What Are the Steps of Laser Eye Surgery?
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Background
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Laser eye surgery can be used to correct vision problems that range from near sightedness to astigmatism. The most common laser eye surgery procedures are LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) and PRK (photorefractive keratectomy), which are very similar.
Most vision problems correctable by laser eye surgery stem from a misshapen cornea, which focuses light back onto the retina. When it is misshapen, the light does not hit the retina at the optimal angle. Laser eye surgeries are used to reshape the cornea to alleviate this problem.
Pre-Operative Steps
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The first step in the process is to choose a reputable surgeon. Those who are members the American Board of Surgeons or have an affiliation with an academic medical center are generally good choices. She will perform an examination of the patient's eyes to assess whether the patient is likely to have successful results with the procedure and how much surgery is required.
The patient then gets their eyes mapped by a corneal topographer, which provides an accurate representation of the corneal aberrations that affect vision and identifies any other conditions affecting the health of the eyes so they can be addressed before surgery. -
Operative Steps
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Both PRK and LASIK are considered ambulatory surgery, which means patients are permitted to leave when the procedures are finished. Both are very fast, usually lasting only a few minutes. Mild sedatives are sometimes given prior to the procedure.
To begin the procedure the patient lies down so that anesthetic drops can be applied to the eyes. The eye being operated on is then positioned beneath a laser. With LASIK, the next step is to cut a very thin corneal flap. The laser is programmed with the proper prescription and applies pulses of light to reshape the cornea. The patient will be allowed to rest briefly and then go home.
Post-Operative Steps
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For both LASIK and PRK patients, a mild painkiller may be prescribed, but generally they are told to take a few days off from work, avoid exercise for about week, and then to resume their lives as normal. Additionally, PRK patients are given antibiotic drops to use for the first few days and anti-inflammatory drops to use for several weeks. They may also be given special "bandage contacts" to wear for a time. In both cases, if any problems arise, the surgeon should be contacted immediately.
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