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LASIK  FAQs
What is the LASIK?
LASIK,Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a surgical procedure intended to reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses.

LASIK is a procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye, using an excimer laser. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middlesection of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced.

For clear vision, the eye's cornea and lens must bend light rays properly, so that images are focused on the retina which is a light sensitive nerve tissue in back the eyeball. If the light rays aren't clearly focused on the retina, the image you see is blurry.
This blurriness, "refractive error" ,is caused by an imperfectly shaped eyeball, cornea, or lens. LASIK uses an Excimer Laser, an ultraviolet laser, to precisely remove corneal tissue to correct the shape for better focusing.

LASIK Indications:
LASIK eye surgery is performed most often on people who have nearsightedness (myopia).
LASIK occasionally used to correct farsightedness or astigmatism.
Candidate should be at least 18 years old (21 for some lasers).
Candidate should not be pregnant or nursing because these conditions might change the measured refraction of the eye.
Candidate should not be taking certain medicines such as Accutane or oral prednisone.
Myopic patients should postpone LASIK until their refraction has stabilized, because myopia may continue to increase in some patients until their mid to late 20s.
Candidate should be healthy.LASIK may not be recommended for patients with diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts
For candidates with presbyopia, LASIK can be used to correct one eye for distance and the other for near.


Before LASIK Surgery
o   LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure, 10 to 15 minutes for each eye.
o   The procedure is done with the person awake.
o   LASIK may be done on one or both eyes during the same session.


After LASIK Surgery
The day of surgery, vision generally is blurry or hazy but by the next day the blurriness improves.
NOT  rub your eye after LASIK.
At the first doctor visit after the surgery, the eye shield will be removed
You may receive eye drops to help prevent infection.
Do not drive until your vision has improved enough to safely do so.
Avoid swimming, hot tubs, whirlpools, contact sports, lotions, cremes, and eye make-up for between 2-4 weeks after surgery.
Sometimes additional surgery," enhancement surgery", may be needed in order to get the best possible vision.
It may take up to 3-6 months for vision to stabilize after surgery.
The most common complaints after LASIK are glare, haloes, and difficulty with night driving.
The doctor should be called immediately if there is severe pain.

LASIK Surgery Risks
o   Corneal infection.
o   Corneal scarring, permanent warping of the cornea
o   Decrease in contrast sensitivity, objects may appear fuzzy or gray.
o   Decreased distance vision at high altitudes.
o   Dryness.
o   Light sensitivity.
o   Loss of vision.
o   Over- or under-treatment of the condition requiring additional  corrections
o   Patches of red or pink in the white of the eye.
o   Permanent vision loss.
o   Problems with night driving or visual symptoms, such as glare and haloes.
o   Reading glasses may still be needed after surgery.
o   Scratchiness.
o   Some patients will still need glasses for their best vision.

Source: fda.gov.


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