If you are considering Lasik eye surgery, Jersey based Lasik centers should be your first port of call. Lasik eye surgery is by far the most popular form of eye surgery performed to treat short and long sightedness, as well as various degrees of astigmatism. Lasik surgery centers have performed thousands of procedures on many of their patients who want the freedom from wearing spectacles or contact lenses. If you decided to have Lasik surgery then learns more about it below!
Lasik eye surgery only takes around fifteen minutes and it is virtually a pain-free procedure. The results of the procedure take place straight after surgery and the vision continues to improve over the next few days.
Prior to surgery
To begin with, an eye doctor will need to check that your eyes are healthy enough for Lasik. The doctor will also look at the thickness and shape of your cornea, any refractive errors as well as any eye conditions. An instrument measures the curvature of the front surface of the eye. This helps to create an image of the cornea.
If you wear contact lenses it is advised that you stop wearing them for approximately two weeks before your eye examination and the surgery. The reason for this is because contact lenses can change the shape of the cornea temporarily.
How Lasik is performed
To begin with, a Lasik eye surgeon will create an extremely thin flap in the cornea. This flap is then folded back so that the cornea is exposed. A laser is then used to create an ultraviolet light beam, which removes tiny amounts of tissue from the cornea. This changes the shape of the cornea so that the light that enters the eye hits the retina more accurately and improves the vision. Once the laser has reshaped the cornea, the flap is then placed back into position. Lasik eye surgery does not require any stitches or bandages and only topical anaesthetic drops are used.
If you are short-sighted the aim of the surgery is to flatten the cornea. For those that are long-sighted, the cornea needs to be steeper. Astigmatism can be corrected using these lasers as they smooth the cornea into a more normal shape.
The Lasik procedure
Numbing eye drops are used on the eye before Lasik surgery takes place. These help to prevent discomfort whilst the procedure is performed. If you are finding it difficult to relax a doctor can also give you some medication.
An instrument known as a lid speculum is used to keep your eye open whilst the eye is correctly positioned underneath the laser. Before the flap is created an ink marker is used to mark the cornea. Once the flap has been created the eye surgeon will use a computer to adjust the laser to suit your prescription. To begin with, you will be asked to look at a specific light so that your surgeon can take a look at your eyes through a microscope. At this point, the laser will send pulses of light to the cornea. These pulses reshape on the cornea and are painless, however, you may feel a small amount of pressure on the eye. If you hear a clicking sound during the procedure, this is the laser in operation. Lasik is performed on one eye at a time.
Following the Lasik procedure
After the procedure it’s not uncommon to feel an itching or burning sensation, this is temporary. You’ll probably experience some blurred vision after the surgery but this should not last longer than one day. Over the next few days, you should see your vision improve and stabilise. In some cases, it may take a few weeks or even longer, although this is rare.
It is advised that you avoid strenuous exercise approximately a week after having Lasik surgery as this can affect the eye and the healing process.
Long-term results
In general, the majority of people achieve at least 20/20 vision after having Lasik eye surgery. If you still need to wear glasses or contact lenses after having Lasik, your prescription will be a lot lower than before. Overall Lasik provides many benefits and can really improve the quality of life.