How Does LASIK Work? Everything You Need to Know

The main goal of LASIK eye surgery is to change the shape of the cornea so that it can better focus images onto the retina, allowing you to see more clearly. This effect is achieved through the use of two lasers.

On the day of your LASIK eye surgery you can expect the following:

Your doctor will test your eyes to make sure your eye health history is correct and up to date.
Numbing eye drops will be placed in both of your eyes and you’ll be given a sedative.
Your surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to create a thin, circular “flap” in your cornea. The flap will then be folded back, allowing your surgeon to access the stroma, or underlying cornea.
A laser with cool ultraviolet beams will be used to remove small amounts of tissue from your cornea to reshape it. This enables it to more accurately focus light on your retina for improved vision.
If you are nearsighted, the laser will be used to flatten your cornea. If you are farsighted, the laser will create a steeper cornea.
The flap will then be laid back in place, covering the area where the corneal tissue was removed.
The cornea will then be given time to heal naturally.

Since LASIK eye surgery was first approved by the FDA, more than 19 million LASIK procedures have been performed in the U.S. Further, LASIK has received more than 45 FDA approvals, treating myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and more.

Does LASIK eye surgery hurt?

LASIK eye surgery is relatively painless because numbing drops are used to anesthetize the eye before and during the procedure. Patients generally experience some pressure from the eyelid holder used to prevent blinking, but otherwise, they are made comfortable with the numbing and lubricating drops. After the procedure, some patients will have mild discomfort that on average lasts about 5 hours.

Are you awake during LASIK?

Yes. It is necessary because the surgeon needs you to focus your vision during the procedure. However, a lot goes into keeping you calm and comfortable. Numbing eye drops are given throughout the LASIK procedure and valium or other sedative medication is available. Also, it should be mentioned that there is nothing you could do being awake during the procedure that would be harmful to you. The laser’s sophisticated tracking capabilities follow your eyes’ every move. So, if you sneeze or abruptly move your body too much, the laser automatically turns off.

Why the Procedure Is Performed

LASIK treats the following conditions:

Nearsightedness- You can see objects better if they’re up close, but those far away are fuzzy or blurred.
Farsightedness- You can see objects better from far away but struggle with those up close.
Astigmatism– This is blurred vision when viewing objects at any distance. It’s due to an irregularly shaped cornea and occurs along with myopia or hyperopia.
Presbyopia- As you get older, the lens of your eye grows less flexible. As a result, it’s harder for you to see things close to your face. LASIK, which targets your cornea, can’t correct presbyopia. But with a technique called monovision (blended vision), LASIK can correct one eye for distance and the other eye for near vision. This improves your close-up vision and helps with tasks like reading.

The Best Candidates for LASIK are:

18 years of age or older;
have a stable prescription for the last year or two;
have healthy eyes;
have a sufficiently thick cornea, with normal curve and tear film ;
have realistic expectations about the surgery’s outcomes and are willing to accept the potential risks, complications and side effects of the procedure;
if wearing contact lens, discontinue use several days prior to the examination, (time depending on the type of contact lenses.)

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What to expect After the LASIK the Procedure

After you have surgery, an eye shield or patch will be placed over the eye. It will protect the flap and help prevent rubbing or pressure on the eye until it has healed (most often overnight). Right after the surgery, you may have burning, itching, or a feeling that something is in the eye, this most often goes away within 6 hours. Vision is often blurry or hazy on the day of surgery. The blurriness starts to go away by the next day.

At the first doctor visit after surgery:

The eye shield is removed.
The doctor examines your eye and tests your vision.
You will receive eye drops to help prevent infection and inflammation.

Do not drive until you have been cleared by your doctor and your vision has improved enough to do so safely.

Considering LASIK? Learn more about this Laser Eye Surgery

To sum it up, LASIK eye surgery corrects any refractive errors in order improve or fully restore a person’s vision. Additionally, once someone undergoes this procedure, he or she may not have to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses as much as they did before this surgery.

So, now you have a general but more-informed idea of what LASIK eye surgery does. Are you or someone you know having vision problems? Contact us to make an appointment at a SightMD office that’s near you. Whether it turns out that you need an upgrade in your eyeglasses or contact lens prescription, or discover that the problem with your vision is in fact more serious and may require LASIK eye surgery, you can rest assured that the professionals at SightMD will provide the best eye care possible.