LASIK Laser Corrective Eye Surgery

LASIK is the most commonly performed refractive surgery procedure.

Why is LASIK so popular? LASIK has many advantages over other refractive surgery procedures, including little to no pain after the surgery and the patients achieve 20/20 vision the very next day.

An instrument that is used during LASIK called a microkeratome is used in surgery to create a ultra thin, circular flap in the cornea. Another way of making the flap is with a laser.

The surgeon folds the flap and then removes corneal tissue underneath the cornea, using an excimer laser. The excimer laser uses a ultraviolet light beam to remove tiny pieces of tissue from the cornea. The cornea is reshaped back to normal. The flap is put back into place. The flap covers the area where corneal tissue was previously removed.

Farsighted and nearsighted people can really benefit from the LASIK eye surgery procedure. The goal for nearsighted people is to flatten the too steep cornea. With farsighted people, the cornea is steeper and it has to be flattened. The excimer laser also corrects astigmatism by smoothing out an irregular cornea and returns it to a normal shape.

LASIK eye surgery procedure is pretty simple. It only takes five minutes. You go in the LASIK eye center, get the correction and you leave.

The doctor will ask you to lie down, then he or she makes sure your eye is positioned directly under the laser. Each eye is operated at a time. A retainer is placed over the eye that needs correction to keep your eyelids open. The retainer has a suction ring over each eye to keep it pressurizes. This allows the surgeon to cut the corneal flap with more precision.

Before the flap is created, the surgeon will mark the cornea with a marker. The flap is created with a microkeratome or a laser.

The flap is ultra thin. The flap is created on the surface of the eye during LASIK eye surgery. After the laser releases its energy to reshape each eye, the flap is replaced and is used as a bandage.

The doctor uses a computer, that will adjust the laser for your prescription you have. The doctor will ask you to look at a target light for a short period of time. The doctor will watch your eye through a microscope, as the light sends pulses straight to your cornea.

The laser light pulses are painless and it reshapes the cornea. You will hear a clicking sound as the laser is operating on your eye. You are likely to smell a mild odor due to corneal tissue removal. The surgeon has complete control over the laser and can turn it off at any given time.

The surgeon may prescribe medication for any pain you have after the operation. Many people don't feel any pain at all.

LASIK is a surgical procedure, it's very important to follow instructions from your doctor. Get some rest right after the surgery is complete. If you have any problems, contact your doctor immediately. If the doctor prescribed you with any medication, take them regularly. Also, fill any prescriptions that are running out.

Make sure you have a ride from the hospital when the procedure is over. You will need to rest for a few days after you had the LASIK procedure. No strenuous exercise for a week, it could interfere with the healing process of your eyes. Do not rub your eyes if they are dry. Dry eyes is well known side effect with LASIK> Rubbing your eyes can cause the corneal flap to dislodge.

LASIK eye surgery will give patients 20/20 vision or good quality vision. LASIK is painless and only takes about 5 minutes. LASIK eye surgery is the perfect way to get your vision corrected.

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