If you're looking for a permanent solution to stop wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses, LASIK surgery may be right for you. This surgery is a popular vision correction procedure with minimal risk. With its high success rate, the procedure has the potential to give you a life without glasses.
If you reside in Virginia Beach or any nearby locations and you are considering LASIK surgery, our talented ophthalmologist, Dr. Delianides, can help you get the results you long for.
What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
Laser insitu keratomileusis (LASIK) is a popular eye surgery designed to correct your vision. Whether you are farsighted, nearsighted, or have astigmatism, LASIK can be beneficial. Typically, to see with clarity, the light rays come to a sharp focus on the retina on the back of your eye. If the cornea is irregular, the light rays will enter the eye at different angles and not focus on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
LASIK vision correction surgery reshapes your cornea, so that light rays come to a sharp focus on the retina the way they should.
Which Vision Problems Can LASIK Fix?
LASIK corrects refractive vision errors. When light is not focused correctly on your retina, your vision gets blurry. The conditions include:
- Myopia or Nearsightedness – This condition makes distant objects blurry. However, you can see close things clearly. This happens when the shape of the eye is slightly longer than average or when the cornea is curved sharply, causing the light rays to focus in front of the retina.
- Hyperopia or Farsightedness - This condition makes far things clear, but close things blurry. This occurs when the shape of the eye is shorter than average, or when the cornea is too flat, causing light to focus behind the retina instead of on it.
- Astigmatism – With this condition your eye's shape makes you see everything blurry. This happens when the cornea curves or flattens unevenly, disrupting the focus of both near and distant vision.
What to Expect Before LASIK
Having one of the above conditions doesn't automatically qualify you for a LASIK surgery. The ophthalmologist will need to conduct a thorough eye exam to ensure your eyes are healthy enough to undergo this procedure. During the examination, they will check your pupil size, refractive errors, and the shape and thickness of your cornea. You will need to answer medical history questions to ensure you are a suitable candidate for the operation.
Before the LASIK procedure, you will be asked to stop wearing contact lenses for a period of time. This is because contact lens wear can temporarily alter the natural shape of your cornea.
What to Expect During LASIK
This surgery is safe and not painful. You will be awake throughout the procedure. You may receive a light sedative to keep you at ease. You might only feel some tugging or pressure on your eye, and your vision will be blurred.
The steps of the LASIK surgery are as follows:
- Initial Surgery Preparation: The surgeon will place anesthetic eye drops in both of your eyes to numb them. An eyelid holder will then be used to hold your eyes open during surgery.
- Vision Correction: The surgeon will make a small flap in the cornea's outer layer using a small blade or a laser. Then your cornea is reshaped using a laser to correct any abnormalities Once done, the flap will be put back in its original location and is left to heal naturally without stitches.
- Final Step: After your surgery, your eyes may itch a little, and your vision will be blurry for a few hours. You should see clearly by the following day.
What to Expect After Surgery
After the procedure, your surgeon may prescribe some eye drops to help your eye stay moist during the healing process. You may be given an eye shield or asked to wear sunglasses to cover and protect your vision as it heals. It's essential not to rub or poke your eye after LASIK surgery, as this might move the flap out of position, disrupting the healing process.
Successful LASIK Surgeries in Virginia Beach
At Atlantic Eye Consultants, we strive to help you maintain the health of your eyes. Our friendly team is happy to take the time to help you learn more about LASIK surgery and any of our other services. Call today and schedule an appointment.