What is lasik laser eye surgery?

Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis, or lasik for short, is a form of vision correction surgery which makes use of laser. The procedure gives patients clearer vision as the lasers reshape the patient's cornea, changing the way light enters the eyes. The procedure is used to treat astigmatism, near and far sightedness, as well as treatment for cataracts.

Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?

The answer is a definite yes. A lot of patients experience the clarity of vision they want from the first day after the procedure. The whole process is also very quick, relatively painless, and the patient's healing time is also very quick compared to regular forms of surgery. There is also little to no chances of infections during the surgery as the laser effectively kills off any bacteria which may be present.

What Should You Expect During the Procedure?

Patients who have undergone laser vision correction surgery report that the entire process is painless. Eye drops with a local anesthetic are administered so that the patient undergoing treatment remains comfortable. After the procedure, some patients may experience side effects like dizziness, which will be discussed further this article.

The benefits of lasik laser eye surgery

This procedure has a lot of benefits, the most obvious is being free from wearing eye glasses and contact lenses every time you need to work, read, or do anything which requires you to use your eyes. Here are more specific benefits of lasik laser eye surgery:

• It works. A lot of patients experience the clear vision they want a day or two after the procedure.

• There is little to no pain associated with laser eye surgery.

• The chances of getting any form of eye infection are little to none because the lasers kill off any bacteria which may be present during the procedure.

• Patients recover from laser eye surgery very quickly compared to regular surgery. This is because the lasers are very precise, and there is little to no damage to surrounding tissues which need additional healing. Patients often return to their normal routines after a day or two of the procedure.

• The results are permanent.

The risks of lasik laser eye surgery

With lasik laser eye surgery, like other forms of surgery, there are certain risks involved. Not everybody who has vision problems is a candidate for such treatment. This is one of the reasons why eye surgeons conduct a series of rigorous tests in order to assess if a patient should have laser eye surgery to correct their vision problems or otherwise.

Here are some of the disadvantages of lasik laser eye surgery.

During the first 24-48 hours, patients may experience one or more of the following side effects of the treatment: Headaches, Dizziness, Dry eyes, Seeing a "halo" around images, Glare. These symptoms are said to pass after the first 48 hours of treatment.

Preparing Yourself for Laser Eye Surgery

Assuming you have been evaluated as fit to have laser eye surgery, your doctor will inform you of the things you need to do and not do in preparation for it. People who wear contact lenses will be required to not wear them at least 3 days before the actual surgery. Some people may be required not to wear contact lenses several weeks before surgery.

Some patients may be prescribed certain medication which they need to take before the surgery, and these need to be taken religiously as prescribed. Make sure to follow everything your doctor says you should and shouldn't do. And if for some reason you feel unwell the day of your laser eye surgery, call and inform your doctor so that they may determine if you need to reschedule your surgery for a different day.

Definitely one of the major technological advancements in healthcare is lasik laser eye surgery. People who undergo laser vision correction enjoy permanent results and enjoy clear vision without the need of eyeglasses and contact lenses. However, for patients wherein lasik laser eye surgery is not their best option, refractive lens exchange is still an option for correcting near and far sightedness.