How Does LASIK Eye Surgery Work?

For many years now, LASIK eye surgery has been available as an option for many people instead of glasses or contact lenses. There are certain limitations to LASIK eye surgery and not everyone is a good candidate.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK stands for laser assisted in situ keratomileusis and is a surgery used to change the focusing power of the eye.

This surgery is an elective procedure and not usually covered by insurance.

LASIK can be used for both nearsightedness and farsightedness as well as astigmatism correction.

How Does LASIK Change the Power of my Eye?

Your eye may be too strong (nearsightedness) or too weak (farsightedness) in its natural focusing system.

Typically, this is corrected using glasses or contact lenses prescribed to accommodate for the difference in strength of the eye.

However, LASIK is also an option for permanently changing the power of the eyes.

In LASIK, a specialized laser is used to flatten and thin the cornea on the front of the eyes.

By changing the cornea, LASIK is then able to change how light is focused into the eyes.

The more change in power that is needed (a higher prescription in glasses) requires more of the cornea to be removed from the center to create the needed change in power.

What are Risks of LASIK Eye Surgery?

Like any surgery or medical procedure, there are certain risks that accompany LASIK eye surgery.

The most common adverse effect of LASIK eye surgery is dry eyes following the surgery, followed by increased glare or halos around lights.

There is not a guarantee that LASIK eye surgery will completely eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses, especially as you age and may need reading glasses.

More severe complications include corneal ectasias or infections which may lead to vision that is worse than before the procedure if not treated appropriately. However, these severe complications are exceedingly rare and can be well avoided if candidates are screened appropriately.

Who is a Good Candidate for LASIK?

To determine if LASIK is a good option for you, an eye doctor will perform a series of tests to collect specific data about your eyes.

The thickness of the cornea is one of the most important factors as it must be sufficiently thick to allow both the laser removal of some tissue and a healthy amount to remain intact.

Additionally, corneal topography will be performed to screen for underlying corneal conditions like keratoconus that can be exacerbated by LASIK or other eye surgeries.

While not a true contraindication for LASIK, if you already have dry eyes and suffer from eye irritation, it is likely that LASIK will worsen this condition and may be avoided due to the risk of increased dry eye symptoms.

How You Can Find out More About LASIK 

To find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK, it is best to schedule a comprehensive eye examination with your eye doctor and discuss the possibility of LASIK surgery.

If you are a good candidate, your eye doctor can facilitate any needed referrals and help get you into see a surgeon.

Dr. Nathan Abraham and the staff of the Abraham Eye Center specializes in cataract surgery, LASIK, PRK, and various corneal surgeries.  Call our ophthalmologist in Valencia, CA today at 661-977-7377 or schedule an appointment online if you are interested in being evaluated for LASIK surgery or would like to learn more about it.  Our eye doctor provides only the highest quality eye care and surgical services amongst eye doctors in the Valencia California area.