If you weren’t born with 20/20 vision, glasses or contact lenses are undoubtedly part of your daily routine. But what if you didn’t have to deal with vision correction aids? What if you opened your eyes every morning and, instead of seeing a blur, you could see crystal clear?
LASIK eye surgery makes it possible.
Laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis eye surgery can help correct many types of vision problems. Find out how it works – and if you might be a candidate – below.
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is a type of eye surgery that targets the cornea to improve vision. It uses a special type of laser, known as an excimer laser or “cool laser,” to reshape the cornea. The laser relies on focused ultraviolet light to reshape the cornea by vaporizing targeted cells.
First, the surgeon makes incisions that allow them to fold back the top of the cornea. Then, they can precisely target the underlying corneal tissue. Once they’ve vaporized the tissue necessary to reshape the cornea, they fold the corneal flap back down.
How Does LASIK Work?
LASIK works by reshaping the cornea, the dome-shaped, outermost layer of the eye. The cornea focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. From the retina, light signals are transferred to the brain, where the optic nerve processes the image.
That’s how the cornea functions in an ideal vision system. But anyone with glasses or contact lenses can tell you that not everyone has an ideal vision system!
If the cornea is abnormally shaped, it won’t be able to focus incoming light into the retina as it should. This can result in various vision issues.
For example, if the cornea is too long or overly curved, light won’t be focused into the retina but in front of it. This results in myopia (nearsightedness).
Another example: If the curve of the cornea is more oval than round, light will be focused on two different parts of the retina, instead of just one part. This can result in double or blurry vision (astigmatism).
What Can You Expect From the Procedure?
Before a potential surgery, you’ll have to undergo a thorough eye exam. If you’re approved for LASIK, you can schedule the procedure. Your local eye surgeon can provide precise instructions on how to prepare for the surgery.
For example, someone who wears contacts will need to switch to glasses for a few weeks before the surgery. Additionally, on the day of the procedure, you should skip eye makeup to reduce your risk of infection in the eye.
Thumbnail Credit: Freepik
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