Are you thinking about getting LASIK eye surgery? Does the procedure worry you?
Getting LASIK improves your vision and quality of life. But like with any surgery, it’s normal if you have concerns about the procedure.
Keep reading to learn more about LASIK and if it gives you crazy powers like shooting lasers out of your eyes!
What is LASIK eye surgery?
First things first, there are a lot of misconceptions out there about LASIK. One of these is that you can shoot lasers out of your eyes after the procedure.
As cool as that would be, that’s not the case sadly. Instead, LASIK is a vision correction procedure for patients looking for visual freedom from glasses or contacts.
The procedure does use lasers to correct your vision, so maybe that’s where the misconception comes from. These lasers reshape your cornea and correct any refractive errors you may have. These include if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism.
What happens during LASIK?
Before your surgery, your doctor will use eye drops to numb your eyes. The eye drops help to ensure that you won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
If you’re really nervous before LASIK, your surgeon may give you a mild sedative like Valium. This will help keep you calm and relaxed during the procedure.
Next, your doctor will use a tool called a speculum to hold your eyelids back. This will not hurt, but you might feel it because your eyes are not numb yet.
Then, the surgeon will use a marker to identify where to create the cornea flap. A tool is then used to hold the eye in the right place.
Once your surgeon creates the flap, they will use a laser to reshape your cornea. This is what improves your vision.
So, you cannot shoot lasers out of your eyes, but lasers are instead used to correct your vision. After finishing the first eye, your surgeon will move onto the second eye. LASIK takes about 10-15 minutes to complete.
Is LASIK safe?
Yes, LASIK is one of the safest procedures you can undergo. Millions of patients have had the procedure. It’s not a coincidence that it has a 96% success rate with patients who have had it.
LASIK is safe because there is a low risk of complications from surgery. Most LASIK surgeons have performed the procedure thousands of times.
This makes them extremely experienced. Since becoming FDA approved, the tools and techniques used during LASIK have evolved.
The technology used during LASIK is so accurate it can adjust itself during the procedure. Most surgeons use only lasers during surgery. This means that nothing sharp ever goes near your eyes.
What is the recovery from LASIK like?
Recovery from the procedure is very quick. On the day of your surgery, your vision will be blurry.
By the next day, it should start to stabilize and things will be clear. Over the next few days, your vision will continue to improve.
For some patients, recovery can take a few weeks. Your vision may improve in small amounts, which is why it takes time.
Most patients that get LASIK end up with 20/20 vision or better, which makes the recovery process worth it.
Want to find out if you could qualify for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Metro Eye Care in Paramus, NJ! Why wait if you’re hoping to achieve visual freedom?
