Experts Talk – Pros and cons of eye surgery LASIK
Most people wish to enjoy their career and leisure activities with good vision as well. However, the prospect of eye surgery LASIK— and being awake while it — might be frightening. Neither is the treatment, which includes creating a tiny flap in the cornea’s surface cells to restructure the cornea beneath, appropriate for everyone.
Others may object to the cost: According to Hood, the average cost per eye is around $2,200.
Due to the fact that eye surgery LASIK is not often covered by insurance, some individuals may want to save and pay for it using a flexible spending account. Additionally, the credit union at the University of Michigan offers financing options.
Regardless of the issue, “we assist (patients) in weighing the risks and advantages,” Hood adds. “It’s a no-brainer for certain folks.”
He discusses numerous advantages and disadvantages of EYE SURGERY LASIK in this section:
Pro: LASIK eye surgery is a quick and painless procedure.
LASIK Eye Surgery is an outpatient treatment that takes around 20 minutes — “and the majority of that time is spent getting ready for surgery,” Hood observes.
If the recipient remains awake, he or she may be given Valium to soothe their anxiety. To ensure patient safety and comfort, the laser is programmed to turn off whenever the patient’s eye makes any unexpected movements that might result in mistakes or harm.
Cons: Not everyone qualifies
Those considered inappropriate are frequently in their forties and fifties. That is because they may have presbyopia, a condition in which the lens of the eye stiffens and impairs close-up vision (eye surgery LASIK alters the cornea, not the lens).
Pro: Results are obtained swiftly
It is not difficult to regain clear vision. Patients who have eye surgery LASIK will notice a difference within a few hours. “By the next day, you’re seeing really well,” Hood explains. The majority of routine tasks can be resumed within 48 hours.
However, those who have PRK can anticipate a lengthier recovery time — about a month — and some slight discomfort as a result of the corneal surface removal.
Con: There are certain hazards associated with eye surgery lasik.
While eye surgery LASIK may cause temporary dry eyes for up to three months (which may be handled with artificial tears), the likelihood of this becoming a chronic problem is extremely remote. Another unusual adverse effect is glare or halos at night.
Nonetheless, Hood notes, “the danger is far lower than it used to be, and the technology is significantly better.” The treatment zone is now significantly bigger, including the whole cornea.”
The advantage is that you can live without glasses or contacts.
Whether they opt for eye surgery LASIK or PRK, many patients consider the procedure as life-changing — and a way to participate in even fundamental activities that were previously impossible due to impaired eyesight.
“For the majority of individuals, something changes or compels them to seek surgery,” Hood explains. “They become dissatisfied with contacts because to dry dyes or desire to ride their bicycle without glasses.”
Cons: The flaps are prone to injury.
Because the flaps formed during eye surgery LASIK are not secured, patients should avoid rubbing their eyes throughout the healing process. Any stress to a flap (such as being pricked by a tree branch or fingernail) has the potential to dislodge it — even years after surgery, Hood notes. Consult an eye doctor immediately if this type of contact happens.
Due to the fact that no flaps are produced after PRK, those patients are not at risk. Athletes and other physically active folks may choose this option in order to perform at their best.
Pro: Your vision will be much enhanced.
Patients who get eye surgery LASIK can restore 20/20 vision. Just don’t expect superhuman vision: “At best, we’ll accomplish what spectacles or contact lenses can do,” Hood says.
That scenario may be different for people with greater prescriptions: “Our odds of achieving 20/20 vision are roughly 20% to 30%,” he explains, “but we have a very strong possibility of you functioning without glasses.” Click here to read about Foods that aid in eye surgery LASIK recovery.
Cons: There is a remote possibility that you will require eye surgery lasik again.
Again, people with a higher prescription before surgery are more likely to see a little decline in vision quality over time – a condition called myopic regression.
“There is a possibility that it will drift back, but never to the same degree,” Hood explains. This may necessitate a doctor-patient interaction, he observes, as a second eye surgery LASIK procedure has additional and distinct risks.
What to anticipate
Prior to the procedure:
Long-term eye surgery LASIK outcomes are often greatest in patients who are carefully screened prior to eye surgery to ensure they are suitable candidates for the treatment.
If you wear contact lenses, which have the potential to alter the curvature of your cornea, you must stop wearing them completely and only wear your spectacles for at least a few weeks prior to your examination and surgery. Your doctor will offer particular instructions based on the type of contacts you wear and the length of time you’ve been wearing contacts.
During the evaluation, your eye doctor will inquire about your medical and surgical history and do a thorough eye examination to check your eyesight and determine whether you are a candidate for the operation safely.
Your physician will examine you for evidence of:
- Infection of the eye
- Inflammation of the eye
- Dry eyes
- Dilated pupils
- Hypertension of the eye
Additionally, your eye doctor will examine the form, contour, thickness, and any anomalies on your cornea. Your eye specialist will assess which parts of your cornea require reshaping and the exact amount of tissue to remove.
Before LASIK surgery, doctors often do a detailed evaluation of your eye using wavefront-guided technology. In this examination, a scanner makes an extremely comprehensive chart of your eye, akin to a topographic map. The more precise the measurements, the more precise the corneal tissue removal may be performed by your eye specialist.
Prior to surgery, your doctor will review the risks and advantages of eye surgery LASIK, as well as what to expect during and after the procedure.
LASIK surgery is often finished in 30 minutes or less. You will be lying on your back in a reclining chair throughout the treatment. You may be offered medication to assist with relaxation.
Following the placement of numbing drops in your eye, your doctor will use a piece of equipment to keep your eyelids wide.
Suction rings put on your eye immediately prior to cutting the corneal flap may induce a sensation of pressure and a slight dimming of your vision.
Your eye surgeon will cut a little hinged flap away from the front of your eye using a small blade or cutting laser. By folding back the flap, your doctor may get access to the area of your cornea that has to be reshaped.
Your eye surgeon reshapes portions of your cornea using a controlled laser. Each laser pulse removes a very little quantity of corneal tissue. After reshaping the cornea, the surgeon reattaches the flap. Generally, the flap heals without sutures.
You will be advised to concentrate on a spot of light during the procedure. By focusing on this light, you can maintain a stable position for your eye while the laser reshapes your cornea. While the laser is removing the corneal tissue, you may notice a unique odor. According to others, the odor is comparable to that of burnt hair. Visit https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/personal_experience/article/867079/Science-of-Burning-Hair/ to read more about burnt hair.
If you require LASIK surgery in both eyes, the operation is often performed on the same day.