5 Commonly Asked Questions About Lasik Eye Surgery

Countless people struggle with eye issues, such as myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). Most people use eyeglasses or contact lenses to help correct the refraction problem in their eyes to help them enjoy their lives. However, there’s something much better that could help deal with refractive errors, and this is LASIK eye surgery.

LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common surgeries our Glendale eye doctor performs that corrects refractive errors. So, you might be wondering whether you could switch from the conventional glasses and contact lenses and undergo LASIK eye surgery near you. But, you must have a ton of questions about the procedure that might make you a bit queasy. Don’t worry; we have lined up the top frequently asked questions about LASIK that might help you understand it better. So, let’s get to it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lasik Eye Surgery

Here are the commonly asked questions about LASIK eye surgery:

1. What Does LASIK Stand For?

LASIK means Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. The name is quite a mouthful, so the acronym makes it much easier to remember and pronounce. The procedure primarily uses a laser to help change the shape of your cornea.

The surgery effectively deals with refractive errors such as myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia.

2. Is LASIK Surgery Painful?

The excellent news is that LASIK eye surgery isn’t painful. Our Glendale eye doctor will proceed by numbing your eyes using numbing eye drops. You may still feel some pressure during the procedure, but you will not feel pain. Our eye doctor can also administer another type of medication to help calm your nerves during the procedure.

After the surgery, your eyes might feel a bit itchy, but that should vanish after a short while.

3. What Does LASIK Surgery Involve?

The primary goal of LASIK eye surgery is to change the shape of your cornea, which is responsible for refracting the light that passes through the eye to the retina. When the shape is altered, you will have a better focus to see clearly.

You can expect the following during LASIK eye surgery:

• Our eye doctor will test your eyes to ensure that your eye health history is up to date
• The next step will be to numb your eyes by placing numbing eye drops in both your eyes. You will also receive a sedative if necessary
• Then, our eye surgeon will use a specialized laser to create a thin, circular flap in your cornea. Our surgeon will fold back the flap to access the underlying cornea.
• Another laser with cool ultraviolet beams will remove minute amounts of tissue from your cornea to reshape it. The removal of the tissue will help your cornea focus light more accurately. So, if you have myopia, the laser will be used to flatten the cornea, and if you have hyperopia, the laser will create a steeper cornea
• Our eye doctor will lay back the flap and then cover the area where the corneal tissue was removed, and just like that, the surgery is complete
• Our eye surgeon will send you home to give you time to heal naturally

LASIK eye surgery is pretty simple when performed by experienced eye doctors. LASIK eye surgery lasts nearly twenty minutes for both eyes.

4. When Will I See the Results from LASIK Eye Surgery?

Immediately after your eye surgery, you should start seeing things from a distance if you couldn’t before. However, your eyesight will be a bit hazy after the procedure, but it should get better as your cornea heals, which is usually a few days after the surgery.

You might still feel as though your eyes are a bit gritty and sensitive to light after the procedure. Close your eyes for a few hours when you get to the house. It might help with the transition.

5. Are the Results Permanent?

Well, yes and no. The surgery is permanent, but the eye is still subject to aging, as with every part of your body. Therefore, the surgery will not exempt you from cataracts and presbyopia, which comes when most people age, but you can enjoy many years of clearer vision without glasses or contacts.

Visit an Eye Doctor Near You

If you’re looking for LASIK eye surgery in Glendale, CA, 91203, or still have questions, contact us at Glendale Eye Medical Group, and you will get the help you need.