LASIK eye surgery is meant to be pain-free with instant results. But is it right for you?

What is LASIK?
LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. The surgery is performed in two steps – initially, a metal blade or laser creates a hinged flap in the cornea. This flap is then folded back to reveal the middle secion of the cornea, the stroma. The second step is to user an excimer last to remodel the stroma. The laser vaporizes tissue in a controlled manner to reshape the cornea. No burning with hear or actual cutting is required to vaporize the tissue. Whilst this second step is taking place, your vision will become blurry and you will only be able to see white light surrounding the laser.

What are the risks?– Dry eyes
– Overcorrection or undercorrection
– Halos or starbursts around light sources at night.
– Light sensitivity
– Double vision or ‘ghosts’
– Wrinkles in the corneal flap
– Debris or growth under the flap
– Induced astigmatism

Am I a good candidate for LASIK?
Before undergoing LASIK surgery, you need to think carefully about your reasons for wanting the surgery, and the consequences of having surgery – both positive and negative. Here at CosmeticSurgerys.co.uk, we have put together a list of questions you should ask yourself before going to see a surgeon.

– If you don’t mind wearing glasses or contacts, is LASIK what you really want?
– Are you over 21? If you are under 21, your vision may still be changing meaning you may need further operations when your vision stabilises if you have LASIK now.
– Are you pregnant or nursing? LASIK is not recommended for women who are pregnant or nursing. Your eyes may also change after nursing, so you should wait until your baby is a few months old.
– Are you taking any medication? Talk to a LASIK surgeon as some medication may affect the results of surgery or cause complications.
– Are your expectations realistic? If you are currently as ‘blind as a bat’, you may not come out of surgery with sight like an eagle.
– Are you in good health? There may be complications if you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes or cataracts. Talk to your surgeon to determine if you can safely have surgery.
– What sort of visual imperfection do you have? Myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsigntedness) and astigmatism (distortion) can usually be corrected. Presbyopia can only be cured by the mono-vision technique where one eye is corrected for near vision and the other is corrected for far vision.