What To Know Before You Have LASIK

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on September 2, 2020

School is back in session. This means that reading is on the menu, and in large amounts. If you can never find your glasses or contacts, or if you forget to take your contacts out, you may want to think about LASIK.

LASIK is a common procedure that has an excellent track record of correcting vision in patients. If you have refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, LASIK may be right for you. Keep reading to learn a few things you should know before you have LASIK!

Who Can Get LASIK?

LASIK can correct vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatisms. You will need to schedule a LASIK consultation to find out if you’re a good candidate for the procedure.

Common candidacy factors include:

• Age
• Pregnancy and if you’re having any kids in the future
• Corneal thickness
• Health
• Prescription stability
• Eye health

These are only some of the factors taken into consideration if you’re thinking about having LASIK.

Know Your Ophthalmologist

You don’t want to trust your eyes with someone you don’t know. Make sure that you feel comfortable with your eye doctor.

Discuss your concerns and questions during your consultation. You may want to ask how long they have been in business.

Ask how many LASIK surgeries they have completed. Ask about the results of those surgeries. Make sure you understand any possible risks or complications.

Understand the Procedure

The doctor will give you pre and post-surgery instructions. This will likely include removing contacts two weeks before LASIK surgery.

This is important because wearing contact lenses causes the cornea to temporarily change its shape. Make sure you follow all instructions. The procedure itself only takes about ten minutes per eye to perform.

Before the procedure, you will be given numbing eye drops and an anesthetic. During the surgery, your eyes will be held open so that the doctor can create a small incision flap.

This will allow your doctor to manipulate the cornea. Reshaping the cornea allows all refractive errors to be fully corrected.

The recovery time is minimal. You can expect to be back to your normal routine after about 2 – 3 days.

You are not allowed to drive yourself home the day you have LASIK, so make sure you have a friend or family member that can drive you home. Do not drive until your doctor clears you. You can expect your eyes to be a little sensitive after the procedure, but it should clear up in a few days.

Why LASIK May Not Be For You

Certain health conditions and prescription drugs can hurt your LASIK recovery. Your ophthalmologist will be able to determine whether you are a LASIK candidate.

Dry eye syndrome and frequent vision prescription changes can affect your LASIK candidacy. LASIK is not suggested for those that may suffer from certain eye diseases.

Benefits Of Getting LASIK

The benefits of getting LASIK are long-lasting and immediate. Benefits include corrected vision and visual freedom from contacts and glasses. Most patients that undergo LASIK end up with 20/20 vision, if not better!

Wondering if LASIK could be the right vision correction procedure for you? Why not find out by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Missouri Eye Institute in Stillwater, MO now!