LASIK surgery is a surgical procedure that can be performed on the cornea of your eye to correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness or farsightedness. The cornea is the clear front part of the eye, which you see when you look at something close up.
LASIK surgery reshapes your cornea to make it flatter, thinner, and more flexible. This makes it easier for your eyes to focus on objects at different distances. Doctors can also use LASIK surgery to change other parts of the eye, such as correcting astigmatism or correcting presbyopia (a condition in which aging causes changes in how far you can see).
It can correct vision problems and improve eyesight, color vibrancy, and overall eye health. The surgery is mainly used to permanently treat:
- Nearsightedness or myopia
- Farsightedness or hyperopia
- Astigmatism
- Presbyopia
In LASIK surgery, an eye surgeon uses a computer-guided laser to reshape the surface of your cornea. LASIK eye surgery is not painful. Numbing eye drops are used during the surgical procedure. The initial treatment takes about 20 minutes and leaves you with 20/40 vision after one day in most cases. It is permanent and costs anywhere from $1000 to $4000 per eye.
After one week, you may have some discomfort from mild swelling and redness around the treated area; this typically goes away within two weeks. You need to wear an eye patch for several days following surgery because your eyes are very sensitive before they heal completely from being shaped with a laser. After three months, you should be able to resume normal activities without restrictions.
The surgery is generally considered a safe procedure and the likelihood of complications (or “failure”) is very low. The complication rate is below 1%.
Consult with an optometrist before approaching a LASIK surgery as it’s not for everyone. For example, you can book a consultation at Discover Vision Center a leading clinic for Kansas City LASIK.
What is LASIK surgery and how is it performed?
In LASIK surgery, the surgeon reshapes your cornea to give you a more clear vision. The cornea, which is the clear outer layer of your eye, is very thin and has a hard time focusing light on the retina.
The LASIK procedure uses high-speed technology to create tiny, precision cuts in your cornea to correct refractive errors and improve vision. During this procedure, a flap of tissue called a flap creation is created in front of the incision that will be used to reshape the surface of your cornea.
In some cases, surgeons may also create a flap creation behind the original incision so they can move it out of the way when making corrections on your cornea.
The laser eye surgery system consists of an excimer laser (which is similar to an infrared laser) and an imaging system that allows for accurate placement of the excimer laser probes at different depths within your eye. These are then moved around until they find the best spot for reshaping your cornea or creating a new artificial lens inside your eye.
What are the pros and cons of LASIK surgery?
Let’s talk about LASIK pros and cons.
LASIK eye surgery is a type of refractive surgery that reshapes your cornea by removing tissue and reshaping the cornea. The procedure is able to correct nearsightedness and farsightedness, as well as other refractive errors.
The surgery involves the use of an excimer laser to reshape the cornea using a precision microkeratome blade. The laser is focused on the surface of your cornea and gently removes tissue. After this, your surgeon will reshape the surface of your cornea with a microkeratome blade to produce clear vision without glasses or contacts.
Apart from successfully and permanently correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia, there are many additional benefits to having a LASIK surgery, including:
- Improvements in distance vision
- Reduction in eyestrain
- Improved night vision
- Improved color vibrancy
Generally, LASIK surgery is a good way to correct many eye-related problems, such as:
- A typical LASIK surgery can cost anywhere from $1000 to $4000 per eye in the United States. The cost depends on where you get it done and some other parameters such as other medical conditions and your age. The average Discover Vision LASIK cost is roughly $3600.
- A LASIK surgery is better than glasses or contacts because it’s permanent. Not having to wear glasses and contacts is a priority for many.
Though there are some potential problems you should know about:
- The complication rate is <1% but not nonexistent. Loss of vision is extremely rare but has happened.
- Temporary post-surgery problems are too common such as blurriness, dry eyes, glare, etc.
- Not everybody is the right fit for a LASIK.
Apart from that, there are no long-term or serious side effects of LASIK surgery.
Wrapping up
LASIK eye surgery is a procedure that involves the use of a laser. The surgeon cuts the cornea to reshape it, which eliminates your need for glasses or contact lenses. Afterward, you can see more clearly and have better vision than anyone else your age.
The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, meaning you will go home after the surgery. LASIK is done under general anesthesia, meaning you won’t feel any pain during or after the procedure.
The procedure is relatively simple and doesn’t require a lengthy recovery time, making it ideal for people who want to get back to their normal routine as quickly as possible. There are also no follow-up visits required after LASIK surgery because your doctor will be able to tell at first glance whether or not it was successful.
