LASIK Eye Surgery or Laser Vision Correction
While countless people who suffer from refractive disorders such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism have traditionally corrected their vision with glasses or contact lenses, you may have decided that these forms of vision correction simply aren’t for you. Maybe you’re tired of constantly maintaining and replacing glasses and contacts, or maybe you’d just prefer the most unencumbered experience possible.
Whatever your reason for exploring better vision, Texas Eye Surgeons invites you to explore laser vision correction, including LASIK eye surgery for lens-free visual clarity.
What Is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK is short for “laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.” True to its name, it uses the advanced technology and unbeatable precision of state-of-the-art surgical laser tools (instead of traditional manual devices) to reshape your corneal tissue. To understand how this procedure corrects your vision, it’s first important to understand how vision normally works.
The cornea is like a “window” into the eye, receiving light so it can be refracted into clear images on the retina. But an abnormally-shaped eyeball or cornea can make normal refraction impossible, resulting in the blurred vision of myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. (Another refractive error, presbyopia, results from age-related stiffening of the lens.)
Traditionally, compensating for these refractive errors has involved placing corrective lenses in front of (or directly onto) the corneas. But modern medical technology has made it possible for us to simply change the refractive behavior of the cornea itself by subtly re-sculpting it.
LASIK Vision Correction by Our Ophthalmologist
In traditional LASIK eye surgery, a femtosecond laser makes an extremely fine opening along the perimeter of the cornea, allowing the ophthalmologist to gently position the outermost corneal tissue. Dr. Ali, then uses an excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue in exactly the right patterns to correct your refractive error. The flap is then replaced over the cornea where it heals on its own, without stitches.
What to Expect From LASIK Eye Surgery
The first step toward a successful LASIK procedure is a detailed evaluation from our team in Plano to determine whether you’re a good candidate for LASIK. If you’re under 18 or your prescription is currently changing, for instance, you may not be eligible. If you have an unusually thin cornea, we may direct you toward an alternative procedure, such as PRK. During your evaluation, we will use a pachymeter and other devices to measure your corneal tissue depth and curvature in great detail.
You may be surprised at how quick and easy LASIK surgery is. Numbing eye drops are administered to ensure that you feel no pain during the procedure. Any blurred vision or minor irritation should clear up within a day, leaving you with remarkably clear vision. (Be aware, however, that you still might need reading glasses if you suffer from presbyopia.)
