LASIK is an advanced way of getting rid of your contact lenses and glasses. It is a type of laser eye surgery that changes the shape of the dome-shaped tissue (cornea) in front of your eyes to improve vision. It is a non-invasive procedure that doesn’t damage the cornea or other tissues in your eye.
This surgical technology offers many benefits including a lifetime of freedom from glasses and contacts. Depending on your lifestyle, it can save you thousands of dollars in costs from purchasing and replacing contacts and glasses per year. This makes it an investment for your long-term health. LASIK is a safe and effective way to correct common refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism.
Before your LASIK surgery, your doctor will complete a thorough eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy and that you are a good candidate for the procedure. Your doctor will also perform a detailed measurement of your pupil size in light and dark, the curvature of your cornea, and the thickness of your corneal tissue to assess how much vision correction you can expect from your LASIK procedure.
The cost of LASIK learn more will depend on several factors including geography, surgeon experience, depth of the eye exam, your prescription, and the quality of the technology used for your procedure. Advanced technologies such as bladeless LASIK and wavefront technology may offer more precise treatment plans but can also increase the overall cost of your procedure.
LASIK is performed as an outpatient procedure with local or general anesthesia. During the procedure, your eye will be protected with an eyelid holder or suction ring to prevent blinking and ensure your eye is still while your surgeon creates an opening in the white of the eye, called the sclera. The opening allows the fluid that normally pools in the eye to drain and relieves pressure on the retina.
After numbing your eye, your ophthalmologist will use a device called a microkeratome or a laser to create a paper-thin flap in the corneal tissue. They then lift and fold the flap back. During this stage, you will likely experience burning or itching sensations. This typically lasts for no more than six hours.
An important part of your LASIK surgery is choosing the right intraocular lens — IOL. Your surgeon will discuss with you what types of IOLs are best for your needs, such as fixed-focus monofocal that helps you see only distant objects or multifocal that enables you to see near and far distances without the need for reading glasses.
If you suffer from a retinal detachment, your doctor can perform an in-office pneumatic retinopexy — a procedure that uses a gas bubble to put gentle pressure against the retina and help it reattach. The surgery is usually done with local anesthesia and will take about two hours. In some cases, you will need to stay in the hospital for one to three days if your retina detaches completely.