What To Expect During LASIK Surgery
If you are reading this, you are probably considering LASIK surgery. Here at Berg-Feinfield, we think it’s important for our patients to be prepared and know exactly what to expect on their surgery day. Eye surgery can be daunting, but knowing what to expect can bring you some peace of mind and prepare you for the recovery process. Here is everything you can expect during your LASIK surgery at Berg-Feinfield!
What Is LASIK?
LASIK surgery is a type of laser vision correction procedure. It is the most popular form of laser vision correction, with hundreds of thousands undergoing the procedure every year.
The goal of LASIK surgery is to correct common refractive errors like myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. To do this, the surface of the cornea needs to be reshaped. Reshaping the cornea allows the light entering the eye to focus on the retina properly.
The LASIK Procedure: Step-by-Step
When you come to our office on your surgery day, you can expect the following. If you need to finish up any paperwork, you will do so before the surgery begins. The surgery will last around 15 minutes, and you will be able to go home right after the procedure.
Before the procedure, your surgeon will use local anesthetic eye drops to numb your eyes. Your eyelids will be gently propped open using a lid speculum, which will keep you from blinking during the surgery.
If you are getting bladeless LASIK, your surgeon will start out by creating a thin, hinged flap on the surface of the eye using a femtosecond laser. This laser is specialized to create thin, stable corneal flaps with little to no damage to surrounding tissue. Using a femtosecond laser makes this procedure completely blade-free.
Once the corneal flap is created, your surgeon will gently lift it back to expose the inner layers of the cornea. Next, your surgeon will use an excimer laser to remove microscopic amounts of corneal tissue, effectively reshaping the surface of the cornea.
When the cornea is sufficiently treated, your surgeon will smooth the corneal flap back into place. Because the first layer of the cornea is self-healing, there is no need for stitches after LASIK.
Does LASIK Hurt?
LASIK surgery is not painful. Your eyes will be numbed. The most discomfort you will feel during surgery is some pressure on the eye during treatment, but this should not be painful. During recovery, you may feel more discomfort, but Tylenol and over-the-counter eye drops will help for the first couple days. If you ever feel any significant eye pain following LASIK surgery, you should let your doctor know right away.
LASIK Recovery
Most patients are able to drive and return to work the day after surgery. For the first day, we recommend going home and taking a nap, and relaxing for the rest of the day. LASIK recovery is fairly straightforward and quick, and that is what draws many people to the surgery. While this may be true, it is important to follow the aftercare instructions given to you by your surgeon. This will ensure quick healing and great results!
By learning as much as you can about LASIK before undergoing the procedure, you’re sure to calm some fears as well as set yourself up for great results. If you would like to learn more about LASIK surgery and what to expect, contact Berg-Feinfield Vision Correction in the Los Angeles area.
