What is Lasik Surgery?
Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a non-invasive type of laser eye surgery. Although there are other laser eye surgeries, Lasik remains the best eye procedure. As such, many people opt for this surgery to improve their eyesight. While some people undergo Lasik for cosmetic reasons, others do it for medical and professional reasons. Since professions like law enforcement, astronaut, surgeon, firefighter, etc., requires perfect vision. And not relying on glasses and contacts can be a massive boost of confidence for many.
How does it Work?
What causes vision problems?
The reason why people have eyesight problems is due to the shape of their eyeballs. Myopia or nearsightedness occurs due to the elongation of the eyeball. And hyperopia or farsightedness happens when the eyeball is too short. In both cases, light rays fail to focus rightly on the retina, which causes refractive errors. Meanwhile, Astigmatism has overall blurry vision. It happens because of an irregular-shaped cornea, which causes light rays to focus on two different points instead of one.
How Lasik improves vision.
The surgeon cuts a thin flap in the cornea during the procedure using a microkeratome blade or a femtosecond laser. Then, they lift the flap and reshape the cornea with another laser. After that, the flap is put back, making sure everything is smooth and round. The reshaped cornea ensures that light rays hit the right spot on the retina. Thus, correcting the refractive errors and improving the vision. It is a minor surgery, and the whole procedure takes about twenty to thirty minutes.
Considering Getting Lasik
If you are considering undergoing Lasik, here are some things you should know about the eligibility criteria of Lasik. Yes, you read that right. Before finalizing you for the surgery, your doctor will conduct various medical tests. It ensures that you are suitable for the surgery because some health conditions might make things difficult for you after Lasik.
Here are some health conditions that are an absolute no-no for Lasik:
- Any eye diseases like cataracts, Glaucoma, and so on. And it includes eye conditions like dry eyes, infections like herpes, and keratitis or uveitis.
- The same goes if you have any eye injuries.
- Non-eye-related health issues like diabetes or diseases that affect your immune system. Such as HIV, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, allergy, sepsis, and other autoimmune diseases.
- Anyone with a severe case of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and blurry vision.
Although Lasik corrects vision, Lasik may not be suitable for you if your eyesight is terrible. So, Lasik is only ideal for people who have moderate vision issues. Moreover, your vision needs to be stable for at least six months before the surgery.
Best Hospitals and the Cost of Lasik
Lasik surgery may cost differently under different conditions. The cost of Lasik can be as low as ₹ 40,000 to as high as ₹ 1,00,000. It depends on location, the complexity of your state, type of Lasik, facility, etc. Also, there are other charges like aftercare, medicine cost, follow-up sessions, screening tests, etc.
If you have decided to undergo Lasik, it is best to do proper research. And choosing a suitable facility for your surgery is the most critical decision. Although Lasik has a success rate, it still has some risks and complications. So, it is best to choose the best hospital for Lasik eye surgery in Delhi. Look for a facility with a good amount of experience in the field. And would prioritize your health over a monetary profit. The most dependable facilities are those that will not hesitate to turn you away when there is a high risk.
Recovering After Lasik
Headaches, dry eyes, blurry vision, etc., are some rare side effects of Lasik. These side effects will go away after a few weeks or a couple of months after the surgery. Moreover, do not strain your eyes with activities like reading, writing, driving, and using your phone or laptop. While you are at it, eat healthy food that helps heal. You should have food rich in protein, omega-3 acid, and vitamin A, B, and C. Eat fish, eggs, walnuts, soybean, spinach, broccoli, carrots, bell pepper, etc. In fruits, oranges, papaya, strawberries, etc.
Rest well, and not forget that it takes about six months to recover after Lasik surgery completely.
Now, to answer the question if you can go on a trekking trip after Lasik. Well, it depends on how long it has been since the surgery. It should be fine if the surgery were more than six months or a year ago. After this much time, you must be fine completely. However, it is best to avoid such activities for less than six months. Although you may feel fine, your eyes are still unsafe at this stage. An accident during trekking could become fatal for your eyes. Moreover, it would help if you protect your eyes from harmful sun rays, dust, and pollution. So, before you go on that trekking trip, consult the best eye doctor first.
Lasik Risks
Lasik also includes some complications and risks other than facing short-term side effects. So, it is best to know about these things before you decide to go for the surgery.
Some risks during Lasik are under-correction, over-correction, flap complications, etc. You can get rid of these issues with follow-up surgery. However, some severe risk factors can happen after the surgery, such as corneal ectasia, epithelial ingrowth, infection, and blindness. Moreover, there are also cases when vision regresses after some time to how it was before the surgery. And in some cases, the eyesight gets worse after the surgery. But, bear in mind that these cases are rare, and most people feel content after the surgery.
