 LASIK (Laser Assisted In situ Keratomileusis)
LASIK is the safest and most effective technique for correction of myopia under 10 diopters and hyperopia and astigmatism under 6 diopters. It is the most commonly used procedure for the correction of these refractive errors because 90% of patients fall into these groups. LASIK modifies the cornea's refractive power allowing rays of light to adequately focus on the retina without eyeglasses or contact lenses. The cornea is the main optical component of the eye. It has three main layers: epithelium, stroma and endothelium. This procedure modifies the stroma's curvature in order to reshape the cornea. An Argon-Fluoride Excimer laser is used to correct refractive errors with this technique. This laser can sculpt the cornea and change its shape. The advantage of LASIK over other laser procedures is that it sculpts the deep layers of the cornea. Press the green button several times to watch the procedure. Who will benefit from LASIK? Most people suffering from myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism will benefit from this procedure. Best results are obtained in persons who are not comfortable with eyeglasses or contact lenses and are motivated to change not to depend on these visual aids. Myopes over 40 years old must carefully discuss the procedure with their ophthalmologist since they may not be completely satisfied with their near vision due to presbyopia. Is the procedure safe? In the hands of a good surgeon LASIK is extremely safe if the following criteria are met:
Just as any other surgical procedure, LASIK has risks. One out of a hundred persons operated on with this technique has some sort of complication. In almost every case there is a solution to the problem. Severe complications are extremely rare. How should I prepare for surgery? No special preparation is needed. Your ophthalmologist should make sure there are no associated pathologies, which can interfere with the prognosis, by making an extensive examination of your eyes including pupil dilation. A topography and pachimetry are mandatory since theses exams show the surgeon the exact shape, curvature and thickness of the cornea. With this data he can plan the procedure and discard pathologies not detected in the initial evaluation. What should I do during surgery? During surgery you will be lying on an operating bed specially designed for the excimer laser. The operating microscope is an integral component of the system and will be in front of you at all times. This microscope will continuously generate a bright light. Your face will be covered with sterile drapes and oxygen will be provided under them. You should never touch these drapes. A small device will hold your eyelids open. As the initial cut is performed with the microkeratome you will feel some pressure in your eye. This is due to the suction ring needed to hold the device in place. As the microkeratome creates the flap it must pass directly in front of your eye. For this reason you will not see the light during this step of the procedure. At this point your ophthalmologist will ask you to look at a blinking light inside the laser. At this point you can really help with your treatment: better results are obtained if you hold your head and eye completely still during the laser ablation. Finally the surgeon will put back into place the superficial layers of the cornea and will tell you the procedure is completed. You will occasionally feel cold water over your eye that may even go down your cheek. This is the solution needed to keep your eye properly hydrated. Is LASIK painful? How long does it take? Surgery is performed under topical anesthesia (anesthetic eyedrops). No injections or general anesthesia are required. The patient is awake during the procedure feeling no pain at all. It takes about 5 minutes per eye. Once finished, you will go home without need for hospitalization. What should I do after LASIK? It is important not to squeeze your eye the first 5 days after surgery. Normally there will be some foreign body sensation, similar to having an eyelash in your eye. No bandages are required so the patient walks out of the operating room by his own means even though vision will be blurry for 2 or 3 days. Eyedrops will be prescribed for 2 to 3 weeks. Two weeks after surgery you will be able to perform any activity without risk. What results can I expect? The final outcome depends primarily on visual acuity with eyeglasses or contact lenses prior to surgery. As a general rule, vision without glasses after LASIK will be pretty much like vision with glasses or contact lenses before it. Over 90% of people achieve a vision better than 20/40. This vision is usually obtained one week after surgery. Can a second procedure be necessary? LASIK is a very precise procedure, being the laser computer guided. Anyhow, the cornea is a living tissue and heals differently in different persons. Occasionally there is an overcorrection or undercorrection of the refractive error. If this is the case, a second procedure is indicated in which the cornea is sculpted once again to correct the residual refractive error. This second procedure has no greater risk than the first one. Clínica Reinoso - Colombia WARNING! The information and/or responses in this eye care education service are not intended to replace consultation with an ophthalmologist. This service contains general eye care information only. Only a doctor can diagnose and treat a medical condition. In NO CASE will Clínica Reinoso or any doctor or sponsor be held liable for any decisions you may make upon reliance of such information. Updated: June 5, 2000 |