Lasik eye surgery is becoming an incresingly common corrective surgery for vision problems.¹ Patients with eye problems won’t need to use eyeglasses or contact lenses after the procedure. The procedure helps in correcting refractive errors in the eye, which are problems commonly caused by an imperfect shape in the cornea or eyeball. It’s a quick, effective, and affordable solution for vision improvement.
Refractive eye errors cause light from objects to be focused imprecisely on the eye’s retina, causing blurry images.² Generally, most people who have undergone laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis surgery achieve up to 20/25 vision. However, some will still require eyeglasses when driving at night or reading as they age.
What Does Lasik Eye Surgery Involve?
Laser refractive surgery has multiple variations, with LASIK being the commonly performed procedure. In normal situations, images in the eye are focused on the retina. However, with refractive errors, images are focused elsewhere, resulting in blurred vision. Refractive errors that are corrected through Lasik surgery include;
- Myopia or nearsightedness – those with this condition can clearly see nearby objects, but distant objects are blurred. It occurs when the eyeball is longer than normal or when the cornea is sharply curved, causing light to converge in front of the retina.
- Hyperopia – Also called farsightedness, those with this condition will see far objects clearly, but near objects are blurred. In this situation, the eyeball is shorter than average, or the cornea is flat, causing light to focus behind the retina.
- Astigmatism – occurs when the cornea flattens or curves unevenly. This disrupts both near and distant vision.
- Presbyopia – This vision disorder affects people above 40 years of age. The condition makes it difficult for people to see close objects.
Initially, blurry vision or refractive errors were corrected with contact lenses or eyeglasses used to bend the light rays. However, reshaping the cornea will provide guaranteed and better refraction and vision correction. Before undergoing the procedure, the eye specialist will take deep assessments of your eye, including the measurements. The doctor will then use some special laser to alter the curvature of the cornea.
In most situations, the eye surgeon will create a flap in the cornea and raise it before reshaping the cornea. Some surgeons also use a very thin flap or no flap. Each Lasik technique has its advantages and disadvantages. Eye surgeons specialize in various types of laser eye procedures. However, note that these different types don’t have much differences, and none is better than the other.
That said, some common laser eye procedures include;
- Photorefractive keratectomy
- Laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy (LASEK)
- Epithelial laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis (Epi-Lasik)
- Implantable lenses
- Bioptics
Why Lasik Eye Surgery is a Good Choice
Most doctors and patients with eye problems prefer Lasik eye surgery for various reasons.³ Among them, include;
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Provides faster recovery periods
Since its inception as a corrective method of eye problems, Lasik has earned immense credibility from various patients. The majority of eye patients who underwent Lasik eye surgeries report satisfactory results and a fast recovery period. With its minimally post-operative procedures, patients with busy lifestyles can resume their normal routines after some days of rest.
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Improved vision
Patients who have undergone Lasik surgeries have attested to significant vision improvement after treatment. The surgery results in better visual clarity compared to other surgical eye procedures that take weeks before patients can experience optimum visual acuity.
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Minimal discomfort
Compared to other treatment methods, patients experience minimal discomfort and pain after Lasik eye surgery.⁴ Most patients report mild irritation 5-6 hours after the surgery, which can be alleviated by eye drops. A long nap after the procedure is also recommended.
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Affordable
The wide array of Lasik eye treatment providers has caused a significant drop in Lasik costs. You can choose between various professionals offering treatments at affordable rates or with payment schemes.
Lasik eye surgery is best for those with a moderate degree of refractive error and no other vision problems. As such, the surgeon will inquire in detail about your eye health to ensure that you don’t have any condition that can result in poor outcomes. Common issues that can make you ineligible for Lasik surgery include;
- Eye diseases that can result in progressive deterioration of vision
- Keratitis, herpes simplex, and uveitis
- Large pupils
- Dry eyes
- Eye injuries and lid disorders
- Glaucoma
- Cataracts
The Bottom Line
Lasik eye surgery is a popular elective vision corrective surgery that has shown great effectiveness and statistically safe. The procedure is quick, lasting only a few minutes but cannot correct all types of vision problems. After the procedure, the recovery period is quite fast, and patients can resume their normal activities within days. If you have any of the above-mentioned eye problems, Lasik eye treatment can be a great option.
[1] “Latest LASIK Outcomes Are Better Than Ever, Researchers Find”. All About Vision. Accessed 2020.https://www.allaboutvision.com/visionsurgery/lasik.htm.
[2] “Refractive Errors | Kellogg Eye Center | Michigan Medicine”. Umkelloggeye.Org. Accessed 2020. https://www.umkelloggeye.org/conditions-treatments/refractive-errors.
[3] “Pros And Cons Of LASIK: Are The Risks Worth The Cost?”. Healthblog.Uofmhealth.Org. Accessed 2020.https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/eye-health/pros-and-cons-of-lasik-are-risks-worth-cost.
[4] “Alternative Refractive Surgery Procedures”. American Academy Of Ophthalmology. Accessed 2020. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/refractive-surgery-alternative-procedures
