If you’ve been wearing eyeglasses for a long time, it may be time to weigh other options. One such option is thinking about LASIK surgery, a type of refractive eye surgery.
Generally, people who have undergone LASIK eye surgery have demonstrated 20/25 vision or even better, which allows them to perform many activities. But the majority of these people still require glasses when reading, when driving at night or as they age.
LASIK surgery has demonstrated to produce excellent results so far. Only a few cases have resulted in the loss of vision, with most patients saying they are satisfied with the outcome.
But most of them experience common side effects such as temporary eye disturbances and eye dryness. However, these symptoms get cleared after a few days for most people.
The success of LASIK surgery depends on the refractive error as well as other factors. Persons suffering from mild nearsightedness will have the most success if they undergo refractive surgery. On the other hand, people with a high degree of myopia and astigmatism are at a higher risk of having complications.
Below you’ll find answers to common questions about LASIK. Read on and learn further so you can make an informed decision.
What You Need To Know About LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK surgery involves a lot of things. It is the most commonly performed eye surgery.
Images are usually focused on the retina in the back of the eye. But when you have farsightedness (hyperopia), nearsightedness (myopia), or astigmatism, the images are focused elsewhere, leading to blurred vision.
Usually, blurry vision is corrected by refracting (bending) light rays with contact lenses or glasses. But doctors can also reshape the cornea to provide the required refraction or vision correction.
The surgeon will assess the measurements of your eye before starting a LASIK procedure. He will then use a cutting laser to change the curvature of your cornea precisely.
Here is what your doctor would like to know before conducting the surgery.
The Health Of Your Eyes
Generally, LASIK surgery is performed on people who are experiencing a low to moderate degree of refractive error and no complicated vision issues.
Your surgeon will ask you questions regarding your eye health and examine your eyes to confirm that you don’t have other conditions that can lead to complications or unexpected outcomes. These include:
• If you have keratoconus an eye condition that results in thinning of the cornea, you should reconsider having LASIK surgery. Even if it runs in your family it can be considered a high risk.
• Lid disorders or eye injuries
• Dry eyes. LASIK surgery is not appropriate for people with dry eyes
• Keratitis, herpes simplex, uveitis, and other eye infections
• Large pupils. LASIK surgery isn’t suitable for people with large pupils
• Cataracts
• Glaucoma. LASIK surgery can make this condition worse
Your General Health
A reputable eye surgeon will ask detailed questions about your general health before deciding to conduct LASIK surgery. Certain medical issues can increase the risks that come with LASIK surgery. These conditions include:
• Diabetes
• If you are under immunosuppressive medications
• Any health condition that affects your immune system and impairs the body’s ability to heal
• Depression or chronic issues such as irritable bowel syndrome, migraine, and fibromyalgia
Vision Stability
People with myopia continue to experience changes throughout their teenage years, or even beyond. These people require periodic changes in the type of eyeglasses or contact lenses used.
For this reason, patients must be over 18 years before undergoing LASIK eye surgery.
Certain medications and health conditions such as steroid drugs, pregnancy, and breastfeeding can lead to temporary fluctuations in your vision. You should wait until your vision stabilizes before thinking about eye surgery.
Cost
Most insurance plans don’t cover laser eye surgery, so it is important to know the cost of LASIK surgery in advance.
Side Effects And Complications
While there are rare cases of complications that can lead to loss of vision, some minor side effects are common. However, these problems resolve after a few days or weeks. They include:
Dry Eyes
LASIK surgery can cause the tear production to reduce. People experience eye dryness for six months or more after the surgery. Some even experience dryness even after the healing process.
Your doctor might recommend the use of eye drops during this time. If the eye dryness persists, your doctor might opt for another procedure to correct the situation.
Under Corrections
This happens when the laser is unable to remove the required amount of tissue to correct the vision. This condition is common in nearsighted patients. Your doctor might recommend another refractive surgery to correct this issue.
Overcorrections
Sometimes the laser removes too much tissue from the eye. This is more difficult to correct as opposed to under corrections.
Glare, Double Vision, and Halos
Sometimes people have difficulty seeing at night after the surgery. You might notice double vision, glare, or halos when staring at bright lights. These conditions usually lasts for a few weeks.
