I had my eyes corrected with radial keratotomy the forerunner of laser and carried out with a scalpel! I know, I know, I was young and impetuous! Actually it did give my pretty much 20/20 vision for years, although now as I am a bit older i need glasses again. I used to work for an ophthalmologist and got quite a bit of info on Lasik. It is used to correct short-sightedness (myopia)
long-sightedness (hyperopia) as well as correcting an irregular-shaped cornea (astigmatism). Also LASIK can't improve age-related long-sightedness (presbyopia) because this is related to the lens of the eye rather than the cornea.
If you're aged 21 or over with healthy eyes and stable vision (no changes in your prescription for two to three years), LASIK may be a suitable treatment for you although LASIK has limitations and isn't suitable for everyone (for example, if you have a condition that reduces healing, such as rheumatoid arthritis). speak to your eye doctor or professional for advice.
You will be given various tests to make sure that you are a suitable candidate for the procedure. Then the operation is usually done as a day case under local anaesthesia. This completely blocks feeling from around your eye and you will stay awake during the operation. The procedure usually involves a total stay of around an hour. You can either have each eye operated on separately or both eyes at the same time! I had both done at once as I didn't know if I would have the courage to go back again!
The procedure is carried out using a highly precise instrument called a microkeratome will be used to make an extremely thin flap in your cornea. The flap will be opened (like the cover of a book) so that the computer-controlled laser can be used to shape the cornea underneath. It will take about 30 seconds to remove precisely the right amount of your cornea.
The flap will then be repositioned and will bond to the rest of your cornea within minutes. You won't need any stitches and after the procedure, your eye is likely to be covered with a protective pad. You will need to wear this for around 24 hours.
Directly afterwards, your vision may be blurred. This should improve gradually over one to two days and your vision will usually stabilise after one week to one month.
It may be helpful to wear sunglasses or a hat when you leave the clinic or hospital as your eyes may be sensitive to the sun.
If you need them, you can take painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen. Always read the patient information leaflet that comes with your medicine and if you have any questions, ask your pharmacist for advice.
LASIK is commonly performed and generally safe. However, in order to make an informed decision and give your consent, you need to be aware of the possible side-effects and the risk of complications.
There is little evidence of the long-term effects of this procedure as the treatment is relatively new.
After LASIK eye surgery you may have:
dryness of your eye(s) for up to a year after the procedure
glare around bright lights, causing a "halo" or "starburst" effect that makes night-time driving difficult - this shouldn't last more than six weeks
a drooping eyelid - but this should stop within a few weeks
The possible complications of any operation include an unexpected reaction to the anaesthetic or excessive bleeding although this is very uncommon.
Very rarely, complications can lead to reduced vision or blindness.
The exact risks are specific to you and will differ for every person, so we haven't included statistics here. Ask your surgeon to explain how these risks apply to you if you are thinking of going in for LASIK.
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