You may have heard of LASIK eye surgery as a possible solution for vision correction, and for good reason. LASIK is the most commonly performed laser eye surgery to treat nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
What does this mean for you? If you suffer from any of the conditions listed above, LASIK could be the answer to kissing those troublesome glasses and contact lenses goodbye.
LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a refractive surgical procedure. This results in reshaping the cornea so the light entering the eye can be properly focused onto the retina for clearer vision. In this procedure, the surface layer of corneal tissue is folded back from its usual position. The laser then gently reshapes the corneal surface and the surface layer is placed back in its original position where it bonds naturally.
Most patients report that LASIK is generally painless and they achieve 20/20 vision or better after the surgery. Many even go back to work the next day without visual aid and their vision continues to stabilize over a few days.
LASIK eye surgery results are immediate and most patients are satisfied with the procedure. Complications leading to vision loss post-surgery are extremely rare and there are few side effects that are fairly common. These side effects include dry eyes and “halos” which usually clear up after a few weeks or months.
Now that you know more about the procedure, you may be wondering, “Will I qualify for LASIK?”. You can quickly read up on the criteria of what makes a good candidate here.
This list of criteria is a good place to start, but you should consult an eye doctor to see if LASIK is right for you. Your results will depend on your refractive error and other factors. If LASIK is not right you, there are a number of other laser eye surgery procedures, such as PRK, that you can explore.
Call us at 949-951-2020 to meet our doctors and learn more about LASIK by scheduling a complimentary, no-obligation LASIK consultation with us here at Harvard Eye Associates.
