In the past, unhappy glasses-wearers often made the switch to contact lenses to free themselves from the frames. In today’s modern age, however, many are taking it a step further, undergoing laser eye surgery in an effort to ditch corrective lenses. LASIK (an acronym for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis”) is a refractive eye surgery procedure that corrects various common sight issues. With a high rate of patient satisfaction, LASIK is one of the most popular options for those hoping to lose their reliance on lenses.
LASIK works to physically reshape the eye tissue in a way that directly corrects vision issues like nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism. The surgeon first creates a thin flap on the front of the cornea with a specialized surgical laser. Then, he opens the flap and uses another laser to ablate (or remove) tissue away from the cornea. The degree and type of removal of this corneal tissue is dependent upon each individual’s eye shape and vision concerns.
One of the other major benefits of undergoing LASIK eye surgery is the fact that it is generally a short outpatient procedure with little to no pain. Post-surgical treatment includes the application of anesthetic eye drops, and requires no down-time or bandaging.
If you have an interest in possibly undergoing corrective LASIK eye surgery, your eye doctor can help you plan and prepare. He will take note of your health history and thoroughly examine your eyes to make sure you are a candidate for the procedure, noting the moistness of your eyes, the size of your pupil, the shape of your cornea and any underlying vision concerns.
If you are ready to make an appointment and learn more, contact Eye Michigan.