Are you thinking about having LASIK eye surgery? Do you know what the procedure involves? Before you make the decision to have LASIK, it’s important to understand the procedure.
It’s key to having a successful surgery. Keep reading to learn more about LASIK and if it involves being put to sleep!
What happens before LASIK?
LASIK is a very quick procedure. It takes about 10 – 15 minutes. You will have the procedure and then be able to leave the same day.
To begin with, the surgeon will place numbing eye drops in your eyes. Blinking helps the numbing eye drops spread over the surface of your eye.
The numbing eye drops keep you from feeling pain. Since your eyes are numb, you are awake during the procedure.
Sleeping during LASIK is not a good idea. Your LASIK surgeon needs to know how your eyes are feeling during the procedure.
Usually, patients are most worried about pain. As a result, they want to be put under during LASIK. Since patients receive numbing eye drops, there’s no pain!
Although you will be awake, the most you may feel is some slight discomfort or pressure for a few seconds.
While your eyes are becoming numb, your doctor will ask how you are feeling. It is important that you are calm and relaxed during the procedure.
If you feel anxious, tell your doctor. They want you to be relaxed when you get LASIK. If you’re really nervous, your doctor might give you a mild sedative, like Valium.
What happens during LASIK?
After your eyes are fully numbed and you are calm, your doctor will use a tool called a speculum. This keeps your eyelid away from your eye. This will prevent you from blinking during the procedure.
A corneal flap is then created to reshape the cornea and correct refractive errors. To create the corneal flap, your surgeon will use a laser. The flap is then folded back to allow a laser to reshape the cornea and fix your vision.
After reshaping the cornea, the flap is gently laid back down. Then, your surgeon will correct the other eye.
What is the recovery process like after LASIK?
After placing the flap down, the eye can start healing. There are no stitches used in LASIK eye surgery.
While your eyes are recovering, you cannot touch or rub your eyes. Prescription eye drops are important for a successful procedure and recovery. They help with inflammation and preventing infections.
Early on, you might have blurry vision. But as your eyes heal, your vision will become clear. Your vision will improve within the first few days and continue improving in the days and weeks after LASIK.
What activities can I complete during recovery?
During your recovery from LASIK, you need to rest your eyes. Initially, avoid reading, looking at screens for a long period of time or playing contact sports.
Resting is the best way to let your eyes heal. As your eyes continue to heal, you can start incorporating more of your everyday activities into your routine.
In the first month of recovery, you cannot swim in any bodies of water, including pools, lakes, the ocean, or even hot tubs. When you shower, make sure to keep water out of your eyes. Water is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria!
How long does it take for me to see clearly?
Within a few days, you will be able to see clearly. Typically, patients are able to get back to many of their normal activities within 48 hours.
Your eyes will continue to heal for the next few months. Most patients are fully healed from LASIK after a few months and will see their vision markedly improve.
Are you ready to find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Omaha Eye & Laser Institute in Lincoln, NE and make this your year of visual freedom!
