LASIK Eye Surgery

Introduction

LASIK is a laser refractive procedure that corrects the focusing power of the eye to reduce your dependence on glasses and contact lenses. If you have short-sightedness, long-sightedness or astigmatism, your vision is blurry without glasses or contact lenses because light does not come to a clear focus at the back of the eye. Glasses or contact lenses help by adjusting how light is bent as it enters the eye.

LASIK eye surgery permanently corrects for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism by changing the curvature of the front surface of the eye so that light enters and focuses clearly at the back of the eye. In doing so, it removes the need for glasses and contact lenses to achieve clear vision.

LASIK is the most popular laser vision correction procedure performed today because it causes minimal discomfort and very little downtime, allowing you to return to your usual activities almost immediately.

Am I eligible for LASIK eye surgery?

To be a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery you should be at least 20 years of age, have had a stable prescription for the last 12 months and have healthy eyes. As a general rule, you will be eligible if your prescription is in the range of -10.0 to + 4.0 diopters provided corneal thickness is adequate.

At your laser eye surgery consultation, a detailed assessment will be performed to ascertain your prescription as well as your corneal thickness, shape and general eye health. If you are found to be ineligible for LASIK, you may be recommended a more suitable procedure such as PRK, ICL, refractive lens exchange or cataract surgery.

How is LASIK eye surgery performed?

LASIK surgery is a two-step procedure. In the first step, a femtosecond laser creates a thin flap of corneal tissue on the surface of the eye. The flap is then lifted and reflected to expose the deeper corneal tissue.

In the second step, a computer guided excimer laser removes corneal tissue from the exposed surface in a precise manner, reshaping your cornea to correct for your prescription. Finally, the flap is repositioned and allowed to adhere naturally.

You will be awake during the procedure as we need you to fixate on a light to keep your eyes steady. Your eyes will be numbed with drops for the surgery, so you won’t feel anything, and if needed, a light sedative tablet may be given to help you relax.