LASIK also known as “laser in-situ keratomileusis” is one of the most popular surgical eye treatments today. It is known to cure near-sightedness, far-sightedness and astigmatism. The basic method followed in the surgical procedure is the modification of the cornea. The cornea is the clear round dome that is in the center of the eye. Doctors basically attempt to reshape the cornea in order for it to be placed correctly in the path of the retina so that the light that enters through the cornea falls onto it accurately.
The reason behind the popularity of LASIK is that it has a very high success rate. About 90% of the patients that have opted for LASIK laser eye surgery have enhanced their vision. Another factor is that of the recovery time. People that have opted for the surgical treatment usually recover within 24 to 48 hours and can continue about their normal routines. This is due to the lack of stitches required in the surgery.
The surgical procedure involves slitting the top of the cornea in order to expose the eye ball to a focused laser beam directed through the cornea towards the retina. Patients may experience dry eye, glares, difficulty in driving and fluctuations in sight for up to 48 hours after the surgery. LASIK however is not a perfect procedure and naturally poses some cons as well. The changes made during the laser eye surgery are permanent. This is why it is imperative that the surgical procedure be done with the utmost care and that patients should work with doctors who have had a high success rate. If the doctor is unable to perform the procedure correctly, the changes would permanently affect the vision of the patient.
Before the surgery takes place the doctor should perform a complete and thorough eye examination. The doctor must measure the dimensions such as the corneas curvature, the shape of the cornea, and the pupil. This means assessing whether the cornea is cone-shaped or irregular. The thickness of the cornea is the most important factor since it will help the doctor determine how deep the cut should be made.
The surgery itself is a 10-15 minute procedure for each eye. Sometimes both eyes are corrected on the same instance. In rare cases however, doctors prefer to correct one eye and wait until they are happy with the results until they move onto the next one.
It is very important for the patient and the doctor to be on the same wavelength. The patient should be well aware of what the procedures before, during and after the laser eye surgery will be. The patient should present the doctor with all previous records regarding eye treatments or prescriptions that the patient has undergone. This will reduce the risk of any inaccuracy at the time of evaluation before the surgery. Although LASIK is a mostly successful procedure, any little inaccuracy may cause permanent damage to the sight of the patient which is irreversible.