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What
is
LASIK ?
 Laser
assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK,
is an outpatient surgical procedure that treats
myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness),
and astigmatism. LASIK uses a microkeratome
and a laser to reshape the cornea (the clear
covering of the eye) to improve the way the
eye focuses light rays on to the retina.
LASIK
may decrease your dependence on glasses and
contact lens or, in some cases, allow you
to do without them entirely.
Most people who have this procedure are corrected
to better than 20/40 vision and many people
achieve 20/20 vision, or 20/10 vision.
Am
I
a good candidate for LASIK
?
People
who want to minimize their dependence on glasses
or contact lenses make good candidates for
LASIK. Lifestyle, hobbies, and amount of correction
needed are all factors that may determine
whether you are a good candidate.
The
ideal candidate for LASIK is over 18 years
of age, not pregnant, and free of any eye
disease. You are not taking medications with
ocular side effect (for example acutane, cordarone).
You should not have had a change in your prescription
in the last year, and should have a refractive
error within the range of correction for LASIK.
You must also be willing to accept the potential
risks, complications and side effects.
How
is LASIK done ?
LASIK
is performed in a reclining chair in an out
patient surgical suite. First centration of
both pupils is taken before pupils dilatation.
After maximum dilatation. The eye is prepped
with antiseptic then. The eye is numbed with
a few drops of topical anesthetic. These drops
may sting.
An
eyelid holder is placed between the eyelids
to keep them open and prevent you from blinking.
A suction ring, placed on the eye, lifts and
flattens the cornea and helps keep the eye
from moving. You may feel pressure from the
eyelid holder and suction ring, similar to
a finger pressed firmly on your eyelid. From
the time the suction ring is put on the eye
until it is removed, vision appears dim or
goes black.
The
microkeratome, and automated microsurgical
instrument, is attached to the suction ring.
As the microkeratome blade moves across the
cornea, you will hear a buzzing sound. The
microkeratome stops at preset point, far enough
from the edge of the cornea to create a hinged
flap of paper-thin corneal tissue.
The
microkeratome and the suction ring are removed
from the eye, and the flap is lifted and folded
back. As the flap moves, your vision gets
blurrier. The laser, preprogrammed to your
prescription, is then centered above the eye.
While
you stare at an overhead light, the laser
sculpts the exposed corneal tissue. A clicking
sound, made by the laser, can be heard during
the procedure. After the laser has completed
reshaping the cornea, the surgeon places the
flap back into position and smoothes the edges.
The flap adheres on its own in two to three
minutes.
What
happens before surgery?
Your
ophthalmologist will perform a thorough eye
exam to measure your prescription and check
for any abnormalities that might affect the
procedure. Your doctor will check your eyes
for unusual dryness, which could cause dry
eye symptoms post-operatively, or unusually
large pupils, which could affect night or
low-light vision.
What
happens after surgery?
A
see-through shield protects the eye for the
first night. It is normal for the eye to burn
or feel scratchy. This usually disappears
in a few hours. Plan on going home and taking
a nap or just relaxing after the procedure.
You will be given eyedrops to help heal and
alleviate dryness. Healing after LASIK is
usually less uncomfortable than with other
methods of refractive surgery because the
laser removes tissue from the inside of the
cornea and not the more sensitive corneal
surface.
Risks,
Complications and Side Effects
LASIK,
like any surgery, has risks and complications
that should be carefully considered. LASIK
can sometimes result in undercorrection or
overcorrection. Fortunately, these problems
can often be improved with glasses, contact
lenses, or an additional laser surgery. Although
rare, overcorrection may be permanent.
Most
complications can be treated without any loss
of vision. There is extremely small chance,
that your vision will not be as good after
the surgery as before, even with glasses or
contacts. This is called a loss of best corrected
vision.
Some
people experience temporary side effects after
LASIK. These include:
discomfort or pain, hazy or blurry vision,
scratchiness, dryness, haloes or starbursts
around lights, Light sensitivity and small
pink or red patches on the white of the eye
Almost everyone experiences some dryness in
the eyes and fluctuating vision during the
day. These symptoms usually fade within one
month, although some people will continue
to have symptoms for a longer period of time.
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