LASIK is a minimally-invasive, outpatient procedure that restores 20/20 vision to the great a majority of patients who are nearsighted or farsighted. LASIK can also be used for astigmatism, though the cause of astigmatism is a little different from what causes near and farsightedness. Here is what you should know about LASIK and how it is performed at Wichita Vision Institute.
What Is LASIK?
LASIK is an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It uses precisely targeted lasers to reshape the patient’s eyeball. This allows the image to focus sharply, in the center of the structure at the back of the eye called the retina.
The patient’s eye is numbed before the surgery with eye drops, and if they are very nervous, Dr. Patel can give them relaxation medication to help them relax. Then, Dr. Patel uses either a special type of laser or a microkeratome to incise a tiny flap in the patient’s cornea. This is the clear part of the eye. A microkeratome is an instrument that is used specifically to cut the cornea.
Dr. Patel then opens the flap and uses another type of laser to take away some of the tissue of the cornea. This is an excimer laser. It uses a beam of ultraviolet radiation to help reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism.
The patient can rest for a few minutes right after the surgery. Then, Dr. Patel will examine them briefly, and the patient is discharged. They need to have someone drive them home, for they won’t be able to drive until they are cleared by Dr. Patel. The eye that was operated on will be blurry for a few hours, but by the next day the patient will see improvement. They should take it easy for a week or so.
Who Is a Candidate for LASIK?
A candidate for LASIK is in good overall health and does not have any pre-existing conditions that would rule out their having the procedure. Dr. Patel will examine the eyes to make sure that the patient doesn’t have such conditions as glaucoma, which can be asymptomatic, dry eye or cataracts. The cornea should not be extremely irregular as it would be in a condition called keratoconus, and it shouldn’t be abnormally thin. The patient’s eyeglass or contact lens prescription should not have been changed within the past year. Frequently changing the prescription can be a sign of an eye disease such as cataracts.
Visit Us if You’re Interested in LASIK in Wichita
If you live in the Wichita area and are tired of constantly misplacing your glasses or having to take care of contact lenses all the time or having to squint to see things clearly, consider visiting Wichita Vision Institute. Contact us today to schedule your consultation!