Lasik
The eye and vision errors
The cornea is a part of the ye that helps focus light to create ana image on the retina. It works in much the same way the lens of a camera focuses light to create an image on the film. The bending and focusing of light is also known as refraction. Usually the shape of the cornea and the eye are not perfect and the image on the retina is out-of-focus (blurred) or distorted. These imperfections in the the focusing power of the ye are called refractive errors. There are three primary types of refractive errors: myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Persons with myopia, or nearsightedness, have more difficulty seeing distant objects are clearly as near objects. Astigmatism is a distortion of the image on the retina caused by irregularities in the cornea or lens of the eye. Combinations of myopia and astigmatism or hyperopia and astigmatism are common. Glasses or contact lenses are designed to compensate for the eye's imperfections. Surgical procedures aim at improving the focusing power of the eye are called refractive surgery. In LASIK surgery, precise and controlled removal of corneal tissue by a special laser reshaped the cornea changing its focusing power.
Before Surgery
If you decided to go ahead with LASIK surgery, you will need an initial or baseline evaluation by your eye doctor to determine if you are a good candidate. This is what you need to know to prepare for the exam and what you should expect:
If you wear contact lenses, it is a good idea to stop wearing them before your baseline evaluation and switch to wearing your glasses full-time. Contact lenses change the shape of your cornea for up to several weeks after you have stopped using them depending on the type of contact lenses you wear. Not leaving your contact lenses out long enough for your cornea to assume its natural shape before surgery can have negative consequences. These consequences include inaccurate measurements and a poor surgical plan, resulting in poor vision after surgery. These measurements, which determine how much corneal tissue to remove, may need to be repeated at least a week after your initial evaluation and before surgery to make sure they have not changed, especially if you wear RGP or hard lenses. If you wear:
- Soft contact lenses, you should stop wearing them for 2 weeks before your initial evaluation.
- Toric soft lenses or rigid gas permeable (RGP) lenses, you should stop wearing them for at least 3 weeks before your initial evaluation.
- Hard lenses, you should stop wearing them for at least 6-8 weeks before your initial evaluation.
During Surgery
The surgery should take less than 30 minutes. You will lie on your back in a reclining chair in a exam room containing the laser system. The laser system includes a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen.
A numbing drop will be placed in your eye, the area around your will be cleaned, and an instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. A ring will be placed on your eye and a very high pressures will be applied to create suction to the cornea. Your vision will dim while the suction ring is on and you may feel the pressure and experience some discomfort during this part of the procedure. The microkeratome, a cutting instrument, is attached to the suction ring. Your doctor will use the blade of the microkeratome to cut a flap in your cornea.
The laser will be positioned over your eye and you will be asked to stare at a light. This is not the laser used to remove tissue from the cornea. This light is to help you keep your eye fixed on one sport once the laser come on. NOTE: If you cannot stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds, you may not be a good candidate for this surgery.
When your eye is in the correct position, your doctor will start the laser. At this point in the surgery, you may become aware of new sounds and smells. The pulse of the laser makes a ticking sound. As the laser removed corneal tissue, some people have reported a smell similar to burning hair. A computer controls the amount of laser delivered to your eye. Before the start of surgery, your doctor will have a programmed the computer to vaporize a particular amount of tissue based on the measurements taken in at your initial evaluation. After the pulses of laser energy vaporize the corneal tissue, the flap is put back into position.
After Surgery
Immediately after the procedure, your eye may burn, itch, or feel like there something in it. You may experience some discomfort, or in some cases, mild pain and your doctor may suggest you take a mild pain reliever. Both your eye may tear or water. Your vision will probably be hazy or blurry. You will instinctively want to rub your eye, but don't! Rubbing your eye could dislodge the flap, requiring further treatment. In addition , you may experience sensitivity to light, glare, star bursts or haloes around the light, or the whites of your eye may look red or bloodshot. These symptoms should improved considerably within the first few days after surgery. You should plan on taking a few days off from work until these symptoms subside. You should contact your doctor immediately and not wait for your scheduled visit, if you experience severe pain, or if your vision or other symptoms get worse instead of better.
Post operative instructions after Lasik:
Use drops as directed by physician
No swimming, scuba diving or sky diving for 1 month after surgery.
Women no eye make-up for 5 days after surgery
No tanning for at least 2 weeks after surgery and if you do chose to tan always wear the goggles provided by the tanning salon
Do not rub your eyes for at least 1 week after surgery
Sleep in eye wear provided by the clinic while sleeping or napping for at least 5 nights
You can resume normal activities the next day
If you are interested in LASIK procedure, our experienced refractive surgery coordinators and consultants provide an individual consultation at no charge. To arrange your evaluation and consultation call the Laser Vision Center at 800-634-7299 or contact us online.
