Blepharitis Chalazion Conjunctivitis Corneal Erosions Cataracts Diabetic Retinopathy Eyelid Spasms Flashers and Floaters Glaucoma Glossary How to apply eyedrops The Human Eye Keratoconus LASIK Macular Degeneration Pterygium and Pinguecula Radial Keratotomy Refractive Surgeries Strabismus Visual Field Test	LASIK The success of LASIK surgery mainly depends on the condition of your eyes and your expectations. Good candidates for LASIK usually have the following attributes: myopia with or without astigmatism good general health, with no other eye problems Risks include: No guarantee of perfect vision, and many people still do require distance and reading glasses Healing time ranges from several days to a few weeks; within that time, vision may not be clear Minimal discomfort will be felt during and after the procedure Some people are sensitive to glare or see halos, but this normally clears up in time If the corneal flap is jarred or lost, replacement or repositioning may be required Vision may be cloudy for up to a month or more There is a minute risk ofinfection, which could scar the cornea and decrease vision Farsightedness or irregular astigmatism could develop Advantages LASIK can correct for a larger range of myopia than other refractive surgery procedures LASIK can cause less discomfort, with a shorter recover time than other procedures You are awake during the procedure and local anesthetic (eye drops) are used, decreasing recovery time Laser treatment typically takes less than one minute Evaluation A typical work up to evaluate whether your eyes are good candidates for LASIK surgery include the following: Eyes will be dilated and refraction will be measured Corneal topography will be determined Ultrasound scans will be used to determine cornea thickness Surgical Procedure 1)  During Surgery You lie on a reclining chair or table, awake, and anesthetic is applied to your eye and your eye is stabilized. The automated microkeratome lifts away a small section of the front of the cornea, to form the corneal flap. The excimer laser delivers a programmed number of pulses of UV light onto the exposed part of the cornea, each pulse removing a microscopic layer. The corneal flap is replaced; stitches are not needed as the flap is held in place by pressure. 2)  Recovery Maximum improvement normally occurs in 3 to 4 weeks; prior to that, there will be some blurriness. And eye shield, eyedrops, and regularly scheduled checkups are part of the regimen to prevent complications. Do's Do arrange for help getting home; you will not be able to drive immediately after surgery Do use medications such as eyedrops exactly on schedule Do wear sunglasses when outdoors, as eyes will be sensitive to light while healing Do protect your eye from being rubbed or bumped while healing Don'ts Don't touch or rub the eye Don't return to work immediately; the doctor will advise you when you can, usually a day or so Don't drive until your vision is cleared Don't go swimming, sit in a jacuzzi or hot tub, play active sports or wear eye makeup until advised by your doctor Additional treatments, or a weaker prescription for glasses or contact lenses may be required. Go to Top