What is Lasik Vision Correction Surgery?

There are millions of people who have reaped the benefits of Lasik vision correction and no longer require corrective lenses. Most people are aware that Lasik laser vision correction uses laser technology to correct eye problems, but the details of the actual procedure are usually not known.

So, what occurs during vision correction by Lasik laser? Lasik stands for Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomieusis and is a procedure that will help glasses and contact wearers get rid of their glasses or contacts. It repairs several errors in refraction, helping nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic patients.

Lasik is done using a cold laser beam that corrects problems with cornea. These problems are the cause of certain types of refractive errors. By changing the shape of the cornea in a custom procedure for each individual, these errors in refraction can be corrected. After the Lasik procedure corrects the shape of the cornea, the patient will have excellent vision.

In order to access the imperfect tissue with a laser, the Lasik surgeon cuts a small flap at the front of the eye. A surgeon utilizes a laser to cut the flap or in other cases can use a microkeratome, which is a knife like instrument. The flap is a small piece of tissue at the front of the eye that is cut from side to side, leaving a piece still on to act as a hinge.

Cutting the flap allows the Lasik laser to access the cornea so that it can begin to repair the shape of the eye and promote clear vision. Once the cornea has been reshaped, the flap is returned to its original location, and the procedure is complete.

Although alterations to the shape of the cornea are permanent, Lasik vision candidates can receive additional correction procedures if necessary. Patients should decide whether the benefits of Lasik outweigh the risks.

Few risks and side effects are known with this normally painless and fast procedure. Unlike other types of surgery, Lasik laser vision correction takes only a couple of minutes for each eye. Smoky vision is a normal complaint from patients, but it usually subsides a few days after the surgery is complete.

Before a Lasik vision patient gets the procedure done, they meet with a doctor to discuss the correct vision repair options, the risks with the procedure, potential side effects, and what the improvement would be. The most frequent side effect of Lasik is an even greater need for glasses after the surgery.

Candidates of Lasik laser vision correction can knowledgeably decide about the procedure after taking advantage of counseling from eye care professionals. Patients are more comfortable with the Lasik procedure once they have a thorough understanding of how it works.