Comprehensive Guide to LASIK Eye Procedure: What to Expect and What It Entails
Living with glasses or contacts for years on end can make you long for the day you'd wake up and see clearly - enter refractive eye surgeries! The most notable of these is LASIK, but let's delve into the various procedures that can correct your impaired vision.
Types of Refractive Eye Surgeries
"Refractive eye surgeries cater to individual patients' unique circumstances," explains Dr. Tueng Shen, an ophthalmologist at the UW Medicine Eye Institute at Harborview and UW Medical Center - Montlake.
The popular LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) procedure involves a doctor making a small flap in your outer cornea, using a laser to reshape the inner cornea, and then repositioning the flap. Even though less common, other surgeries like photorefractive keratectomy, refractive lens exchange, conductive keratoplasty, and intracorneal rings are useful for those who don't qualify for LASIK or have special eye shapes or refractive errors.
Considering Refractive Surgery
"When thinking about refractive surgery, stability is key," says Shen. Your refraction should remain stable for a few years, or the benefits of the surgery could be short-lived. Ideally, LASIK surgery should be done between the ages of 21-40, as younger individuals' vision is still developing, and older individuals may experience presbyopia (eye loss caused by lens stiffening), needing reading glasses.
Additionally, it's crucial to have good eye health. Before surgery, your doctor will assess your cornea's thickness, curvature, and other factors to ensure you don't have any underlying conditions that could put you at risk of vision loss.
Preparing for Refractive Surgery
Before making a decision, discuss your prescription, eye care habits, and goals with your doctor. If you move forward, you'll undergo an examination to confirm your prescription, check your eye health, and measure your eye. Remember to stop wearing contacts a week for each year you've worn them to give your corneas time to revert to their natural shape for accurate measurements.
During the Refractive Surgery Procedure
Expect a brief, pain-free surgery. You'll create memories in around 30 minutes, with the actual laser reshaping your cornea lasting under a minute. Your doctor will apply numbing eye drops, keep your eyes open with a device, and use a laser to create a corneal flap and shape the cornea.
Recovering from Refractive Surgery
Following any refractive surgery, you may experience itching, light sensitivity, and redness for a couple of days, although LASIK often results in less overall irritation than other procedures. You'll be given eye drops and might require pain medication. Plan to take a week off work, especially if you work on a computer, to help your eyes heal. Avoid contact sports and makeup for the first couple of weeks to give your eyes a chance to rest and recover.
In the end, refractive surgery can lead to a life free of glasses and contacts, allowing you to enjoy activities without restrictions. Shen notes, "Refractive surgery offers a sense of liberation, empowering people to live their lives the way they want to."
As Dr. Tueng Shen highlights, it's essential to note that refractive eye surgeries, such as LASIK or photorefractive keratectomy, cater to individual's unique circumstances. Furthermore, advancements in refractive surgery, including refractive lens exchange, conductive keratoplasty, and intracorneal rings, are beneficial for those who don't qualify for LASIK or have special eye shapes or refractive errors, thus contributing significantly to health-and-wellness and mental-health, especially for individuals seeking improvement in their quality of life and mental freedom from eyewear.
