We commonly encounter a lot of questions asked by interested parties about LASIK and the LASIK surgery procedure. So we try to make it easy for you to do some research about LASIK surgery and have compiled a FAQ list about LASIK for you. What are my reasons for considering LASIK?There are many types of vision correction surgery, and LASIK is one of them. Your surgeon will need to understand why you wish to have corrective surgery. Is it for Career reasons Lifestyle reasons (sports, leisure activities, etc) Cosmetic reasons Reduce dependence on glasses and/or contact lenses Based on the reasons given, your surgeon will be in better position to recommend you the appropriate type of vision correction surgery. What are the things I should note before LASIK surgery?You will be advised on the following before you come in for your pre-LASK assessment for suitability and before the actual day of the LASIK surgery. Do not wear soft contact lenses 7 days before your first pre-LASIK assessment and before surgery. Do not wear hard contact lenses (RGPs) 14 days before your first pre-LASIK assessment and before surgery. Do not apply any eye makeup 2 days before surgery. Do not apply any perfume on the day of surgery. Do not apply any products on your eyes or face on the day of surgery. Bring your sunglasses on the day of LASIK surgery as you may experience glare after LASIK surgery. You do not need to fast before the LASIK surgery, there is no food restriction. Do not drive on the day of LASIK surgery. Expect to stay for about 2 hours, even though the LASIK procedure will only take about 30 minutes. What to note after LASIK Surgery?You should rest at home after surgery, observe good hygiene and adhere to the following. For one week: NO exercise which gets sweat in your eyes (you can use a sweat band and exercise in a clean indoor gym environment) NO water & soap in contact with your eyes NO makeup and eye products DO NOT rub or scratch your eyes Wear sunglasses outdoor Eyeshields to be worn sleeping/nap time Eye drops to be instilled regulary as instructed It is advisable to avoid swimming and use UV Eye Protection for 1 month. Should I be worried about LASIK Surgery complications?With advancing technology, sophisticated surgical skill and optimal patient selection today, the safety and effectiveness of vision correction surgery continue to improve. Laser eye surgery has successfully treated millions of patients and has high patient satisfaction rates. However, as with any surgery, it has potential complications. It is important for you to weigh the benefits and risks before choosing to go ahead with surgery. Side effects and/or complications of LASIK?LASIK Surgery has a very good safety profile and a very high success rate. However, like any other surgery, there are potential side effects that one should be aware of and must be able to accept a small amount of risk. Proper testing before the procedure can identify patients who are at a higher risk of long-term complications. There maybe some visual aberrations such as – glare, double vision, ghosting, halos, starbursts, and problems with low-light or night vision, and experience dryness of the eyes. These are the more common side effects of LASIK. Most patients experience some of these symptoms immediately after the surgery but they improve as they recover, so most require no treatment. Dry eyes This is fairly common and almost all LASIK patients experience some degree of dry and gritty feeling during the recovering period following LASIK. This can be eased with the frequent use of lubricating eye drops. Night Vision Problems During the first few weeks or months, one might experience halos, glare and starbursts at night. This condition usually improves with time. Under-correction, over-correction, or astigmatism In some cases, corrective eyewear or contact lenses may still be required for the few activities which are more visually demanding. This can be due to the way an individual’s eye responds to the laser, or can be caused by variance in the way each eye heals after surgery. An enhancement procedure may be done in such cases.
