Frequently Asked Questions About LASIK

LASIK surgery is a refractive surgery used to correct vision problems such as myopia and hyperopia. The surgery uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the eye's clear front surface.

The ophthalmologist will numb your eyes with eye drops during the procedure. You will also be given a mild sedative to help you relax. Once your eyes are numb and you're relaxed, the eye doctor will create a thin flap in the cornea. This is done with either a blade or a femtosecond laser. Next, the ophthalmologist will use an excimer laser to remove tissue from the cornea. This will help reshape it so that light can be appropriately focused on the retina, which is the back surface of the eye. Finally, the eye doctor will replace the flap and smooth it down.

LASIK surgery can be used to treat several different vision problems, including:

1. Myopia (nearsightedness): This is a condition in which distant objects appear blurry.
2. Hyperopia (farsightedness): The condition in which nearby objects appear blurry.
3. Astigmatism: A condition in which the eye doesn't focus light correctly, resulting in blurred vision.

The entire procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes. Your eyes will be numbed with eye drops before the eye doctor begins, so you likely won't feel any pain.

The recovery time for this type of surgery is usually short. Most people see an improvement in their vision within 24 hours after the procedure. However, it may take a few days for your vision to stabilize.

LASIK surgery is generally safe, but like with any surgery, some risks are involved. These risks include:

1. Dry eyes: This is a common side effect of LASIK surgery. It usually goes away within a few months.
2. Glare, halos, and double vision: You may experience these side effects shortly after the surgery.
3. Under-correction or over-correction: This is when your vision isn't corrected as much as you had hoped, or it's corrected too much.