Quite a number of inconveniences have been experienced by patients using visual aids like glasses and contact lens. The fact that they are tangible materials makes them susceptible to damage from behavioural and environmental factors. Lasik eye surgery is the perfect solution to overcome all of these inconveniences.

Take for instance, you trip while riding a bike with your glasses on and upon standing up, discover the lens are broken or the frame distorted. Or your contact lens gets ripped because you forgot to wet them before removal.

Should you have had these experiences, it’s not uncommon to seek a non-temporary solution to poor vision like laser surgery.

LASIK eye surgery is a type of laser surgery to correct vision problems. And here, we’ll be looking at 6 questions people usually ask and their answers.

What qualifies me for LASIK eye surgery?

The fact that most adults can have this treatment because it’s fairly inclusive makes it a good choice. But the conditions for LASIK as stipulated by the FDA include:

• Short-sightedness or myopia of about 12.00D
• long-sightedness or hyperopia of about +6.00D
• About 6.00D of astigmatism

Your doctor has to examine your eyes prior to LASIK thoroughly. At the consultation, the doctor will analyse the thickness and shape of your cornea and pupil size. Then they’ll look out for refractive issues like short-sightedness, long-sightedness, astigmatism, or any other vision error. The doctor may evaluate the moistness of your eyes and prescribe a procedure to help you avoid dry eyes post-treatment.

Ideally, LASIK candidates must be:

• Up to 18 years old
• Free from autoimmune diseases, which makes healing post-surgery difficult
• Done with or no breastfeeding or pregnant. Hormone levels rise in pregnancy and may impact the shape of the eyes. You’ll have to wait for hormone levels to normalise before surgery
• Having healthy eyes without a history of glaucoma, cataract, or a severe dry eye condition

Will I experience pain during LASIK?

The treatment doesn’t cause pain. However, an eyedrop that will numb any pain will be administered into your two eyes before treatment.

You may experience some pressure but trust the procedure not to bring discomfort.

A medication called Valium may also be given to you to ease tension and trigger calmness during LASIK surgery.

Post-treatment, you’ll usually feel your eyes burn or itch a little, but this feeling doesn’t last.

What happens during LASIK eye surgery?

The LASIK surgeon hopes to correct the shape of your cornea so that images can be properly focused on the retina which equals a healthy vision. Two lasers are used to make this happen.

As a candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery, you should look out for the following:

• The doctor will confirm your healthy eye history by performing tests.
• Your eyes will be numbed and you’ll be given a sedative to relax.
• Using a femtosecond laser, a thin flap will be created in your cornea and rolled back to enable the surgeon reach the cornea underneath.
• To reshape your cornea, small quantity of tissue will be extracted from it using an excimer laser. This improves light focus on the retina for clearer vision.
• Persons having myopia will have their cornea flattened with the laser. For hyperopia, the cornea will be steeped by the laser.
• The folded flap will be returned back to position and it’ll cover the area where the corneal tissue was extracted.
• Time will be given for the natural healing of the cornea.

The entire LASIK treatment is simple. Patients stay awake. But with sedative and numbing medication, you won’t feel anxious or worried. For the two eyes, this procedure can take 20 minutes.

How will I recover from a LASIK surgery?

The surgeon will examine your eye briefly after LASIK. Upon confirmation of a successful surgery, the doctor will ask you to go home. You’re not allowed to drive yourself. A friend or family member must do the driving. The next day after surgery, you’ll see the doctor for a follow-up visit. This is where the doctor will confirm that your vision is powerful enough for driving. So, you may be allowed to drive.

One week post-surgery, you’ll visit the doctor again to check the healing of your eyes. While there, the doctor will determine whether you need more follow-up appointments.

You need to take time to rest. But you may be allowed to return to work the next day after LASIK.

Use of makeup and strenuous exercises should be avoided for a week. They can restrict healing. When you’re free to wear makeup again, apply new products to keep infection at bay.

To prevent dry eye, infection, bacteria and to make your healing faster, you may be asked to use artificial tears and prescription eyedrops.

It is not uncommon for some patients to notice a blood spot called a subconjunctival haemorrhage in the white part of the eye. It may take 2 weeks to clear off.

How long will I wait to expect a result from LASIK?

Right after treatment, your vision will improve significantly. Initially, you may have a hazy vision but as days go by, it will stabilise and improve.

You may experience light sensitivity, stinging sensation, or grittiness post-treatment.

Many patients reveal that they can see clearly the next day after LASIK. It is possible to have a 20/20 vision from LASIK treatment. But it comes down to how chronic your vision problem was before the surgery.

Does LASIK come with side effects or risks?

Yes it has some risks. Though uncommon, you may stay for a number of weeks before you get an outcome. Some of the following issues may also be imminent:

• Dry eyes
• Infection
• Inflammation
• Difficulty seeing at night. For instance, seeing halos, particularly when driving
• You may need reading glasses years after the surgery as a result of ageing naturally
• Under or overcorrection that could cause you to use glasses or contacts for improved eyesight
• Complications arising from cornea tissue flap during surgery

If you are thinking about getting this treatment, bear in mind that LASIK eye surgery is a simple procedure.

To know if you’re a good candidate for LASIK, just book an appointment at your nearest Lasik eye clinic today.