If you are stuck deciding whether LASIK in Los Angeles is the right eye surgery for or if you have already had a consultation, you might be curious about what to expect during and after the procedure. Below is a short explanation of how corrective eye surgery works and what patients can expect during their experience.
How LASIK works:
Vision problems are often caused by an error in how your eyes are reflecting light. When you go to use your eyes to see, light rays pass through a few different areas of the eye. These areas include the cornea, which is a transparent, dome-like structure covering the front of the eye, and then the crystalline lens that receive light rays refracted by your cornea, which then brings the light into an image on the retina in the back of the eye and allows you to see an image. However, when there are problems in the eye processes, the light is bent incorrectly, and it leads to blurred or compromised vision preventing you from seeing a clear image.
Most people turn to glasses and contact lenses to provide temporary improvement in their vision; however, LASIK is designed to allow patients long-term clear vision by reshaping the cornea to correctly refract light entering the eye.
During the LASIK eye procedure, a surgeon will use a tool (with laser technology) to create a flap in the cornea, which will be pulled back to expose the underlying tissue of the cornea. After the flap is created, the surgeon will reshape the cornea to correct the vision of the patient.
What to expect before, during, and after the procedure:
LASIK is so popular because it offers one of the quickest and easiest recovery periods when compared to other procedures. Most people are back to their normal daily lives after only 24 hours.
But it’s important to remember that LASIK is still a medical procedure. In order to ensure the safety of the patient, the details below are what routines the surgeons will follow throughout the entire LASIK process.
Before the procedure:
For everyone interested in undergoing LASIK, you will need to attend a consultation before you decide if you want to or can proceed. During this consultation, a professional will review your vision. From there, they will explain the procedure and answer any questions you have. Following the initial consultation, you will be taken to a pre-operative room, where you will take a series of painless tests to determine if you are eligible for the procedure. During the pandemic, your consultation could also be done virtually, where you will take a series of scans with a professional over the phone or on a video call. This consultation is imperative to confirm if you can receive the procedure and achieve the best results possible.
During the procedure:
On the day of the procedure, a surgical counselor will meet with you to answer any final questions. They will also explain what to expect during the procedure and how to go back to daily life following the operation’s completion. That day you can expect to be in the pre-procedure clinic for about 3 hours, but the surgery itself only takes about 15 minutes. When you get into the operating room, you will be given numbing eye drops, and the surgeon will then use a tool to keep your eye open. Patients may experience some pressure when the surgeon places a suction ring over the eye prior to cutting the corneal flap.
Once the flap is created, the surgeon will fold it back and access the area of the cornea that needs to be reshaped. This is where the laser will come into play. The surgeon will use a laser to remove small portions of the corneal tissue to reshape it, and then the flap will be placed back in its original spot and will then heal on its own.
After the procedure:
Following the procedure, some patients may experience some irritation, your eyes may feel itchy, watery, or may even have a burning sensation. Most patients will be placed in a waiting room to allow the cornea and flap to start healing properly. You then will likely receive a pair of special sunglasses that will keep your eyes protected. Patients will also receive a variety of instructions to allow for a smooth recovery. You will not be allowed to drive immediately after the procedure, so you will need to plan a ride ahead of time.
Patients will be asked to attend some post-operation appointments to ensure that a smooth and appropriate recovery occurs. The first appointment will be within 24 hours of operation.
Final Thoughts:
LASIK at Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles is one of the safest and most convenient procedures to undergo to achieve the best vision. The surgery provides long-term solutions to vision problems and therefore transforms the quality of life for its patients.
