A refrective error of the eye: astigmatism. It causes blurred vision.

Laser eye surgery has fast become more popular nowadays, as technology has made them better than ever. If you have vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, getting a permanent cure through eye surgery is always an option.

However, as attractive as the idea of having your perfect vision back might be, it is very important to understand eye surgery before jumping right into the bandwagon.

Visit your optometrist!

First, you have to know what eye surgery involves. No one can explain the procedure better than your optometrist. When you consult with your eye surgeon, they will explain what needs to be done to solve your vision problems. They can also suggest treatment options based on the vision problem, your health condition, age, your preferences, and a few other factors.

This step is most crucial as this is where the success of the surgery might lie. However, if you are at least 18-years old, in good overall health, and you have no pre-existing conditions to worry about, the eye doctor should easily recommend a generally convenient procedure.

Preparing for eye surgery? Wear glasses instead of contact lenses for a few days.

As soon as you have decided on a procedure, the surgeon will usually suggest some pre-operative care, such as wearing spectacles instead of contacts at least a few days before the surgery, and so on. If you have been regularly wearing contacts, you will be advised to keep off them for a while as they impact the shape of the cornea.

It is important to give the cornea some time to resume back to its original shape, before the surgeon can operate. During your consultation, make sure to ask questions about the procedure to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises waiting for you during the operation itself.

Costs are important, but not the most important!

Eye surgery can be a little costly depending on the procedure. However, if you choose the right person to do the job, the operation will surely be worth it in the end. Note that the best thing about laser eye surgery is that it is painless. The cornea will be anesthetized using some corneal drops. Although there might be some uneasiness, irritation and discomfort, it goes away after a while.

Corrective eye surgery only takes a few minutes, and the results can be seen in just a few days after the operation.

After the laser eye surgery

After the operation, expect all your vision problems to at least be minimized, though oftentimes, corrective eye surgery can solve them altogether. Even after your operation, it is important that you regularly see your optometrist to mark the progress and condition of your eyes and vision.

Laser eye surgery is generally safe with excellent success rates. However, it is always best not to take chances. Remember that even if eye surgery is considered minor, it still involves some risks just like any other surgical procedure.

Make sure to choose the right optometrist, to understand the procedure thoroughly, to do your research well, and to strictly follow pre- and post-eye surgery care. If everything goes right, you can toss away those contacts and eyeglasses and enjoy how it is like to have 20/20 vision again.

Besides laser eye surgery, there are a number of other options to correct your eyesight. You can read about them in this post: Your Options for Eye Surgery.

Eye surgery can correct your eyesight.

Five decades ago, eyeglasses remained to be the only way for correcting eye and vision problems. However, today, along with contact lenses, modern approaches are available. These modern approaches involve corrective eye surgery which can range from reshaping the eye surface through laser eye surgery (PRK and LASIK) to surgically inserting artificial lenses to correct eyesight. More specifically, eye surgery usually involves one of the following:

Cataract treatment: This vision correction eye surgery involves the removal of the part of the natural lens which has become cloudy due to cataract and replaced with new lens implants. This procedure can partially restore a patient’s near vision, and can correct farsightedness and nearsightedness. Eye surgeons use multifocal IOLs for promising results.

Contact lens implants: Implanted lenses are similar to contact lenses, but made more permanent. Implanted lenses are considered best for advanced levels of nearsightedness.

Eye charts are used to measure clearness of vision.

PRK refractive surgery: Short for Photorefractive Keratectomy, PRK has been the first ever vision correction procedure, where a tissue is directly removed from the eye’s surface to alter the curvature of the cornea. Although PRK is still commonly used, this has been largely replaced by laser procedures.

LASIK: LASIK is ultimately just like PRK, only more modern. Short for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, this procedure involves creating a thin, hinged flap on the eye’s surface. This flap is then lifted and using a computer-guided laser, a calculated amount of tissue is removed from the interior layers of the cornea. Today, LASIK makes use of WaveFront technology where a detailed map of your eye is created for more precise procedures. Variations in this technology such as LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and All-Laser LASIK also exist.

Squint surgery: Strabismus or squint, commonly known as “lazy eye” cannot be corrected via surgical and non-surgical means. Eye surgery can correct this condition by re-aligning the eye muscles in such a way that satisfactory function and appearance is achieved. Refractive lenses, prisms, vision therapy, BOTOX or eye patching has also been used to alleviate this condition.

Refractive lens replacement surgery: This is a non-laser based eye surgery procedure, which is much like cataract surgery. However, while cataract removes the part of the eye that has grown cloudy, refractive lens replacement involves the removal of a clear natural lens and then replacing it with a lens with a different shape. This is usually done to manage or eliminate high levels of farsightedness.

Which eye surgery is right for you?

With eye surgery you can have (almost) as sharp eyes as a hawk.

If you are suffering from farsightedness, nearsightedness or astigmatism, there are now a wide range of treatment options for you to choose from. However, the kind of eye surgery you need will depend on a few factors. The eye surgery procedure that is good for one may not be good for another. For example, methods such as LASIK are ideal for younger adults, and might be appropriate for the aged. Children under the age of 18 are rarely considered for laser vision correction as their eyes can still change as their body matures. Those who have diabetes, heart conditions, or other chronic diseases may opt for PRK than LASIK. It is always best to consult with your ophthalmologist or eye surgeon before deciding on a course to take.