Anyone who has poor vision knows how inconvenient it is to have to use glasses or contacts as a crutch in order to see. Many people in this situation dream of what it would be like to have clear vision from the moment they wake up. In the past, of course, this was not possible. A person who wore glasses could expect to wear them their entire life. But today, we have the advantage of Lasik eye surgery. This procedure can be done in minutes, rarely involves pain, and most people experience improved vision within one day after the operation. It is no wonder, then, that it is becoming so popular.
Lasik surgery, which is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is done by reshaping the cornea using a cool non-thermal beam of light to remove microscopic bits of corneal tissue. While it is a relatively simple procedure, it can also be very delicate. Therefore, it is very important to find a highly trained, experienced ophthalmologist to perform your surgery. You want to make sure your surgeon is state licensed and board certified and you want to ask questions during your consultation such as rate of complications, how many Lasik surgeries he or she has performed, and what their policy is on follow ups and enhancements.
Before having Lasik surgery, your eye care practitioner will perform a thorough eye exam to rule out any disqualifying conditions such as cataracts, glaucoma and dry eye disease. Your eyes will also be photographed and electronically mapped using a machine called a corneal topographer. This map is then used to plan your surgery to get the most accurate result possible. Additionally, your doctor will want to know your medical history and any medications you are currently taking as certain degenerative and autoimmune diseases will disqualify you from being a candidate for Lasik.
If everything checks out on your initial exam, you can expect to be scheduled for surgery. During the procedure, you will most likely be awake. However, your eyes will be numbed so you shouldn’t feel any pain. Your doctor will place a device on one of your eyes to keep it open, mark your eye, and cut the corneal flap with a laser. He will then align his laser to your prescription with a computer and ask you to look at a light. You will probably not even notice that he is reshaping your cornea as you do this, because all you will experience are pulses of light. Then, after a short period of rest, you will either be allowed to go home or the doctor will do the other eye. Most people, however, have the other eye done a week or so later.
Now that you know a little more about Lasik surgery, you may want to consider getting a consultation. The results can be life changing for many people, will you be one of them?
Want to find out more about Laser eye treatment? Then visit our site for advice, reviews and general LASIK information.
categories: lasik surgery,lasik,eye health,health fitness,health
Tags: eye health, health, Health & Fitness, laser eye surgery, LASIK, Lasik surgery