Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Lasik

Are you considering LASIK surgery? LASIK is a very common procedure that can allow patients that are currently using glasses or contacts to have perfect 20/20 vision in a matter of hours.

At Antelope Valley Eyecare, we perform hundreds of this and other eye surgical procedures every year. Our team of trained surgeons are the best at what they do, so you can trust that you’re in good hands when you schedule your LASIK procedure with our clinic.

Even so, it’s important that you learn a little bit about what to expect from LASIK before scheduling your appointment. First, what is it? LASIK, or laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis is a surgical procedure wherein an eye doctor will use a laser to correct a patient’s vision.

The tool we use for this procedure is called a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. This laser creates a small, circular flat on the cornea of the eye. Your surgeon will fold back the circular flap to expose the cornea and remove any tissue necessary.

The amount of corneal tissue we remove from your eye is very little, however, it is enough to be used to reshape the area. Once we are finished, light is better able to focus on the retina, which results in improved vision in the patient.

Before Your Procedure

One of the great things about LASIK is that it requires very little in the way of anesthesia. We simply use a few topical drops directly on the eye(s) that we are treating. You will be completely awake going into your procedure.

Prior to getting started, your doctor will conduct a thorough eye exam in order to evaluate your eye health and overall condition of your pupil and cornea as well as the shape of your eye.

The entire process takes about 15 minutes and patients are usually able to see completely normal within 24 hours after their procedure.

Other Things to Know

Most patients are candidates for LASIK but there are some patients who will not be eligible. If you have bad damage to your eye for some reason, or if your corneal thickness is not adequate enough for us to perform the procedure, we may not be able to recommend LASIK for you.

However, if you have moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, chances are you will be a good candidate for LASIK.

The procedure is completely pain-free! We will apply numbing drops to your eye(s) at the beginning of the procedure, but you should not feel a thing at all once the surgery is underway.

After the surgery, we will have you rest for a bit our office before releasing you, however, there is virtually no downtime after a LASIK procedure. Most of our patients return to their normal daily activities the very next day.

If you’ve been struggling with the hassle of glasses or contacts for too long, then LASIK may be for you. To learn more about the procedure, contact our office today for a free consultation and learn how you could have perfect vision in as little as an afternoon.