Essential Tips to Know Before Having LASIK
- Posted on: May 12 2022
Are you considering LASIK? More and more people decide to undergo this incredible laser vision correction procedure every year!
The possibilities of life after LASIK are exciting. For the best possible results, it’s important to know what to expect when you have the procedure. Keep reading to learn some essential tips to know before having LASIK!
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is a laser vision correction procedure that permanently corrects refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism and are the most common reasons people need to wear glasses or contact lenses.
It is safe and FDA-approved. When you have one of these refractive errors, your eye does not bend light correctly, leading to visual issues.
Light enters your eye through the cornea, the transparent front layer of your eye. The cornea works with the lens to focus light onto the retina, creating clear images.
A refractive error means light cannot be focused in this way, resulting in blurry vision. LASIK works by gently reshaping the surface of the cornea.
When you reshape the cornea, it corrects refractive errors and allows light to refract as it should, giving you the vision you’ve always wanted.
Not Everyone Qualifies for LASIK
While LASIK is incredibly popular, not everyone who wants to have the procedure can undergo it. Certain factors go into determining if someone is a good LASIK candidate.
First off, you must be at least 18 years old and not be currently pregnant or nursing. If you are under 18, your eyes are still developing.
Similarly, when you are pregnant or nursing, hormonal changes can alter your eyes, making LASIK ineffective at that time. To undergo LASIK, you should have a stable prescription.
Having a stable prescription means that your prescription has remained the same for at least a year at a minimum. If your eyes and prescription are still changing, you may not end up with the results you want.
In addition, your prescription should be within the treatment guidelines for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If your prescription is too strong, you may qualify for another procedure like PRK instead.
You also need to have thick enough corneas before qualifying for LASIK. During LASIK, a crucial component involves creating a small flap in the cornea.
With this flap, your surgeon can access the middle tissue of the cornea. Reshaping this thicker part of the cornea corrects refractive errors.
The flap is then put back in place to aid in healing. If your corneas are too thin, this will not be possible and may lead to severe visual issues and complications.
Before having LASIK, you’ll undergo a LASIK consultation before scheduling the procedure. Your consultation will help determine your candidacy, discuss your goals, and answer any questions you may have.
Be Realistic About Your Results
LASIK can be a life-changing procedure. Yet, there are no guarantees that you will come out of it with perfect vision.
Most patients end up with 20/20 vision or better, but some may still need to rely on glasses or contacts. The success of your procedure depends upon a variety of factors.
These include the severity of your refractive error. Still, over 95 percent of patients are highly satisfied with their results.
Here at Jacksonville Eye Center, our goal is to make your vision as close to perfect as possible. But it’s necessary to keep in mind there are limitations to what even LASIK can achieve.
LASIK Only Treats Current Refractive Errors
While it can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, LASIK only treats current refractive errors. As a permanent procedure, LASIK has a lot of advantages.
But one thing it cannot do is treat conditions like presbyopia or cataracts. Even if you get LASIK, you will still develop these eye conditions later.
Presbyopia affects your ability to focus on up-close objects and develops gradually over time as you age. Even if you undergo LASIK, you may still need to rely on reading glasses. You can still develop presbyopia in the future as well.
Likewise, LASIK does not prevent cataracts from forming. A cataract occurs when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy, impacting your ability to see.
Since LASIK reshapes the cornea and does not alter the lens, a cataract may develop in the future. However, what you can look forward to after having LASIK is decades of crisp, clear vision!
How to Ensure a Smooth Recovery After Having LASIK
LASIK has a short recovery period, meaning you can return to your normal activities and enjoy your improved vision sooner rather than later. However, there are some measures you should take to ensure you have a smooth recovery after having LASIK.
For at least a week following the procedure, refrain from applying eye makeup. Products like this can carry bacteria, as can your hands when you put them on. Keeping potential irritants and bacteria away from your eye while healing is essential if you’re recovering from LASIK.
You’ll also need to stay out of all bodies of water for at least a month, including lakes, rivers, oceans, hot tubs, and pools. These can all be a source of bacteria.
On the day that you have LASIK, make sure to take it easy. The best thing you can do is take a nap to start your healing off strong. Your vision will continue improving in the days and weeks following the vision correction procedure.
Avoid participating in any contact sports for a month after LASIK. Even a minor injury to your eye could complicate the healing process. In the week immediately after the procedure, do not participate in any strenuous activities.
Attend all your follow-up appointments to ensure your eyes heal without complications or infection. If any medications such as eye drops are prescribed, make it a point to keep up with them.
Are you ready to get a new outlook on life with LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Jacksonville Eye Center in Jacksonville, FL, today! Isn’t it time to see the world with the clarity you’ve always wanted?
Posted in: LASIK