LASIK FAQs Answered by a Killeen and Salado, TX Optometrist
If you need contacts or glasses to help you see, you might feel frustrated because of the time it takes to care for your corrective eyewear. Plus, the expense, discomfort, and worrying about losing your contacts or glasses is a lot to contend with, especially if you have a busy schedule. LASIK eye surgery is a solution to prevent all of these, but you should educate yourself before scheduling a surgery.
What Is LASIK Surgery?
LASIK surgery is a procedure using a laser to reduce or eliminate your need for contacts or glasses. Using a laser, an eye surgery reshapes your cornea. By reshaping the cornea, the surgeon can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
You can have the surgery if you're at least 18 years of age or older. Your eyes have to be healthy. People with certain conditions like problems with their cornea might not be able to have the procedure. Additionally, you have to have a stable eye prescription for at least 12 months before you can have the surgery. It's important you either have the surgery before you get pregnant or after delivery. It's advised that pregnant or breastfeeding women wait at least three months after delivery or weening before getting LASIK.
What Is the Recovery Time for LASIK?
Most people are able to go back to work the following day after their procedure. Although side effects are possible, they aren't common. A majority of patients don't have many side effects from the surgery, so they can see fairly well within hours of leaving the office. Many are able to see clearly within 24 to 48 hours following the surgery. Some people can even go back to work the next day after having PRK laser eye surgery, although this isn't the case for every person.
Does LASIK Hurt?
With any type of surgery, there is some discomfort or pain following the procedure, but it's very minimal with LASIK. An eye surgeon takes the necessary precautions to ensure you don't experience discomfort during your procedure by giving you anesthetic eye drops. Typically, you only feel slight pressure around your eyes during the procedure. Your eye surgeon may give you a sedative to relax you if you're nervous about the procedure.
What Type of Care Do Your Eyes Need After the Surgery?
Once you have the procedure, your surgeon prescribes eye drops that you have to take during the first few days to minimize your discomfort.
Do You Have 20/20 Vision After LASIK?
You may have 20/20 vision after having LASIK. However, not everyone has perfect vision after the surgery. The results vary based on the severity of your vision issues, but a majority of people have 20/40 vision or better from the surgery.