Sunday, March 8, 2009

The Lasik Eye Surgery Procedure

By Jayson Lee

While lasik surgery is no trivial matter, the procedure is actually quick and the patient is awake the entire time. There is no pain during the surgery, but there may be some mild discomfort. Your doctor or lasik center can provide you with a full account of what your lasik eye surgery will entail, but the following is a basic overview of the process.

Prior to having the surgery, you will undergo a thorough eye examination where your eyes are measured, the overall health of your eyes is determined and your vision is tested. Your lasik surgeon will discuss the procedure with you in detail and give you an opportunity to ask any questions you have.

On the day of your surgery, the laser that will be used to perform your lasik procedure is tested to ensure its accuracy. The computer is then set to apply the proper correction needed for your eye. During your surgery, the laser will be controlled by the computer so your doctor will take every precaution to ensure that the equipment is functioning correctly and accurately before your surgery.

You will be led to the treatment room and asked to lie down. Since the operation is performed one eye at a time, an eye patch will be placed over one eye and eye drops will be given to numb the eye being operated upon. No additional anaesthetic is administered. Your eye will be held open throughout the procedure with a speculum, which might feel a bit uncomfortable, but will not cause any pain.

Just prior to the start of your surgery, a red blinking light is turned on and the patient is instructed to focus on it while the surgery is performed. You will feel some pressure and hear the clicks of the laser while a flap is created and lifted. The small blinking light will appear blurry.

When surgery is complete, more drops will be administered. If, as in most cases, you are having both of your eyes treated, the process will be repeated for the other eye.

Once surgery is complete for both eyes, you will be directed to sit up and rest for a few moments. It usually takes less than one minute of laser time per eye, but plan on the appointment taking an hour to an hour and a half to account for preparation, resting and any unscheduled delays.

Even though this overview of the lasik surgery procedure makes the process seem simple, it is important to realize that it is not. There are several considerations that need to be accounted for such as risks, complications, recovery time, cost and more. If you are considering lasik, make sure you speak with your doctor at length and ask as many questions as you can in order to understand not just the procedure itself, but also all of the accompanying issues.

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