arrangements

Arrange for someone close to you to drive you home post-procedure. Your vision will likely still be blurry, which makes it unsafe to drive shortly after LASIK.

Discontinue Contact Lens Use

You’ll need to stop wearing contact lenses for about 4 weeks with rigid gas-permeable contacts, 2 weeks with soft extended-wear contact lenses, and 1 week with soft disposable lenses. Contact lenses can temporarily alter the shape of your cornea, which can lead to incorrect preoperative measurements.

When measurements are inaccurate, you may be left with a residual refractive error after undergoing LASIK. To ensure accurate corneal measurements and optimal results, discontinue contact lens use as advised.

3.   What Happens During LASIK Eye Surgery?

Here’s what you can expect during your LASIK procedure:

You’ll lie on a reclining chair and remain awake throughout the surgery. Anesthetic eye drops will be administered to ensure you remain comfortable and pain-free throughout the procedure.

You may be given a mild sedative to help you feel relaxed. Your LASIK surgeon will then place an eyelid holder to keep you from blinking. You’ll experience slight pressure when the surgeon places this device on your eye.

Your vision might also become dim. Using a laser, your surgeon will create a thin flap in the epithelium or top layer of the cornea.

They’ll fold the flap back to reach the underlying corneal tissue, also called the stroma. You’ll then be told to focus on a target light to keep your eye fixed.

This will allow them to reshape the stroma using a laser programmed with your eye measurements. Reshaping your cornea entails removing tiny amounts of tissue to correct your refractive error.

You’ll hear a clicking sound as this is being done. After that, they’ll place the flap back.

The flap begins reattaching itself within minutes and continues to heal over time. LASIK is typically performed in both eyes during the same procedure and is completed in 30 minutes or less.

You’ll be discharged shortly after your procedure.

4.   How Long Does it Take to See LASIK Results?

Vision improvement starts almost right away. Within 24 to 48 hours, LASIK surgery patients usually notice clearer vision and can resume work.

Over the first week, your eyesight will continue to stabilize, and you’ll experience considerable improvement in your vision. It can take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to see the final results. 

5.   Will I Still Need Glasses or Contact Lenses After LASIK?

Approximately 99 percent of LASIK surgery patients end up with 20/40 vision, and over 90 percent achieve 20/20. Most of them no longer need to rely on visual aids for their day-to-day activities.

Following your LASIK procedure, you may not require glasses or contact lenses at all, or you might need them for very few activities, such as reading.

6.   Can LASIK Wear Off?

LASIK corrects your refractive error by permanently reshaping the cornea. As a result, the effects of the procedure don’t wear off over time.

You’ll be able to enjoy the benefits of LASIK for years to come. However, LASIK can’t prevent normal, age-related vision changes.

As you grow older, you may develop presbyopia, also known as age-related farsightedness. When you’re young, the natural lens of your eye is flexible and can easily change its shape to focus on nearby and distant objects.

But due to presbyopia, your lens can become less flexible and more rigid in your 40s. As a result, it may no longer change shape to shift your focus from far away to up close, causing blurry vision.

Cataracts can also develop years after LASIK because of age-related changes within your lens. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of your eye that can cause symptoms such as dim or blurred vision, halos, glare, light sensitivity, and double vision in one eye.

7.   Am I a Good LASIK Candidate?

The results and success of your LASIK procedure depend in part on certain criteria. To undergo LASIK, you should meet the following requirements:

  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Have stable vision that has remained unchanged for at least a year
  • Have thick enough corneas
  • Be in good overall health without conditions such as poorly managed diabetes, autoimmune diseases, and HIV
  • Have healthy eyes free from eye conditions such as severe dry eyes, keratoconus, uveitis, corneal scarring, cataracts, and glaucoma

During your LASIK consultation, your doctor will assess your eyes and perform various tests to determine if you’re a suitable candidate for LASIK.

Achieve a Lifetime of Sharp, Clear Vision with LASIK

Asking your doctor questions before LASIK surgery is essential in making an informed decision. Our experienced doctors will answer all your questions and address any concerns so you can feel confident about your LASIK journey.

Are you interested in LASIK? Schedule your appointment at the Center for Eye Care Excellence in Slingerlands, NY, today to discover if LASIK is right for you.