LASIK Surgery

LASIK Surgery - Laser Vision Correction Through Laser Eye Surgery

LASIK surgery is a type of surgery to correct vision problems. LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. LASIK surgery can be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism (distortions in image due to unevenness in the shape of the cornea or the eye).

Just like any surgical procedure, laser eye surgery comes with both risks and benefits. Therefore the first step is to consult a LASIK eye surgeon to determine whether you are a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery.

How Does LASIK Surgery Work?

LASIK surgery works by permanently changing the shape of the cornea which covers the front of the eye, in order to improve its focusing ability. Laser pulses are used to remove some of the stroma (a part of the cornea), in order to sculpt the cornea to the desired shape. For this to happen, the stroma, which is not normally accessible, needs to be exposed. So first a flap is cut in the cornea to allow access to the stroma. After laser removal of the portion of stroma is completed, the flap of cornea is replaced at the end of the laser eye surgery.

Who Is A Good Candidate For LASIK Surgery

Some of the key considerations your LASIK eye surgeon will look into include:

- LASIK surgery can correct the vision problems of those with myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism (image distortion from an uneven shape of the cornea or the eye). Therefore only those with such eye conditions can be helped by LASIK eye surgery.

- You should not currently or previously have other eye problems, any other health issues or be taking any kind of medication, although suitability of individual situations should be determined by a LASIK eye surgeon.

- A good candidate for LASIK surgery should not have got a change in their contacts or glasses prescription over the past 12 months.

- Another thing that the LASIK eye surgeon will consider is whether you participate in contact sports where blows to the head or eyes are possible, and whether you have conditions such as thin corneas or dry eyes. These may make you unsuitable for laser vision correction procedures.

- Good laser eye surgery candidates should not have had previous refractive surgery of the eye.

- It is also important to consider career impact as some jobs, such as the military, may prohibit this type of surgery involving laser vision correction.

- Last but not least, it is important to know that there are some risks associated with LASIK eye surgery that are decreased or absent for glasses or contact lens users. So if you are not a risk taker, you would not be a good candidate for LASIK surgery.

How To Choose A LASIK Eye Surgeon

It is important to pick the right LASIK eye surgeon for you, and there are several factors to research.

- It is best to compare many different eye surgeons at first to narrow down to the best one. First of all, experience is critical. You will need to ask how many people has the doctor successfully treated with LASIK surgery.

- It is also important that the doctor be able to inform you of what to expect before, during and after the LASIK eye surgery.

- You will also need to check whether the eye doctor tells you clearly about all the possible risks related to LASIK surgery. If a doctor is not willing to answer the questions you may have, he or she is probably not the best one for your laser eye surgery.

- You should also check the doctor's plans for follow-up care after the laser eye surgery; this should be made clear to you and there should be a definite plan as to who you will see and when.

LASIK surgery can offer immense benefits through laser vision correction although it does have some potential risks involved. Laser eye surgery is not for everyone, and individuals should discuss their particular situation with their eye doctor.

LASIK Eye Surgery