LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK surgery shouldn’t be a mystery. When it comes to correcting your vision with laser eye surgery, you should know all the details. This includes how to prepare for the surgery, what will happen during it, and what to expect during the recovery process.
Before LASIK
One of the most important factors in obtaining an excellent result from laser vision correction is the accurate measurement of your prescription before laser treatment. Since the lens within the eye has the ability to change its shape and therefore focus light to a different extent from moment to moment, it is not always possible to accurately measure the eyeglass prescription required by a patient unless this focusing mechanism is inactivated. This is readily accomplished by the administration of a special eye drop that simultaneously dilates the pupil and paralyzes the focusing muscle of the lens. With the lens unable to change its focus, an accurate refraction can be achieved.
We need to determine the size of the pupil. Using a telescopic lens system, the diameter of the pupil can be accurately measured. Once we know the size, we can accurately predict who is most at risk to develop glare after LASIK and thereby make the best decision as to whether or not the procedure should be performed.
The corneal curvature must also be determined. This is because there are limits to the steepening that can be safely induced to correct farsightedness. Similarly, the corneal thickness must be determined in order to be certain that it will be adequate for laser surgery of the cornea.
What happens during LASIK surgery?
During LASIK eye surgery, an excimer laser is used to either steepen or flatten the cornea, depending on whether you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. A corneal flap is created, allowing the surgeon to apply laser treatment to the inner layers of the cornea. Before surgery begins, it is important to ensure that the laser beam is precisely aligned with the eye. In order to deliver the treatment at the right angle on the cornea, a special pen is used to mark the surface of the conjunctiva that overlies the sclera, just adjacent to the cornea, while the patient is sitting. The patient then lies down beneath the laser and the surgeon aligns the eye with the laser beam.
Using the Allegretto laser system, which utilizes an ultra-fine laser beam, we are able to reshape the cornea.
This remarkable technology also tracks the eye hundreds of times per second, which means that it can track involuntary eye movements and therefore eliminate eye motion during the procedure which would otherwise be harmful.
After LASIK
Within minutes after LASIK, many patients will have a scratchy sensation as if something were in his/her eye. This is not painful and lubricating drops cause the feeling to subside. Vision is often somewhat hazy for several hours. Without glasses, your vision may still be better than it had been before LASIK, but you should not be concerned if it is not. Bandaging the eye is not necessary.
It is best to return home, eat if you are hungry, and go to sleep. While sleeping, protective eyewear should be worn for a few weeks. By the next day, most patients are able to see clearly enough without glasses to drive a car and return to work. Using eyedrops, especially lubricants, is very important and aids proper healing.
Serious problems are extremely unusual after LASIK. Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a medical procedure that never causes problems. Some possible issues include:
- Dry eyes: After LASIK, the cornea of virtually every patient will easily become dry for a period of time that can vary from a few weeks to several months.
- Corneal surface problems: Some of the corneal cells could become loose during the LASIK procedure. This situation is normally treated by wearing a “bandage” contact lens.
- Corneal inflammation: In approximately 1% of LASIK patients, a generally mild inflammation develops within the cornea. Rarely can this problem be severe enough to cause temporary or permanent blurred vision.
- Corneal infection: Since antibiotics are placed on the eye both before and after LASIK, this potentially serious problem is quite rare. Symptoms include blurred vision, pain, and sensitivity to light.
- Corneal flap problems: After LASIK, you should use protective eyewear while sleeping and avoid eye-rubbing. Doing this will help the flap to heal normally and prevent accidental flap dislocation.
- Irregular astigmatism: Rarely, because of inflammation, infection, or other healing problems, the flap may develop an irregular surface.
For LASIK surgery in the Astoria, NY area, contact the Mackool Eye Surgery Center at 718-738-3400.