Health Tips: What You Should Know About Lasik Eye Surgery

Want to know what to expect from Lasik eye surgery? This guide describes the basics of your intial consultation, the procedure itself, and the healing process.

Lasik surgery is a laser-based procedure designed to improve or perfect vision. This guide is designed to give you an idea of what the surgery is like. First, it is important to have a basic understanding of how the procedure works. Numbing drops will be placed in your eyes. A scalpel will be used to open your cornea. (Note that the cornea will not be entirely removed; instead, it will hang by a flap.) Next, a laser will vaporize part of your cornea. Finally, the flap will be replaced. Through all of this time, your eyelids will be held back with a contraption that forces your eyes to stay open. The entire procedure usually takes less than half an hour.

Notice that throughout the surgery description there is no mention of anesthesia. You will be awake throughout the surgery, although your doctor might prescribe something to help you relax. Most patients experience some pain or discomfort at some point.

You should also know that not all Lasik surgery doctors are created equal. Ideally, you should choose a doctor who has extensive experience. Check to make sure that he uses equipment endorsed by the Food and Drug Administration. (There are many different types of lasers that can be used, and each works in a different way.) Further, be wary of bargains and promotions. While you should shop around for the best price, the best deals are often offered by doctors with lackluster reputations.

You probably know that the first step in deciding whether you want Lasik surgery is to consult with a doctor. You might not have known that you must stop wearing your contact lenses well before this consultation takes place. Contacts change the shape of the cornea, which is the part of the eye that will be operated on. The cornea can take weeks to go back to its original form. If you wear soft contacts, switch to glasses two weeks before your appointment. Other types of contacts (hard, gas permeable) should be taken out a month beforehand, just to be safe.

During that consultation, your doctor will help you determine if you are a good candidate for the surgery. (Bad candidates include people with frequently changing vision, those who often play rough contact sports, and patients with extremely dry eyes.) If you are a good candidate, you should carefully review the risks involved in the surgery. There is a slight possibility that your vision may be impaired, or that you develop a debilitating eye infection. Make sure that you understand the possible negative outcomes before you make your final decision.

When it becomes closer to the day of your surgery, you should be careful about what products you use on your face. A couple of days beforehand, you should stop using makeup, perfume, and lotions. Such products can significantly increase the risk of infection. Further, you should not resume using any of these things until your doctor indicates that it is okay.

You should also know that your vision might not fully improve until six months after your surgery. This is because your vision can be affected by the healing process; for instance, healing can make your have blurry eyesight. For your eyes to heal properly, you must not rub them; you will be strongly tempted do this, since your eyes will probably itch or hurt. Following the post-operative instructions and faithfully attending your follow-up appointments will help ensure a smooth recovery and successful results.

© Demand Media 2011