You’ve been suffering from visual impairment for many years now that it’s starting to affect how you go about your daily life. It’s becoming harder to drive at night, and you barely see the people around you that you’re now considering getting LASIK in San Francisco. But before you go through the procedure, here are some things that you should know about LASIK surgery first:
- LASIK basically means laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, which is a type of refractive surgery that helps to correct visual problems like astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness. In this procedure, the surgeon uses a laser tool to cut a flap in your corner, reshape the tissue underneath and replace the defective flap. By reshaping, your cornea’s ability to bend light also improves, which leads to better vision. So if you’ve been using glasses or contact lenses for a long time, the procedure will not require you to wear them anymore.
- You can’t just walk into a clinic and say that you want to undergo LASIK surgery because you need to qualify for it. When you visit a doctor for a consultation, you’ll undergo eye evaluation where you’ll have a complete eye exam, get interviewed for your medical and surgical history and undergo some tests to see if you’re a good candidate for the procedure or not. You also need to be at least 18 years old to qualify for LASIK surgery, and you shouldn’t be pregnant or breastfeeding.
- If you’re wearing contact lenses, you will be asked to stop wearing them for at least a few weeks before your procedure so that your cornea can get back to its natural shape. Wearing contact lenses for extended periods can actually affect the shape of your cornea, making it hard for the surgeon to reshape it and correct your visual impairment.
- The LASIK surgery is an outpatient procedure that lasts only about 15 minutes per eye. It usually starts with eye drops that will help numb your eyes so that it’s easier to give you anesthesia. In some instances, your doctor could give you a mild sedative. You will also be asked to lie down and stay still, focusing your vision on a light that will make it easier for the doctor to reshape your cornea.
- You will feel a little discomfort and pain right after the procedure, but that usually only lasts for a few hours. You’ll need to wear a protective eyewear after and will be asked to rest. But you can get back to your daily activities after 48 hours, given that you don’t get any complications from the surgery. Your doctor will prescribe you medicated eyedrops and even artificial tears that will help your eye heal and recover faster.
Finally, it’s very important to get LASIK only from a reputable clinic. If you’re living in San Francisco, we can take care of you. Get in touch with us for a consultation. Here, one of our doctors can evaluate you and ensure that you get the best experience possible.
