Gotta Get Info On What To Expect Before, During and After LASIK laser eye surgery
by:
Mark Reynolds
This article will discuss what to expect before, during and after LASIK laser eye surgery. If you want more info on about LASIK laser eye surgery go to
the LASIK page at
http://www.gottagetmyinfo.com/medical/lasik.htm
Note: as with any medical procedure different patients and
different doctors will have different needs. Never make a decision
based on the information you see here. Always consult a doctor to
help make any decisions.
So you've decided to get LASIK laser eye surgery and you're wondering what to expect. You've come to the right place; here we will talk about what to expect before, during and after your LASIK laser eye surgery
Before the LASIK laser eye surgery
You will need a initial evaluation to determine if LASIK laser eye surgery is for you and if you will be a good candidate for the procedure. If you wear contact lenses you should stop wearing them for two to four weeks before the surgery. If you wear soft lenses two weeks is generally enough. For hard contact lenses four is better. So hopefully you have some glasses that are passable for that time.
The reason to stop wearing the lenses is they will actually change the shape of your cornea and that is one of the key factors in deciding if you are a good candidate. It could even go so far as to result in poor surgery planning which could result in less than optimum vision after the surgery. The measurements the surgeon will take will tell her how much corneal tissue to remove and therefore are critical to the quality of your vision after the LASIK laser eye surgery. Even if you do take the lenses out before the appointment it is usually a good idea to get re-measured a week later to be sure nothing has changed, remember this your vision we are talking about in my mind you can't be too careful.
During the initial consultation you should be sure to inform your doctor of any eye problems or surgeries you have had and any medications you are currently taking. Also during the consultation your doctor should discuss whether you are a good candidate. The possible risks and benefits of the surgery. what you should expect and you responsibilities before, during and after the surgery. Before you sign any informed risk consent forms you should be sure you have had all your questions answered and you feel you truly understand the risks and benefits of doing the surgery. If your doctor seem reluctant to discuss this or you feel pressured to sign before you're ready this is a bad sign and should probably cause you to look for a different LASIK laser eye surgeon.
A couple of days before the surgery you should not use any creams, lotions, makeup or perfume/cologne. These can leave debris on your eyelashes and increase possible risk of infection. The day of the surgery be sure to arrange for transportation to and from the doctor. You will often be given some sort of medicine to relax as well as may have blurry vision, so driving is obviously a bad idea.
During the LASIK laser eye surgery
The surgery should take thirty minutes or less and you will likely be in some sort of reclining chair. they will place a numbing drop in your eye and your eye will be cleaned. You will then have a suction device on your eye and a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. The surgeon will place a ring on your eye and will use a microkeratome will be used to cut a flap in you cornea.
Then the surgeon will ask you to stare at a light which is simply to get your eye focused on the correct point. Then she will use the laser to remove some of your corneal tissue based upon the measurements in your initial consultation. Once the tissue is removed the flap is replaced.
After this the surgeon will put a shield on your eye this is because there will be no stitches and the shield will keep the flap from moving and allow it to heal.
After the LASIK laser eye surgery
You may feel discomfort, including burning or itching, and your doctor may suggest a pain reliever. You will likely have the desire to rub your eyes but do everything you can to avoid this. Obviously if you dislodge the flap you may need to return to have it replaced by your surgeon.
You should see your doctor within forty-eight hours of the operation. At this visit your doctor will probably give you some eye drops to help avoid infection as well as possibly to help with any dryness which is common the first few days after the surgery. Your vision may be blurry for a few days, but this should go away after that time. Though it may take a few months before your vision is completely stable.
You should avoid using creams, lotions and make-up for at least two weeks after the surgery to avoid causing an infection. You should also avoid strenuous contact sports like football for about a month after the surgery to protect your eyes from being hit.
Written by Mark Reynolds, president Gotta get my info. You can find more about LASIK and all things related to health at the
Health page at Gotta Get My Info.
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