Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in LASIK on August 6, 2024
LASIK is one of the most popular forms of vision correction in the United States. Millions of people have undergone this safe and effective procedure and now enjoy clear vision.
LASIK is quick and minimally invasive, with an uncomplicated recovery process. After your procedure, you can experience clear vision without glasses or contacts holding you back.
Keep reading to learn more about what happens during LASIK.
What to Expect During Your LASIK Consultation
Before scheduling your LASIK procedure, your eye doctor at EyeHealth Northwest will see you for a LASIK consultation. During the consultation, your eye doctor will review your medical history to ensure surgery is safe and successful.
They will ask you about past eye procedures, any eye injuries or illnesses you have had, and underlying health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure.
They will also examine your eyes during the consultation. They will check your vision to know what level of correction you need.
In addition, they will check to see how healthy your eyes are. They may take images of your cornea or use corneal mapping technology.
Preparing for LASIK
On the day of your LASIK procedure, you should arrive at EyeHealth Northwest with enough time to check in so you can complete any necessary paperwork before surgery.
Your LASIK surgeon will bring you into the procedure room and make you comfortable on the table. They will administer eye drops that numb the surface of your eye so you won’t feel any discomfort and may offer you a sedative to relax.
They will place instruments around your eyes to hold them open and prevent you from blinking. You may feel pressure, but the instruments aren’t painful.
What Happens During the LASIK Procedure?
Once your eyes are ready, your LASIK surgeon will use a specialized femtosecond laser to create a small flap on the surface of your eye. They will open the flap to gain access to the cornea.
Using an excimer laser, they will make careful adjustments to the shape of your cornea. Once that is complete, your LASIK surgeon will carefully close the flap, which will heal without sutures.
After that, they will repeat the procedure on your other eye. LASIK typically takes under 30 minutes total. After it’s done, you may need to wait in the office for a short time so the staff can monitor your eye pressure.
What is LASIK Recovery Like?
After LASIK, your eyes may feel sore or gritty as the numbing eye drops wear off, and your vision may be blurry. This is normal and should get better over the next day or so.
You must wear an eye shield for the next week when you sleep. This prevents you from accidentally rubbing your eyes overnight.
You will not be able to drive yourself home after the procedure, so you should arrange a ride in advance. You won’t be able to resume driving until you’ve been cleared by your LASIK surgeon, usually at your follow-up appointment the next day.
Aftercare is very important after LASIK. Your eye doctor will give you prescription eye drops to reduce the risk of infection, and you should use them as directed.
At your follow-up appointments, your eye doctor will assess your vision and how your eyes are healing. They will also tell you when you can return to activities like work, exercise, driving, wearing eye makeup, and swimming.
Are you ready to learn more about LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR, today!
