August 11, 2010
LASIK Eye Procedures
Laser eye surgery is a procedure for improving vision by reshaping the cornea and altering the way the eye focuses. Laser eye correction can enhance eyesight so that corrective lenses will no longer be needed.
LASIK eye surgery is one procedure of eyesight correction surgery. The acronym LASIK is short for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis. Nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism can all be treated by this outpatient surgical treatment which makes use of an excimer laser. Tissue is removed from the cornea, the clear membrane which covers the iris. The curvature of the cornea is modified to improve the way the eye focuses light rays at the rear of the eye.
Laser eye surgery is an uncomplicated process. As part of the pre-surgery examination, the eye is measured and the cornea is profiled, providing the surgeon with the prescription to program into the laser. At the time of the procedure, the eye is anesthetized with drops so there is no discomfort.
A microscopically thin flap is cut on the outside of the eye. Then, to change the contour of the cornea, the laser takes away pre-programmed quantities of cornel tissue underneath the flap with bursts of light. A natural bandage is produced by closing the flap back over the eye. This element of the procedure only requires about 5 minutes.
The day following LASIK eye surgery you might likely be seeing sufficiently well for mild activities and may even be in a position to go back to work, although it typically requires 3 to six months for your eyesight to recover completely and eyesight to settle down. You may want to avoid rigorous tasks, however, as the eye gets better. For most of us the eyesight is sharp and improved soon after surgery; for others vision may well continue to sharpen as the recovery proceeds.
There may be a number of temporary, slight unwanted effects you get with laser eye surgery but as the cornea gets better these normally disappear. These side effects may include some soreness or discomfort, dry eye, irritation, hazy or blurred eyesight, weak night vision, glare or halos surrounding lighting, light sensitivity, lowered sharpness of vision, and small pink or red spots around the white of the eye.
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