Everything You Need to Know About LASIK

Are you tired of putting in contact lenses every morning? Are you fed up with those smudges that always appear, seemingly out of nowhere, on your glasses? Eye Small Perhaps you have gotten so annoyed by the thousands of dollars you spend on contact lenses, solution, and replacement glasses that you are finally considering a Lasik procedure so that you can finally be done with your vision problems once and for all. Even though most individuals recognize the term “Lasik”, a majority only have an abstract understanding of the procedure without having any actual knowledge of the details of the surgery itself and the results that it produces. It is extremely important for you to learn as much as you can about this procedure before you decide whether or not to pursue it. In this article, we will be informing you of everything you need to know about Lasik before you decide to get it. We will, first, give you some basic general facts and then answer some of the most often asked questions about the procedure. Lastly, we will list reasons why getting Lasik might be the perfect solution for you.

The Basics

Lasik laser eye surgery is the most popular refractive surgery available that treats those who suffer from common vision problems like astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness), and hyperopia (farsightedness).
Lasik stands for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis.
Lasik laser eye surgery was first approved by the FDA in 1996. The surgery has continued to improve along with progressions in laser technology since that time.
The procedure has a 96% success rate and, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 90% of patients end up with vision that lands somewhere in between 20/20 and 20/40.
In a 2013 survey performed by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, 80% of survey respondents reported that they felt “completely” or “very satisfied” with the results of their procedure.
Around 700,000 Americans undergo Lasik surgery every year.
The procedure usually only takes mere minutes to perform.
Even though you will need someone to drive you home directly after the surgery, you will be able to go to work the very next day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is the procedure performed?

The Ophthalmologist will first apply numbing drops to your eyes before making a miniscule incision in the cornea and lifting a thin flap. Under that thin flap, the laser reshapes the corneal tissue underneath and then the flap is replaced.

How do I know if I am eligible for the procedure?

The only way to be sure is to talk with your eye doctor or get a consultation with an Ophthalmologist. Some of the common things that might make Lasik more difficult for certain patients include dry eye syndrome, thin corneas, having extremely high levels of refractive error, or having the corneal condition called Keratoconus.

What are the risks associated with Lasik?

While you might assume that the risks would be high with a laser in your eye; however, that is not the case at all! Actually, the procedure is extremely safe with the risk of problems being only 1%.

Reasons to Get Lasik

You will no longer need to buy contact lenses, contact solution, or replacements for broken glasses anymore. That will save you hundreds of dollars or more every year!
You can see clearly right when you wake up so there will be no more need to stumble around in the dark trying to find your glasses.
Many different activities will be much easier to perform without the constant worry of contact lenses falling out or glasses breaking. Swimming in particular will be much more enjoyable when you aren’t paranoid that your contact lens will fall out at any minute.
Oftentimes, contacts can cause allergic reactions, itchiness, and red or burning eyes. No more of that once you get Lasik corrective surgery.
There will be more freedom in traveling and a lighter suitcase. You won’t need to worry about bringing extra contacts or a backup pair of glasses. You also won’t need to try to figure out how to get your contact solution through security as it’s a liquid.
There are many patients who experience even better sight with Lasik than they did with their corrective lenses.

Sources:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/11/laser-eye-surgery-faq-_n_5418089.html

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2016/09/03/8-things-to-know-before-get-lasik.html

https://www.lasikplus.com/six-surprising-facts-about-laser-eye-surgery

http://www.li-lasik.com/blog/detail/2012/03/07/top-ten-reasons-to-get-lasik-surgery.html