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What is LASIK eye surgery?

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What is it? 


 LASIK is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses.  The term LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis and is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea which is the clear covering over the front of the eye.  

Because the lasering is done on the eyeball itself, it's described as "in situ", or "on-site." Its complete name is "laser in-situ keratomileusis" but you probably know it as LASIK. Essentially, this technique carves a patient's contact lens prescription onto their cornea. Like any surgical procedure, LASIK comes with certain risks. 

        

    How does LASIK surgery actually work? 




LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure that requires about 15 minutes per eye.                              
Before the procedure: 

  • You will be asked to lie on your back and remain still,
  • Topical eye drops will be used to numb your eye 
  • The area around the eye will be washed and cleansed 
  • You may also be given a sedative to help you relax 
  • Your doctor will use an instrument called a lid speculum to hold your eyelid open
  • a ring will be placed on your eye that creates suction on the cornea
  • You may experience dimming of your vision at this point in your surgery 
  • Once the ring is firmly in place your doctor will  attach a special device called a micro carat ohm to the suction ring
  • Using the blade on the micro carat ohm your doctor will create a corneal flap by cutting approximately the outermost 20% of your cornea and lifting it carefully to one side. 
  • After removing the suction ring in micro carat ohm your doctor will use pulses from a computer-controlled excimer laser to reshape your cornea  by vaporizing tiny portions of its interior part of the procedure usually takes less than 60 seconds
  • Your doctor will then replace the cornea flap into its original position and observe the eye for several minutes to ensure bonding because the cornea bonds so quickly healing is rapid and the eye does not require stitches.
  • After the procedure, your doctor will administer antibiotic drops and place a shield over your eye to prevent you from rubbing it or from putting pressure on it while you sleep.
  • Since you will not be able to drive immediately following the procedure you will need to make arrangements for a ride home.           

RISKS

  • Some patients experience slightly blurred vision that can be corrected by glasses
  • The technique is currently about as likely to damage your eyes as wearing daily disposable contact lenses for 1 year.       
Today a technique called SMILE enables surgeons to sculpt the cornea through even smaller incisions further reducing recovery time. And lasers aren't just correcting the three types of refractive errors. 
This technology can also restore aging eyes. 

In a technique called Laser Blended Vision, surgeons adjust one eye to be slightly better at distance vision and the other to be better at close-range vision. The difference between the two eyes is small enough that most patients can merge their vision, allowing both eyes to work together at all distances. 
Advances in laser technology continue to make vision correction surgery more effective and accessible.     

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