What You Need To Know About LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK eye surgery is an extremely popular procedure, performed on over 600,000 people in the United States each year. Intended to reduce a person’s dependency on glasses and contact lenses, LASIK is safe and effective for treating myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. If you’re considering undergoing LASIK eye surgery, there are a few things you need to know.

• LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea. Using an excimer laser, the doctor cuts a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of the flap, and the flap is folded back to reveal the middle section of the cornea, the stroma. With pulses from a computer-controlled laser, the doctor vaporizes a portion of the stroma, making the cornea flatter for people who are nearsighted and steeper for those who are farsighted. Excimer lasers can also be used to smooth an irregular cornea to correct astigmatism.
• The procedure details. Patients are given medication to help them relax, and numbing eye drops for your comfort. There is, however, a feeling of pressure associated with the process. There are no stitches with laser surgery, and no bandages are required.
• LASIK surgery only takes about five to ten minutes per eye. The procedure is done on each eye individually, and afterward, the patient rests for a few minutes. There’s often a burning or itching sensation right after the procedure, and after a post-operative exam, patients are free to leave, as long as someone else drives them home.
• For most people, vision improves immediately. While initially blurry and hazy, vision should be clear by the next morning, continuing to stabilize and improve over the next few days.
• If you’re having LASIK eye surgery, it’s a good idea to take a couple of days off work. You’ll probably see your doctor the day after surgery, to make sure your vision is good enough to allow you to drive. While you may feel ready to go into work that day, it’s probably best to take a couple of sick days, especially if your job is physically demanding. Strenuous activity or exercise can interfere with the healing process, so it’s advisable to refrain from this kind of activity for at least a week.
• The long-term results of LASIK are generally good. Sometimes people still need reading glasses after the age of 40, even if they’ve had LASIK. Overall, most people who have had LASIK are satisfied with the procedure and feel that their quality of life has been improved.

LASIK surgery is not for everyone, but if you believe it could be right for you, do your research and find an experienced eye doctor, with state-of-the-art equipment. If you’re looking for LASIK eye surgery in Derry, you need to look no further than Spindel Eye Associates. Celebrating our thirtieth year of eye care, we proudly serve patients in Derry, Londonderry, Windham, providing personalized eye care using top of the line technology. For more information or to schedule an appointment call 603.421.6536 or contact us through our website.