Almost 20 years ago, the FDA approved LASIK surgery and it has not stopped being a hot topic for better vision. Even if you don’t know much about LASIK, you can probably hear yourself or others reference it in your daily life. It is the answer to improved vision through the help of a LASIK surgeon in Orange County.
However, even though you might think LASIK is the answer to your vision issues, it isn’t for everybody, and it does not fix every vision issue.
What Are The Basics Of LASIK Eye Surgery?
First of all, not many people know that LASIK is actually an acronym for laser in situ keratomileusis and is a two-step procedure.
A LASIK surgeon in Orange County would make a micron-thin, circular flap in the cornea, which is the surface of the eye. It does not take the surgeon long to do this, roughly a few seconds and then he or she uses either a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser.
Afterward, the surgeon slowly lifts the flap and then the actual vision correction treatment will take place, which is just under the surface of the eye.
During the second step, a surgeon of LASIK in Orange County uses a computer-guided excimer laser to permanently remove the microscopic pieces of tissue which are causing the patient’s vision issues.
Then the flap is put back in place to act as a natural bandage and protect the reshaped portion of the cornea while it heals.
Ever since the first LASIK eye surgery was approved by the FDA, over nineteen million LASIK procedures have been performed in the United States alone.
Furthermore, LASIK has acquired more than forty-five FDA approvals, treating myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, astigmatism, and many other eye conditions.
Are Lasers Shot Into Your Eyes?
It sounds very sci-fi, but yes that is what happens and it is pretty neat! Before you start to freak out, you should know that lasers are a beam of light that move together within the same wavelength at various speeds. For instance, the femtosecond laser that is sometimes used to create the flap is an infrared laser that pulses at one quadrillionth of a second to create microscopic tissue disruptions inside the cornea. The excimer laser which is used to correct the patient’s vision is an ultraviolet beam with a pulse rate of up to 1000 Hz.
Nowadays, lasers are used in various types of surgeries because they are amazingly accurate. This is very important since people hear about LASIK “slicing” and “dicing” the eye. These descriptions are not really precise. The whole LASIK procedure happens completely within the layers of the cornea, and no other part of the eye is involved. This is achievable because lasers can be used safely without harming the surrounding tissues.
Is It Painful?
You do not need to worry about pain because LASIK is typically painless! Numbing drops are used to anesthetize the eye before and during the procedure of a LASIK surgeon in Orange County. Normally, patients feel some pressure from the eyelid holder that the surgeon uses to prevent blinking, but other than that patients are made comfortable with the numbing and lubricating drops. After the procedure, some patients experience some mild discomfort that usually only lasts for about five hours.
Are You Awake During The Procedure?
Yes, and some people freak out about this, but you shouldn’t! Besides the numbing drops, your doctor can give you a sedative to help you stay calm. Also, the fact that you are awake does not harm you in any way. If your eye moves, the laser’s tracking capabilities follow your eye. If you sneeze or move around too much, the laser is capable of switching off automatically when this happens.
Is LASIK safe?
This is the most asked question our eye surgeons get and it is a good one to ask. Over the years, LASIK has been the most research elective procedure. Over 7,000 clinical studies have been conducted and published about LASIK. As a result, there has been a massive amount of data supporting its safety and effectiveness.
Also, LASIK eye surgery has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates compared to any other elective procedure. On average it rates at over 96 percent.
A majority of LASIK patients remark on how their vision is way better than when they had to wear glasses before surgery.
In over 40 million procedures around the world, there has never been a case of blindness because of LASIK in anyone who is a healthy, suitable candidate.
Are There Side Effects?
It is common to experience some symptoms during the healing period after a LASIK procedure. At the end of the day, it is a surgical procedure even if it only took fifteen minutes. It is normal to have this recovery period and your eyes might feel a little dry, sensitive to light, or irritated while they heal. Let your doctor know about your symptoms during your post-LASIK visits.
A few patients experience side effects from LASIK which consist of night vision visual symptoms such as glare, halos, ghosting, starbursts, and dry eye. Normally, glare, halos, ghosting, and starbursts slowly go away by themselves over a period of a few weeks or months, maybe as long as a year. Some patients may need extra courses of eye drops to lower the inflammation and/or dry eye that can cause visual symptoms.
In rare circumstances, less than five percent of the time, additional LASIK treatment may be recommended to fix residual vision issues or you can wear thinner glasses or contact lenses.
Who Can Have LASIK Eye Surgery?
If you have thin or irregular corneas or suffer from a certain eye disease such as glaucoma, your eye surgeon will probably inform you that you are unsuitable for LASIK.
Some autoimmune diseases such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and medications such as corticosteroids, can impair the healing process and are not ideal for certain laser correction vision procedures.
If you want more information about LASIK, do not hesitate to give Excel Laser Vision Institute a call at (818) 907-8606, or fill out our contact form today!
