| BEFORE:
You'll need a complete eye examination by your refractive
surgeon. A preliminary eye exam may be performed by a referring
doctor (Eye MD or optometrist). Take your eye prescription
records with you to the exams.
Your doctor should:
Dilate your
pupils to fine-tune your prescription.
Examine your
eyes to make sure they're healthy. This includes a glaucoma
test and a retina exam.
Take the following
measurements:
•
The curvature of your cornea and your pupils. You may be rejected
if your pupils are too large. • The
topography of your eyes to make sure you don't have an irregular
astigmatism or a
cone-shaped
cornea — a condition called Keratoconus.
•
The pachymetry — or thickness — of your cornea.
You need to have enough tissue left after your
corneas have been cut and reshaped.
Ask you to
sign an informed consent form after a thorough discussion
of the risks, benefits,
alternative options and possible complications.
Review the form carefully. Don't sign until you understand
everything in the form.
If your doctor
doesn't think LASIK is right for you, you might consider getting
a second opinion; however, if
the opinion is the same, believe it.
If you qualify for surgery, your doctor may tell you to
stop wearing your contact lenses for a while before the surgery
is scheduled because contacts can temporarily change the shape
of the cornea. Your cornea should be in its natural shape
the day of surgery. Your doctor also may tell you to stop
wearing makeup, lotions or perfume for a few days before surgery.
These products can interfere with the laser treatment or increase
the risk of infection after surgery.
DURING: LASIK is an outpatient
surgical procedure. The only anesthetic is an eye drop that
numbs the surface of the eye. The surgery takes 10 to 15 minutes
for each eye. Sometimes, both eyes are done during the same
procedure; but sometimes, surgeons wait to see the result
of the first eye before doing the second eye.
The Surgical Procedure: A special
device cuts a hinged flap of thin corneal tissue off the outer
layer of the eyeball (cornea) and the flap is lifted out of
the way. The laser reshapes the underlying corneal tissue,
and the surgeon replaces the flap, which quickly adheres to
the eyeball. There are no stitches. A shield - either clear
plastic or perforated metal — is placed over the eye
to protect the flap.
AFTER: Healing is relatively
fast, but you may want to take off a few days after the surgery.
Be aware that:
You may experience
a mild burning or sensation for a few hours after surgery.
Do not rub your eye(s). Your doctor
can prescribe a painkiller, if necessary, to ease the discomfort.
Your vision
probably will be blurry the day of surgery, but it will improve
considerably by the next day when
you return for a follow-up exam.
If you experience
aggravating or unusual side effects, report them to your doctor
immediately.
Do not drive
until your vision has improved enough to safely do so.
Avoid swimming,
hot tubs and whirlpools for two weeks after surgery.
Click
here to read more about What to Expect - Source:
Food and Drug Administration |