LASIK Eye Surgery - Are Your Expectations Real?

Simply put, LASIK eye surgery reshapes the corneas (the transparent front covering the eye) to clear up refractive eye problems and produce better vision.

It can be used to treat both nearsightedness (myopia) and farsightedness (hyperopia), as well as astigmatism.

There are some requirements you have to meet to undergo a LASIK procedure:

• you must reach the age of 18;
• have a stable vision for at least one year;
• if you had eye infections or injuries you might not be allowed to the procedure;
• and you have to realize and accept a certain risk which goes together with any surgery.

The usual way that LASIK is performed is to create a small flap in the cornea. This can be done by either a laser or by a small handheld device called a microkeratome.

An excimer laser is then used to reshape the cornea and then the flap is put back in place. (No stitches are needed.)

As far as how the cornea is shaped, it depends on the patient. Each one is unique and therefore the eye surgeon will have already planned the best way to corrective your individual vision problem.

Most patients immediately notice improvement in their vision following surgery. However, your vision can continue to improve for up to six months afterwards.

Types Of LASIK

• conventional LASIK (watch video here)

• wavefront-optimized

• and wavefront-guided blade-free LASIK (watch video here)

All LASIK surgery uses the excimer laser.

However, the actual reshaping of the cornea can also be done by wavefront guided treatments instead. This utilizes a Wavelight laser to correct a variety eye impairments.

Although one might think that an incision in the eye would quite gruesome and painful, it is actually quite the opposite.

Anesthetizing eye drops are used prior to surgery so that the patient experiences no discomfort during the procedure. Follow-up exams afterwards can ensure proper healing even though complications from LASIK are rare.

Read more about LASIK eye surgery on the following pages:

How LASIK Works - Different Types Of LASIK Explained
It is important to understand how LASIK works if you consider the possibility of LASIK surgery to relieve your myopia or other vision problems.

Standard LASIK Procedure - Step By Step
Standard LASIK procedure or "basic LASIK" is used to correct the most simple of vision problems.

Wavefront Eye Surgery - Custom LASIK Step By Step
Wavefront eye surgery or Custom LASIK is designed to correct the complete vision for the patient.

Intralase LASIK Or iLASIK Procedure Step By Step
If the thought of a knife touching your eyeball isn't appealing, you might be more interested in iLASIK.

LASIK Video - Conventional LASIK vs. Bladeless LASIK
A LASIK video is a great chance to see what exactly is happening during the procedure.

LASIK Enhancement - Does It Always Improve Your Vision?
When is LASIK enhancement procedure really needed? Read this first before you undergo one more surgery.

LASIK And Risk
LASIK and risk - what you should be aware of before undergoing LASIK surgery.

Dry Eye After LASIK - Do You Need To Worry?
Dry eye after LASIK eye surgery - will you get it?

Astigmatism And LASIK Surgery
How do astigmatism and LASIK surgery go together?

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