A Quick Guide to LASIK 2022

You have heard about LASIK and how it can help improve your vision and quality of life. But do you know everything there is to know about LASIK? Here is a quick guide to LASIK 2022.

Understanding LASIK: What is It?

LASIK, short for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, is a type of eye surgery that aims to correct refractive eye problems. In addition, it helps correct vision problems for people with farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.

While it has just recently gained popularity, LASIK has been around for almost two decades. Previously, traditional LASIK was done using an excimer laser. Now, thanks to technology, Wavefront technology has helped make the surgery more precise and the results more efficient.

There are three main types of LASIK. The oldest is traditional LASIK. Second is Wavefront LASIK, customized depending on the shape of your cornea, and lastly, all-laser LASIK, a recent invention that is 100% blade free.

What Conditions Can LASIK Help With?

LASIK helps with refractive eye errors. A refractive eye problem is a problem where your eye cannot bend light properly. Thus, you get distorted vision, e.g., farsightedness, blurry vision, or nearsightedness. For example, a misshaped cornea causes a refractive error. So, correcting the cornea’s shape can help deal with the refractive problem.

What Happens During the Surgery?

We want to emphasize that LASIK is not ideal for everyone. So, before discussing what happens during the surgery, note that you will need to find out if you are a good candidate for the procedure. You can schedule a free consultation with us to know if you are a suitable candidate,

During the surgery, the ophthalmologist will reshape your cornea using a laser. During the consultation, they will check the size of your pupil, measure your cornea and the refractive error, and ensure your eyes are healthy.

So, during the procedure, they will use the information to reshape your cornea. Unlike other surgeries, you will be awake. The ophthalmologist will administer anesthetic eye drops to ensure you don’t feel any discomfort during or after the procedure.

How Long Will It Take to Recover?

After the surgery, your doctor will guide you on the does and don’ts to help you recover. You can resume regular activity after 48 hours, mostly people take a week to a month to heal their eyes completely.

As a precaution, getting someone to help you drive home after the procedure is essential. Wait for at least 48 hours before driving again or resuming a normal routine like going to work or having makeup on.

Refrain from sports, the gym, or exercising until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. You might also need to avoid showering or exposing your eyes to water. some people may feel slight discomfort after the procedure such as light sensitivity, blurry vision, dry eye, glare, and poor night vision. However, these are temporary and will fade away soon.

Risks Associated with LASIK

Like any other surgical procedure, LASIK does have risks. However, the chance of these risks happening is relatively low. In fact, in more than 99% of the surgeries, patients have been delighted.

The risks associated with LASIK include infections, epithelial ingrowth, corneal abrasion, regression to old vision, and corneal ectasia. However, these happen in 1% of the patients. Nonetheless, LASIK is extremely safe.

How Much Will It Cost to get a LASIK Procedure?

The costs will vary depending on the type of procedure, your surgeon, and insurance (if it will cover the cost). However, traditional LASIK is cheaper, while all-laser LASIK is at the expensive end.

Cost is affected by numerous factors, including the technology used in the institution you choose to get your surgery, your state, insurance deductibles, etc.

Get the Clear Vision You Dream Of

The truth is every surgery, no matter how minor, gets you out of your comfort zone and is bound to make you a little uneasy. Our quick guide above covers everything you should know about LASIK. You now have all the information you need and that you can rely on to make a guided decision. You can also be part of the LASIK success story if you get in touch with us today and book your appointment.