The Lasik Surgical Procedure Explained
LASIK eye surgery has enjoyed a surge in popularity over the past decade. Today, it's a common practice that has brought relief to countless patients suffering from astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. You've probably heard of LASIK, and may have considered having the procedure done. Before you make your decision, you need to fully understand the LASIK surgical procedure.
The world LASIK stands for "Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During this procedure, a laser is used to permanently change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye, and this reshaping can provide relief and even cure a pre-existing condition.
The relative speed and ease of the procedure are the main reasons why LASIK eye surgery is so popular. In just thirty minutes, the entire LASIK surgical procedure can be completed.
When you go for LASIK eye surgery, you'll be asked to lie back on a reclining chair in the examination room. You'll also see a large machine containing a microscope, a computer screen and the laser in this room.
After you've settled in to your reclining chair, your doctor will clean the area around your eye and will administer eye drops. An instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. Once this instrument is in place, the doctor will place a special ring on your eye. Very high pressures will be applied to create suction to the cornea. Your vision will dim while the suction ring is on, and you may feel pressure and a little discomfort during this part of LASIK eye surgery procedure.
The suction ring also holds a cutting instrument called a microkeratome. This tiny instrument is used to gently cut a flap in your cornea. Once the cut is made, the suction ring and microkeratome will be removed. You'll be able to see during this part of the process. The doctor will then lift the flap and fold it back to allow the exposed area to dry.
The laser comes into play during the next step of the procedure. Your doctor will position a light over your eye, and will ask you to stare directly into it. It's not the laser you're looking at, but simply a light used to help your eye remain in a fixed spot. If you cannot stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds, then you may not be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
Once your eye is in the correct position, your doctor will start the laser and begin removing the corneal tissue. Some people report an odor similar to burning hair at this point in the LASIK surgical procedure.
Your doctor has control over the laser, but a computer controls the amount of laser energy delivered to your eye. Your personal data, taken at your initial consultation and entered into the computer, is used to determine these settings. Using your unique data, the computerized laser vaporizes a predetermined amount of tissue.
Once the pulses of laser energy have finished vaporizing the corneal tissue, the flap is put back into position. A shield is placed in position over your eye as a final step, providing necessary protection for the surgical area.
It is truly amazing that your astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness can be forever corrected in only thirty minutes. That's why the LASIK surgical procedure is so popular today.
The world LASIK stands for "Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During this procedure, a laser is used to permanently change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye, and this reshaping can provide relief and even cure a pre-existing condition.
The relative speed and ease of the procedure are the main reasons why LASIK eye surgery is so popular. In just thirty minutes, the entire LASIK surgical procedure can be completed.
When you go for LASIK eye surgery, you'll be asked to lie back on a reclining chair in the examination room. You'll also see a large machine containing a microscope, a computer screen and the laser in this room.
After you've settled in to your reclining chair, your doctor will clean the area around your eye and will administer eye drops. An instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. Once this instrument is in place, the doctor will place a special ring on your eye. Very high pressures will be applied to create suction to the cornea. Your vision will dim while the suction ring is on, and you may feel pressure and a little discomfort during this part of LASIK eye surgery procedure.
The suction ring also holds a cutting instrument called a microkeratome. This tiny instrument is used to gently cut a flap in your cornea. Once the cut is made, the suction ring and microkeratome will be removed. You'll be able to see during this part of the process. The doctor will then lift the flap and fold it back to allow the exposed area to dry.
The laser comes into play during the next step of the procedure. Your doctor will position a light over your eye, and will ask you to stare directly into it. It's not the laser you're looking at, but simply a light used to help your eye remain in a fixed spot. If you cannot stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds, then you may not be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
Once your eye is in the correct position, your doctor will start the laser and begin removing the corneal tissue. Some people report an odor similar to burning hair at this point in the LASIK surgical procedure.
Your doctor has control over the laser, but a computer controls the amount of laser energy delivered to your eye. Your personal data, taken at your initial consultation and entered into the computer, is used to determine these settings. Using your unique data, the computerized laser vaporizes a predetermined amount of tissue.
Once the pulses of laser energy have finished vaporizing the corneal tissue, the flap is put back into position. A shield is placed in position over your eye as a final step, providing necessary protection for the surgical area.
It is truly amazing that your astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness can be forever corrected in only thirty minutes. That's why the LASIK surgical procedure is so popular today.
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