How Is LASIK Performed?
This process is done in eye surgeons' offices while the patient is awake. After administering numbing eye drops, the doctor holds the eyelids open with an instrument that looks like a speculum. A suction device is used to create a flap through which the cornea can be reshaped using the laser. LASIK is painless, though the patient may feel light pressure during the surgery.
When Is LASIK Effective?
This procedure is most beneficial to correct the vision of those with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, which represents most adults who wear glasses or contacts. Among the 700,000 Americans who have LASIK each year, 97 percent have notable vision improvement, with 70 percent achieving 20/20 vision or better after the procedure.
Some adults between the ages of 40 and 60 lose some ability to focus on small print and objects, a condition called presbyopia. Those with presbyopia can opt to have one eye corrected for near vision and the other for far vision, but should first do a trial run of this strategy with contact lenses.
What Factors Rule out LASIK?
Some structural concerns can make a person ineligible for the procedure, including thin corneas, irregular corneal surface, cone-shaped corneas, deep-set eyes, or large pupils. However, new technology such as bladeless vision correction has made laser vision surgery a reality for patients who were previously ineligible, and other techniques are always being researched.
While these factors may typically determine whether a patient is eligible for LASIK, the best course of action is to have a consultation with laser vision correction specialized eye surgeons.
