More Americans are putting away their glasses, thanks to LASIK. So what is it, and why should you consider it if you have an eyesight problem?
LASIK is a special corrective eye surgery to solve astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. This relatively new type of laser eye surgery is increasingly becoming more popular among Americans and for a good reason. Thanks to this technologically advanced approach to eye surgery, people can now get rid of prescription glasses and contacts.
Everything you need to know about LASIK eye surgery
It is only natural to wonder if LASIK eye surgery is as good as claimed or whether there are drawbacks and potential concerns. Here are some of the things that you need to know about it.
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How it works
It is one of the most precise types of surgery that uses a laser to reshape the cornea. The reason why it is highly precise is that the laser used for the surgery is guided by a computer, thus eliminating any room for error. The laser removes any pieces of tissue that cause poor eyesight. This means that one’s eyesight can be corrected so that it will be perfect, which means that the person will no longer need to use contacts or prescription glasses.
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Affordable prices are making the surgery more appealing
LASIK eye surgery is currently cheaper than ever, and it will likely continue to get cheaper. The cost may depend on your location, but the average cost of this type of eye surgery in 2017 was just over $4,000 for both eyes. Unfortunately, it is still considered cosmetic surgery, and as such, it is not covered under most of the insurance plans currently available. The cost of LASIK surgery will likely continue to go down, making it accessible to more people.
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Minimal chances of side effects
Most surgeries are characterized by some degree of risk and a potential for side effects. With LASIK surgery, the risk is greatly reduced thanks to a high level of precision through computers. LASIK surgery barely has any side effects, so you need not worry about that. The only side effects that occur are mild and should be gone within a few days as the cornea heals after the surgery. Some of the mild side effects that you may experience include sensitivity to light, dry eyes, glare, starbursts, and halos.
Although the side effects may be uncomfortable at first, they are a small price to pay for better eyesight. After all, you will no longer need to wear contacts or prescription glasses once you have gone through LASIK surgery.
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Fast surgery and recovery time
The biggest benefit of LASIK surgery is that it allows the patient’s eyesight to be corrected so that they can see clearly without needing any aid. The other major benefit is that it takes a very short amount of time for the patient to go through surgery and recovery.
LASIK surgery takes about 5 minutes for each eye, which means that the whole process for both eyes happens in a short amount of time. If you factor in the time it takes to prepare the patient and also the time it takes to switch from one eye to the other; then the entire procedure should be complete within 30 minutes or so.
The surgery is conducted when the patient is awake, and if you do not need anesthesia. If this seems worrying, then the doctor will provide some medication to get you more relaxed and ready for the surgery. The healing process should take just a few days.
