Imagine a life where you no longer have to juggle the weight of eyeglasses perched on your nose or insert, remove, and clean contact lenses. Well, the extraordinary medical innovation LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) can help you turn this dream into a reality!
LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that is designed to correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. It works by reshaping the cornea, the front part of the eye, so that the light entering the eye can be properly focused onto the retina – resulting in clearer vision.
In this article, let us dive deeper into the world of LASIK eye surgery, where precision and innovation converge to unlock a future of clear, unaided vision.
Here we go –
#1: What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
As mentioned above, LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that uses lasers to fix common vision problems caused by refractive errors. It is a simple outpatient surgery, which means you can go home the same day.
When your eyes can’t bend light properly, it causes blurry vision, and that’s where LASIK eye surgery comes in to save the day. It corrects these issues so that you can see more clearly and have a better quality of life. It is a great option for people who want to reduce their reliance on glasses or contacts. After the surgery, you may not need glasses or contacts at all, or you might need them only in specific situations, like driving at night or reading.
Simply put, LASIK eye surgery can free you from the hassles of corrective eyewear and improve your overall vision. Now, let us discuss in detail the reasons behind this type of treatment.
#2: Why Is LASIK Eye Surgery Needed?
For you to have a clear vision, light needs to pass through your cornea and lens. These parts of your eye are responsible for bending the light so that it lands on the retina. The retina then converts the light into signals that travel to your brain and form images. However, when there are refractive errors, the shape of your cornea or lens prevents the light from bending correctly – causing blurry vision or difficulty in focusing.
Now, let us take a look at the refractive errors –
- Nearsightedness (Myopia)
This error occurs when your eyeball is slightly longer than normal or when the cornea is excessively curved. This causes light rays to focus in front of the retina, resulting in blurred distance vision. So, under this condition, the objects that are closer to you can be seen clearly, while the objects that are far from you appear blurry.
- Farsightedness (Hyperopia)
It happens when your eyeball is shorter than average or when the cornea is too flat. In this case, light focuses behind the retina instead of on it. As a result, your near vision is affected, and sometimes even distant vision appears blurry.
- Astigmatism
This condition occurs when the cornea curves or flattens unevenly. This irregularity disrupts the focus of both near and distant vision, causing blurriness. It’s like having a warped lens that distorts the image of the things you see.
These are common refractive errors that can be addressed with LASIK eye surgery to restore clear vision.
#3: How Is LASIK Eye Surgery Done?
As mentioned above, LASIK eye surgery is typically performed in an outpatient setting, meaning you can go home on the same day.
Before the procedure –
Before the surgery starts, your surgeon will thoroughly examine your overall eye health to determine if you are a suitable candidate for the LASIK eye surgery. Your doctor will look for signs of –
- Eye infection
- Inflammation
- Dry eyes
- Large pupils
- High eye pressure
In addition to these, the doctor will also examine factors such as corneal thickness, corneal shape, refractive errors, and general eye health to ensure the best possible outcome. Also, they conduct a wavefront-guided technology test to evaluate the eye in detail. In this test, a scanner creates a highly detailed chart, similar to a topographic map, of your eye. The more detailed the measurements, the more accurate your eye doctor can be in removing corneal tissue.
During the procedure –
On the day of the LASIK eye surgery, your eyes are made numb with the help of eye drops to ensure your comfort throughout the procedure. Then, a specialized instrument called a microkeratome or femtosecond laser is used to create a thin flap on the cornea. The flap is gently lifted, exposing the underlying corneal tissue.
Next, a programmed laser is used to reshape the cornea precisely. The laser delivers cool pulses of ultraviolet light, which removes microscopic amounts of corneal tissue. It reshapes the cornea based on the specific measurements and corrections determined during your pre-operative assessments. In this way, the cornea’s curvature is adjusted to improve it’s focusing power, allowing light to be properly focused onto the retina.
Once the corneal reshaping is complete, the surgeon repositions the corneal flap back into place. This flap acts as a natural bandage that promotes healing and reduces discomfort. Now, since the cornea has excellent natural bonding properties, the stitches are not needed in most of the cases.
The entire LASIK eye surgery procedure usually takes only about 15 minutes per eye. While you may experience some pressure or mild discomfort during the process, it is generally not painful.
After the procedure –
Once the LASIK eye surgery is done, your surgeon will provide you with specific post-operative instructions to follow. This may include using prescribed eye drops, avoiding heavy activities that could impact the eyes, and attending follow-up appointments to monitor your progress. Recovery times can vary, but most individuals experience improved vision within a few days and can resume their normal activities shortly after the procedure.
Now, let us discuss the right time to go for LASIK eye surgery.
#4: When Is LASIK Eye Surgery Done?
LASIK eye surgery is usually performed in the following conditions –
- When a person’s prescription has stabilized
Before undergoing LASIK, it is important for the person’s prescription to stabilize, which means that their vision must have stopped changing significantly. This will make sure that the surgical correction will remain effective in the long term. And that is why LASIK is usually recommended for adults over the age of 18, as their prescriptions tend to be more stable compared to younger individuals.
- When a person’s overall eye health is good
LASIK eye surgery is performed on individuals with good overall eye health, free from any other eye conditions or diseases that could interfere with the surgery or affect its outcomes. A comprehensive eye examination is thus conducted to ensure the person meets the criteria for LASIK.
#5: Who Should Go For LASIK Eye Surgery?
The right candidates for LASIK are individuals –
- Who are above 18 years of age
- Who has common refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism?
- Who are dissatisfied with wearing glasses or contact lenses and desire a more permanent solution for clear vision.
- Who have realistic expectations about the procedure, as it may not guarantee perfect vision without the need for glasses or contacts in all situations.
- And for whom LASIK eye surgery is the most suitable option to correct their vision as per their specific circumstances and eye health.
Now that you have explored the realm of LASIK eye surgery in detail, we hope that you will be able to make informed decisions to ensure the best possible outcome for your vision. But if there are any queries, you can reach out to Lall Eye Care 20 20, the best LASIK eye surgery hospital in Gurgaon.