Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses or LASIK operation is one of the most preferred eye surgeries across the globe. It can be used to treat a lot of eye problems, but mostly it helps eradicate these three major eyesight issues:-
- Myopia (unclear vision for things kept at a distance)
- Hyperopia (unclear vision of nearby objects)
- Astigmatism (object starts appearing blurred)
Through LASIK operation, doctors attempt to reshape the cornea so that the lens can direct the light rays on to the cornea. It is a pain-free operation and typically takes 15 minutes for the treatment of both of your eyes. If you want to know more about LASIK operation and are looking forward to having your eyes operated, we recommend you only trust a well-reputed panel of experts. To understand everything about LASIK in detail, click here.
LASIK Eye Surgery Recovery Time
Some patients claim that they needed a few days and even weeks to recognize the effects of the surgery, whereas some claim to have been relieved immediately. However, experts say that your eyes need six months to attain their perfect vision. Different surgeons suggest different techniques for recovery of eyes and cornea. Some might suggest wearing sun-glasses, others might recommend not doing any straining jobs such as driving, and some would merely recommend an eye-drop to bring your eyes back to their optimum health.
During the LASIK surgery, doctors make use of a numbing eye drop. Its primary function is to keep the eye numb at the time of operation. The eye drop would cease to have an effect on the eye just after 20 – 30 minutes of the completion of the whole procedure of the surgery.
And as its effect would wear off, you might feel severe itchiness in your eyes. Moreover, there are chances that after you have your eyes operated, they may feel watery and in very sensitive and rare cases, they may also develop blood shots or red spots on them, but keep in mind to never rub your eyes. These are categorized as the normal post-surgery occurrences that you would experience anyway, so don’t panic or rush to rub or clean them right away.
In LASIK operation, doctors use a highly precise and filtered laser to reshape the tissues of the eye to correct the eye-sight. These issues lie beneath the cornea, and therefore, a part of the cornea needs to be sliced for the operation. After flattening the eye, a doctor slices a flap in the cornea to give the right shape to the corneas’ midsection.
Therefore, during recovery, the eye heals the flap, and thus, it needs to be left undisturbed. However, rubbing your eyes or instantly, cleaning them with water might hinder the process of healing. Moreover, the reshaped cornea alters the spot of convergence of light and instead, converges it on the retina to make a perfect image.
Side effects
As discussed, LASIK operation destroys a part of the cornea, and therefore, this procedure can damage your nerve, which might result in triggering the sensory nerve, causing a little pain. These side effects don’t last long. You would face them only during the first three to six months of your recovery period, and then they would fade away, leaving you with your clear vision. Dryness, glare, halos, and blurred visions are very common side effects that you might experience. Doctors might prescribe eye drops for the same.
There also exists the risk of ocular neuropathic pain in your eyes. During the surgery, doctors cut a flap in the cornea, and therefore, there exists a possibility of causing some damage to the cornea. A report by Ocular Surface Journal stats that after surgery nerves can grow back as nerve balls, causing central ocular neuropathic pain. Thus, we recommend you research your options well, and only choose a trusted name with your eye’s LASIK.