Wearing glasses and contact lenses every single day can be a hustle. You can put an end to this by getting corrective eye surgery.
Lasik is a very common procedure and according to the American Refractive Surgery Council, 99% of patients achieve 20/40 vision or better and over 90% achieve 20/20 vision if not better. This shows an incredible amount of success.
If you’re tired of dealing with glasses and contacts, you might be wondering about the benefits of corrective eye surgery. Read on to learn whether it’s right for you.
What Is Lasik Eye Surgery?
Also referred to as laser vision correction or laser eye surgery, it is a refractive surgery performed by a qualified ophthalmologist to correct astigmatism, myopia, and hyperopia.
A laser of a microkeratome is used during the procedure to change the shape of the cornea to improve a patient’s vision. This procedure provides a long-lasting alternative to contact lenses and eyeglasses.
In as much as Lasik is a good procedure to have, it is important to understand it so that you can be able to make an informed decision on whether or not to get it.
What You Should Know Before Getting Lasik as Your Chosen Corrective Eye Surgery
This surgery is a life-altering decision. Therefore, you need to arm yourself with all the relevant information. Here are a few things you should you as you prepare for surgery.
1. Know Your Surgeon
Look for a board-certified and experienced ophthalmologist. The skill and experience of your surgeon are very important because not everybody can perform laser eye surgery. Choose the best.
While looking for the right surgeon, ask about:
- their experience and number of surgeries done
- number of successful procedures
- number of failed procedures
- the technology they use
You want a surgeon who uses the latest technology in the market and has a high success rate. If they cannot be able to provide such information, move on to the next till you are fully convinced and comfortable.
2. Are You the Right Candidate?
The first thing you need to find out is if corrective eye surgery will work for you. No two people are the same and Lasik is not for everyone. If you have severely dry eyes, certain corneal diseases, and other eye conditions, you should not have this procedure done.
Consult with your doctor to know if this surgery is for you. Some other factors that can make you a bad Lasik candidate include:
- very thin corneas that cannot accommodate the creation of a Lasik flap
- severely misshapen corneas
- scarring of the cornea
- any other issue that affects the health of the eyes
Do not book for surgery without consulting your doctor. Avoid any disappointments and get to know if you can have the surgery ahead of time.
3. Risks Involved
Lasik surgery is a very quick procedure. As such, you will be up and running in no time. However, just like any other procedure, there are a few risks involved.
Complications are quite rare but there are possibilities that you might get an infection, under or overcorrection, and inflammation.
4. Follow Pre-Surgery Instructions
Your doctor will give you several instructions that you must follow before the surgery. These instructions are part of the procedure. They include:
1. Not wearing soft contact lenses 2 weeks and 3 weeks for hard or gas permeable contacts before the surgery, as contacts alter the shape of the cornea and they need to be in the original shape before the surgery.
2. Discontinue the use of make-up. This will reduce the risk of getting an infection after surgery.
Ignoring instruction can increase the chances of complications, which can impact your healing process and results.
5. You Will Be Awake During the Procedure
Corrective eye surgery is an outpatient procedure. It does not take long and you will be awake the entire time. However, you will not feel any pain because your surgeon will use some anesthetic eye drops to numb the surface of your eyes.
6. You Will Need To Use Glasses After The Procedure
The success rate for Lasik is 99%, which means there is a 1% chance that you may still have to use glasses even after the surgery. However, the 20/40 vision is what is required to be able to drive a car and you might not need to use your glasses.
This is also determined by how severe your condition or prescription is. In such cases, you might use the glasses for a clear vision.
7. Side Effects
Complications with this procedure are rare. You might, however, experience some side effects like:
- sensitivity to light
- dry eyes
- glare and halos around very bright lights
- tearing
- blurry vision or poor vision quality
As you heal, these side effects swill slowly subside. They are not severe but you need to report any side effects to your surgeon so that they can monitor them as you recover.
8. Learn Your Alternatives
What happens if you are not a Lasik candidate? The good news is that there are other alternatives that you can peruse. You can still be able to correct your vision with a procedure like Visian ICL or PRK.
Talk to your doctor to know the other option that is available for your kind of condition and the kind of results that you should expect.
9. Ask About Refractive Error
If you have bad eyesight, there are high chances that you will have to get a repeat procedure. This is referred to as refinements. Myopic patients need refinement surgery after corrective eye surgery. Find out if you are in this category.
10. Learn About Post-Surgery Care
You will be given some prescription eye drops that you need to use religiously.
The correct use of eye drops will determine how you heal and the final results. Ask your doctor when you should start wearing makeup again, and how often you should go for checkups. You will also need to refrain from taking part in any sporting activities or at least 4 – 6weeks.
Understand All About Corrective Eye Surgery Before Booking for the Procedure
Corrective eye surgery is an FDA approved the procedure. Millions of people have gained from this surgery and enjoying the benefits. Remember to take every necessary precaution to protect your eyes until they are well healed.
Check out our website for more on Lasik and to learn more life tips from us.