Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) is a laser surgery procedure that helps improve and correct vision.
The surgery is used to modify the cornea and improve its function.
The cornea is a flap-like tissue at the front of the eye that receives light and refracts it onto the connective tissue behind.
The cornea is the receptor for whatever you see and if it does not refract light correctly, the refractive error causes poor eyesight.
LASIK or other types of keratectomies are used to correct this by modifying your cornea and making it better at refracting light.
Let’s look at it in detail:
How Does LASIK Work
LASIK is a corrective laser surgery, which means that it adjusts or fixes something that is not working correctly, which is the cornea in this specific case.
A surgeon will first determine what is wrong with your cornea and then develop a plan to correct it.
The cornea will then be reshaped during the surgery with lasers or small blades.
The reshaping of the cornea will be conducted specifically to make it more receptive to light and refract it correctly.
It helps get rid of the refractive error and making you see clearly without blur.
The Procedure
The first step during the surgery is to use anesthetic eye drops in the eyes.
The eye is then held open using an eye holder.
A flap is consequently made on the outer layer of the cornea using a laser or a small blade to make an incision.
The flap is then lifted to reshape the cornea and correct it.
The tissue is removed and reshaped using either an Excimer laser or a Custom (wavefront) laser.
In the former, the amount of tissue removed is based on the prescription of your eyeglass.
In Custom laser removal, a map of your cornea tissue is initially made using the laser. Cornea tissue is then removed based on the map.
Once the procedure is over, the flap is put back in its place.
It usually takes around 10 to 20 minutes for each eye.
The eyes will burn and itch initially and they will be highly sensitive to light.
However, your eyes will start to heal just 24 hours after the procedure.
The healing will take some time, however. It usually takes 2 to 3 months for the eyes to heal and for your vision to correct.
Regular doctor visitations and checkups are important during this period.
Things To Look Out For
The procedure is quite delicate and can go wrong in several ways.
Make sure you go to a professional with a strong reputation and who you feel comfortable with.
Ideally, select someone with a history of LASIK procedures and who has had significant success with it.
Furthermore, LASIK is not going to keep your eyesight strong.
Eyesight tends to weaken as you grow old, and you need to be mindful of that before you go for LASIK.
