What You Should Expect Before, During, And After LASIK
If you are considering LASIK eye surgery it can be an exciting and nerve-wracking decision. Many people have fears surrounding LASIK, some rational and some irrational. There is no way to truly know what LASIK is like until you have had the surgery yourself. And the truth is the experience differs to a certain extent for each person.
Knowledge is power and the best way to calm your nerves is by learning as much as you can. This will help you make the best decision for yourself. Here is a general outline of what you can expect before, during, and after LASIK:
Before Surgery
Before surgery, you will have an appointment with your doctor where they will do a full examination of your eyes and determine whether or not you are even a candidate for LASIK. This is an opportunity for you to discuss any questions and concerns you might have about the procedure.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to weigh the pros and cons of LASIK and read through the literature. And don’t let yourself be pressured into having the surgery by a well-meaning friend or family member; this is a decision you have to make on your own.
During Surgery
You might be surprised to learn that the procedure is actually quite short; it will only take about 30 minutes from start to finish. When you arrive for the surgery, you will receive numbing drops and an instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. The numbing drops will prevent you from feeling any pain and your doctor may give you a mild sedative to help you relax.
The surgeon will use an ink marker to mark the cornea before creating a flap. Once the corneal flap is created, the surgeon will use a computer to adjust the laser for your particular prescription. You will look into a target light for a short period of time while your surgeon watches through a microscope while the laser sends pulses of light to your cornea.
The laser light pulses will reshape the cornea and you will hear a steady clicking as it operates. This process is completely painless, although you may feel a little pressure on your eye.
The procedure will be performed on each eye separately, taking about five minutes each.
After Surgery
After surgery, your eyes may burn or itch and your vision will probably be blurry. Your doctor might prescribe a mild pain reliever. In the first few days, you will most likely be very sensitive to light and experience starbursts or halos around your eyes. During the first few months after surgery, your vision may fluctuate but it should stabilize within three to six months.
LASIK is a very common, safe procedure in the trusted hands of our experienced Inland Eye doctors. Contact us today to set up a LASIK consultation at either our Murrieta or Temecula offices.
