LASIK Eye Surgery

Astigmatism and other refractive errors can severely harm our eyes and vision and unfortunately, some of them are having almost no symptoms at all. That is why in some cases people find out they are having vision problems too late, when reading eyeglasses or contact lenses are not enough; surgery is needed. One of the newest and safest eye surgeries is LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis), is the best refractive surgery available nowadays to correct presbyopia, myopia and astigmatism. At first this surgery might seem easy for the majority of us, because of the short period, it usually takes up a few minutes, but precise methods, and millimeters’ punctuality is needed.

Before the surgery, the patient’s corneas surface and thickness is being measured, after what with the help of a laser a topographic map of the cornea is being made. All of these procedures are being made to determine the irregularities in the corneas shape and detect and define astigmatism. Only this way can the optometrist doing the surgery define the corneal tissue’s amount, which needs to be removed.

During the operation the patient is awake, only his eyes are being locally anesthetized with special eye drops. After anesthetizing the eyes with the help of a laser microkeratome a small corneal flap is made on the surface, which, after being folded back reveals the corneas central section, where a part of the corneal tissue will be removed from. By using an excimer laser, the shape of the cornea is being remodeled. During this step the patient’s vision is blurred due to the lifted flap, they are only seeing the light surrounding the laser.  After the stromal layer is being reshaped with the excimer laser, the flap is being placed back on the cornea.

After the surgery patients   are allowed to go home, usually given anti-biotic eye drops to enhance the healing procedure. A one or two days’ rest is advised, but if the surgery was going perfect the patient might work the following day. The healing procedure might not take long, in normal cases patients will no longer have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses, but there can be cases when patients’ eyes are healing slower and continuous contact lens wearing is advised for a certain period of time.