Does LASIK eye surgery hurt?
LASIK eye surgery is relatively painless because numbing drops are used to anesthetize the eye before and during the procedure. Patients generally experience some pressure from the eyelid holder used to prevent blinking, but otherwise, they are made comfortable with the numbing and lubricating drops. After the procedure, some patients will have mild discomfort that on average lasts about 5 hours.
Are you awake during LASIK?
Yes, and that makes some people cringe a bit. We get it. It is necessary because the surgeon needs you to focus your vision during the procedure. However, a lot goes into keeping you calm and comfortable. Numbing eye drops are given throughout the LASIK procedure and valium or other sedative medication is available. Also, it should be mentioned, that there is nothing you could do being awake during the procedure that would be harmful to you. The laser’s sophisticated tracking capabilities (the same technology used to dock the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station) follow your eyes’ every move. So, if you sneeze or abruptly move your body too much, the laser automatically turns off.
Is LASIK eye surgery safe?
Is LASIK safe? This is one of the number one questions people ask about LASIK eye surgery. And, it’s a good one.
LASIK is among the most studied elective procedures. More than 7,000 clinical studies have been conducted and published about LASIK. As a result, there is a tremendous amount of data supporting its safety and effectiveness.
LASIK eye surgery has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any elective procedure: more than 96 percent.
Many LASIK patients have better vision than they did with their best glasses prior to surgery.
In more than 40 million procedures performed worldwide, there has never been a case of blindness because of LASIK in anyone who is a healthy, good candidate.
What are the side effects?
It is normal to experience some symptoms during the healing period after LASIK. LASIK complications and side effects mostly include visual symptoms like glare, halos, ghosting, and dry eye. After all, it is a surgical procedure even if it only took 15 minutes. This recovery period from LASIK is to be expected and your eyes may feel a little dry, light-sensitive, or irritated while they heal. Be sure to talk with your doctor about your symptoms during your post-LASIK visits.
Some patients experience side effects from LASIK including dry eye. Other LASIK side effects include night vision visual symptoms such as glare, halos, ghosting, and starbursts. Typically, glare, halos, ghosting, and starbursts gradually resolve by themselves over a period of a few weeks or months, perhaps as long as a year. Some people require additional courses of eye drops to help reduce inflammation and/or dry eye that can contribute to visual symptoms. In rare cases, less than 5 percent of the time, additional LASIK treatment may be recommended to address residual vision problems or you can wear much thinner glasses or contact lenses.
Can anyone have LASIK eye surgery?
No. In fact, most surgeons report that upwards of 20% of their LASIK consultations are not good candidates for LASIK. Thin or irregular corneas, as well as certain eye diseases like glaucoma, are likely to disqualify patients for LASIK. Certain autoimmune diseases like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, and medications, like corticosteroids, that can impair the healing process, sometimes make laser vision correction procedures a less-than-ideal choice.
Can I go anywhere and have LASIK?
A refractive surgeon (a board-certified ophthalmologist who has completed additional surgical training) performs LASIK, as well as other vision correction procedures.
Is it for me?
Only you can decide if LASIK eye surgery is right for you. Once you have determined if you are a good candidate, found a LASIK surgeon you trust, and feel comfortable with, you have to make the decision if it’s right for you and your lifestyle. For those patients who want to be less dependent on glasses or contacts, LASIK technologies and outcomes are better than they’ve ever been and there is a huge body of clinical research and literature that backs it up.
This information is provided by the Refractive Surgery Council.
Dr. Neil B. Griffin is a leading ophthalmologist and specializes in cataract and LASIK surgery in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. He is committed to providing world class surgical technology and offers the most advanced visual diagnostics to the North and South Carolina area.
Dr. Griffin, has been named a top cataract surgeon by Precision Eye Services. The National Consumer Advisory Board named Dr. Griffin one of America’s Best Physicians 2021 and 2022. He has also received over 16 multiple local distinctions, including Best Laser Eye Surgeon and Best Ophthalmologist from 2018-2022 in the Carolina Forest, Conway, Myrtle Beach, and Little River Readers’ Choice Awards.
Griffin Eye Center offers the latest in cataract surgery with the most advanced Intra-Ocular Lenses available and the new RX Sight Light Adjustable Lens for cataract surgery. The center offers a state-of-the-art on-site LASIK suite for the best Laser Vision Correction possible and offers more options for individualized Laser Vision Correction.
Dr. Griffin is an active member of American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), American Refractive Surgery Council (ARSC), American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS), and the International Society of Refractive Surgery (ISRS).
To learn more or to schedule a LASIK https://griffineyecenter.com/lasik-surgery-in-myrtle-beach/ consultation visit: https://griffineyecenter.com/lasik-surgery-in-myrtle-beach/