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Laser in Situ Keratomileusis
Have you ever wondered
what it would be
like to see without your glasses or contacts?
The most popular vision correction
procedure in the Los Angeles are and throughout
the US is LASIK, or Laser in Situ Keratomileusis.
LASIK is a virtually painless outpatient procedure that takes only minutes
per eye to perform. Because of the laser's incredible precision, LASIK
can be used to treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
It can even improve vision in people with extremely high prescriptions.
During your LASIK
procedure, your Los Angeles LASIK surgeon will
use a state-of-the-art laser to reshape the cornea (the clear surface
on the front of the eye) so your eye can focus light naturally on the
retina. Almost all patients notice an improvement in their vision immediately,
and most return to their normal activities the very next day. After
laser vision correction, nearly all patients achieve sight within 1
to 2 lines of 20/20 vision on an eye chart. In most cases, they are
able to drive, play sports, watch movies and do all the things they
love-without glasses or contact lenses.
Understanding
The Eye
How
LASIK Works
Surgery
& Results
Understanding
The Eye
The key to understanding
LASIK is to understand how the eye works. Sharp, clear
vision is the result of light rays passing through the cornea, pupil
and lens and focusing directly upon the retina. If the cornea is not
round, or it is too steep or too flat in relation to the length of the
eye, light rays focus either in front of or behind the retina resulting
in "refractive errors" such as nearsightedness, farsightedness
and astigmatism. Many people who have refractive errors place contact
lenses on their eyes to improve the way the cornea focuses light. LASIK
is just another way of improving the way the cornea focuses
light. Click here for more in-depth information
on How the Eye Works
How
LASIK Works
LASIK uses a cool laser
light to reshape the cornea to your prescription. LASIK combines
the lifting of a protective flap with the precision and accuracy of
laser technology. First, the eye is numbed using "eye drop"
anesthesia. A small instrument is then placed between the eyelids to
prevent blinking during the procedure. Next, a small, hinged flap is
made in the cornea using an instrument called a microkeratome. During
this process, some patients report feeling pressure, but no pain. The
flap is lifted back, and the laser is used to reshape the cornea, according
to the patient's eye prescription. A microscopic amount of corneal tissue
is altered to change the cornea's shape, allowing light rays to focus
more directly on the retina. During the re-shaping, which usually lasts
less than a minute, the patient is asked to look directly at the laser's
fixation light. Once the re-shaping is complete, the thin flap is folded
back into place and smoothed down over the cornea. It bonds securely,
without the need for stitches. After the procedure, some patients report
watery eyes or an itchy sensation, which usually goes away within 12
to 24 hours
Surgery & Results
Before Surgery
Before your surgery day, your Los Angeles LASIK doctor
will go over everything you need to know about the procedure, so you
know exactly what to expect. Your eyes will be thoroughly tested to
determine if you are a good candidate for surgery and just how well
LASIK will improve your vision. Your Los Angeles
LASIK doctor may decide that you are a better candidate
for one of the other procedures he performs. The day of your LASIK
procedure, your Los Angeles LASIK doctor may recommend
that you have been out of soft contacts for several days and hard
contacts or gas permeable lenses for three weeks. Although the procedure
itself only takes a few minutes, you will be at the center for about
two hours. The doctor will put a few numbing drops in each eye. Some
patients also choose to have valium prior to the procedure to help
them relax.
During Surgery
On your surgery day, you will need to bring a friend to drive you
home after the procedure. During the actual procedure, your Los Angeles
LASIK surgeon will put numbing drops in your eye so you will
feel no discomfort, and proceed to explain each step of the surgery.
In just minutes, your LASIK procedure is complete!
After Surgery
So now that you’re done with surgery, its time to sit back and
relax. You will need to have someone drive you home, as the eyes will
take a short time to fully heal. You will need a long nap after surgery
to let the eyes heal, and you should be enjoying your clear vision
almost immediately. The day following surgery, we’ll schedule
you for a follow-up examination to make sure everything is healing
correctly. You will be examined at regular follow up visits to make
sure you are doing the very best possible. You will need to wear an
eye shield while sleeping for the next few days.
Your Results
You will notice dramatic visual results within the first 24 hours
following LASIK. It may take an additional day or
two to be able to resume all of your regular activities. While LASIK
has been extremely successful in improving patients' vision, it is
important to keep in mind that results may vary from patient to patient.
In the event that optimum results were not achieved with the procedure,
our Los Angeles LASIK surgeon offers enhancements should
any additional correction be necessary.
If you’ve
ever wondered what life would be like without glasses or contacts, find
out more about improving your vision with LASIK.
Click Here for a list of internet resources on vision
correction
Click Here for information on the major risks and
benefits of vision correction.
For more
information on what LASIK and other vision correction
procedures can do for you, Contact a Los Angeles eye surgeon
Schedule
a LASIK consultation with a Los Angeles eye doctor
Find a Los Angeles LASIK Doctor
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