Introduction
Many of us have experienced this scenario: you fall asleep wearing your glasses and wake up to find that the frames are twisted out of shape or that one or both of the lenses are cracked. So, When Can You Get Lasik?
Or, if you decide to wear contacts, perhaps your vacation to the beach was going swimmingly until you splashed in the water and lost contact, making the remainder of your trip impossible to see. If you’ve gone through any of these experiences, you might be prepared to ditch your glasses and contacts in Favor of LASIK eye surgery as a long-term fix for your vision issues.
What Are the Signs That I Might Be a Candidate for Lasik?
According to the most recent FDA-approved LASIK guidelines, a patient must have:
- Myopia (also known as near-sightedness) of up to -12.00D
- Hyperopia, commonly known as farsightedness, up to +6.00D
- Astigmatism (cylinder), a frequent flaw in the curve of your eye, can range up to 6 diopters.
- You must schedule an appointment with your eye doctor for a comprehensive eye exam before having LASIK. Your doctor will assess your cornea’s shape and thickness, the size of your pupil, and any other eye issues at this initial visit. He or she will also look for refractive defects including myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
- To lower your chance of having dry eyes following surgery, your doctor may also examine your eyes to see how moist they are.
So, Exactly When Can You Get Lasik Done?
There are certain factors to consider when determining when one can get LASIK. Here are some key points to keep in mind:
1. Stable prescription:
The first important factor is having a stable eyeglass prescription. It is recommended that individuals considering LASIK have had a consistent prescription for at least one year. This stability ensures that the vision has stabilized, making it easier to accurately assess the correction needed during the surgery.
2. Age requirements:
While there is no specific age limit for LASIK, most eye surgeons prefer to perform the procedure on individuals who are at least 18 years old. This is because the eyes continue to develop and change during adolescence, and it is important to wait until the eyes have fully matured before undergoing LASIK.
3. General eye health:
Good overall eye health is crucial for LASIK candidacy. Candidates should not have any eye infections, injuries, or diseases such as glaucoma or cataracts. Additionally, individuals with certain medical conditions like autoimmune disorders or diabetes may not be suitable candidates for LASIK.
4. Stable general health:
Apart from eye health, it is important for candidates to have stable general health as well. Conditions such as uncontrolled diabetes or autoimmune diseases can affect the healing process after LASIK and may increase the risk of complications.
5. Pregnancy and breast-feeding:
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is recommended to wait until after these stages before considering LASIK. Hormonal changes during pregnancy and breastfeeding can temporarily affect vision, making it difficult to accurately assess the correction needed.
6. Realistic expectations:
Finally, it is important for candidates to have realistic expectations about the outcomes of LASIK. While LASIK can greatly improve vision, it may not eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses entirely in all cases.
How Painful Is Lasik Eye Surgery?
Thankfully, LASIK eye surgery is painless. Your surgeon will put numbing eye drops in both of your eyes just before the surgery.
During the process, you can still feel some pressure, but you shouldn’t experience any discomfort. To keep you quiet and comfortable throughout the surgery, your surgeon may also give you another medicine, such as Valium. It is normal to experience a mild itching or burning sensation in your eyes after surgery, but it should pass rapidly.
What happens during Lasik?
The fundamental objective of LASIK eye surgery is to alter the cornea’s shape so that pictures may be focused more effectively into the retina, improving vision. Two lasers are utilized to create this effect. You can anticipate the following on the day of your LASIK procedure:
- To ensure that your eye health history is accurate and current, your doctor will perform an eye exam.
- Both of your eyes will be numbed with numbing eye drops, and you’ll be given a sedative.
- Your cornea will be thinned down and given a circular “flap” by your surgeon using a femtosecond laser. To reach the stroma, or underlying cornea, your surgeon will then fold back the flap.
- Your cornea will be reshaped by having little quantities of tissue removed from it using a laser with cold ultraviolet rays. This makes it possible for your retina to receive light more precisely for better eyesight.
- The laser will be used to flatten your cornea if you have near-sightedness. If you have farsightedness, the laser will make your cornea more slanted.
- The region where the corneal tissue was removed will subsequently be covered by the flap as it is repositioned.
After that, the cornea will be allowed time for spontaneous healing.
What Does Lasik Recovery Involve?
You will have a quick post-op eye exam following your LASIK procedure. You can go home if your surgeon declares that the procedure was successful, but you must be driven by a relative or friend.
Driving is not permitted until after your follow-up appointment with your eye doctor, which often takes place the day after your operation. At that point, he or she will attest that your eyesight meets the requirements for safe driving.
You’ll visit your doctor once more a week or so following your procedure to check sure your eyes are recovering correctly. Your doctor will decide at that appointment if any follow-up visits are required. Even though you can return to work the day following your surgery, it is advised that you take a few days off to recover.
As vigorous activity might slow the healing process, you should avoid it for a week following your operation. For a week, you should also refrain from using eye makeup. To reduce the chance of infection if you start wearing makeup again, use fresh items.
When Will Lasik Eye Surgery Results Be Visible?
You should be able to see objects in the distance that you previously couldn’t see as soon as possible following your LASIK eye surgery. While it’s likely that your vision may start out blurry and foggy, it should settle and start to clear up within the first few days of surgery. After your operation, it is usual for your eyes to feel gritty, hurt a little, and/or be sensitive to light
