What Happens During LASIK Eye Surgery?

During LASIK eye surgery, an instrument called a microkeratome or femtosecond laser is used to create a thin flap in the cornea. The cornea is then peeled back and the underlying corneal tissue is reshaped using another  laser. After the cornea is reshaped so that it can properly focus light onto the retina, the cornea flap is put back in place and the surgery is complete.
LASIK is performed while the patient is under local anesthesia in the form of eye drops and usually takes about 10 minutes to complete. Plan to have someone drive you home after surgery. 

What Should I Expect After LASIK Eye Surgery?

Your eyes will temporarily be dry even though they do not feel that way. Your doctor will give you prescription eye drops to prevent infection and inflammation and eyedrops to keep your eyes moist. These drops may cause a momentary slight burn or blurring of your vision when you use them. Do not use any eye drops not approved by your eye doctor.

Healing after LASIK eye surgery usually occurs very rapidly. Vision may be blurry and hazy for the first day, but most patients notice improved vision within a few days of surgery.

Specific follow-up after the surgery varies from one surgeon to another. You will revisit the doctor for an evaluation 24 to 48 hours after LASIK eye surgery, as well as at regular intervals within the first six months.

How Should I Prepare for LASIK Eye Surgery?

Before LASIK eye surgery, you will meet with a coordinator or eye surgeon who will discuss what to expect during and after the procedure. During this session, your medical history will be evaluated and your eyes will be fully examined. Likely initial tests include measuring corneal thickness, refraction, corneal mapping, air pressure, and pupil dilation. Once you have gone through the initial evaluation, you will meet the surgeon, who will answer any questions you may have. Afterwards, you can schedule an appointment for the procedure.
If you wear rigid gas permeable contact lenses, you should not wear them for at least two weeks before your evaluation. Other types of contact lenses shouldn't be worn for at least three days prior to the evaluation. Be sure to bring your eyeglasses to the surgeon so your prescription can be reviewed.
On the day of your surgery, eat a light meal before going to the doctor and take all of your prescribed medications. Do not wear eye makeup or have any bulky accessories in your hair that will interfere with positioning your head under the laser. If you are not feeling well that morning, call the doctor's office to determine whether the procedure needs to be postponed.

LASEK

LASEK offers the benefits of laser eye surgery with fewer risks and complications than LASIK, making laser eye surgery a more practical option for more people than ever before.

What is LASEK Eye Surgery?

LASEK eye surgery, or Laser-Assisted in Situ Epithelial Keratomileusis, is a variation of LASIK that involves the creation of a thin epithelial flap with an alcohol solution.This avoids some flap-related complications. After the creation of the flap, the laser eye surgeon ablates the underlying corneal tissue much like LASIK and PRK. The flap is then replaced and smoothed over.

Who is a Good Candidate for LASEK Eye Surgery?

LASEK eye surgery is recommended for patients with thin corneas because it saves about 120 microns more corneal tissue than LASIK.
LASEK Costs
Depends on the power of your speccs and type of lasek traditional or customised.

LASEK vs. LASIK

LASEK has made laser eye surgery available to many people who were not good candidates for LASIK due to thin corneas or large pupils. If you are a candidate for both LASIK and LASEK eye surgery and need to decide which is right for you, below is an outline of the benefits of each surgery.

LASIK Eye Surgery

• Wider range of suitable refractions: +5.00D to -12.00D (LASEK: +4.00D to -8.00D)
• Shorter recovery time: One day (LASEK three to four days)
• Shorter visual recovery time: One day (LASEK one to three days)
• Vision stabilizes sooner with high corrections
• Less discomfort after surgery.

LASEK Eye Surgery

• Fewer complications/ less risk of failure
• No corneal incision
• Cornea is not weakened.
• Easier to perform - no assistant required
• Easier for surgeons to learn - shorter learning curve
• Can be performed more than once

LASIK vs. ICLs

Patients who are not suitable candidates for LASIK but who are still looking for a way to permanently improve their vision should know that there are alternatives to LASIK surgery. One of the most promising of these alternatives is implantable contact lens (ICL) surgery. 

LASIK vs. ICLs

"Placed behind the iris and in front of the natural lens, these implantable contact lenses can be an alternative to laser vision correction."

Similarities

Both LASIK and ICL surgery are designed to improve vision affected by nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. 

Differences

One of the major differences between LASIK surgery and the alternative offered by ICLs is that LASIK is permanent whereas ICL surgery can be reversed. 

ICL – Implantable Contact Lenses

Patients who choose to undergo ICL surgery can enjoy a variety of benefits. One of the biggest benefits of this LASIK alternative is that it allows patients who used to depend on burdensome glasses and contacts to enjoy activities they were not previously able to. ICL surgery also has benefits that LASIK does not offer patients. ICLs are safe and effective alternatives to LASIK surgery for people who are not good candidates for LASIK, including patients with dry eyes, large pupils, and thin corneas. ICL surgery can also correct high refractive errors like severe nearsightedness, something LASIK surgery cannot accomplish. ICL surgery also does not permanently change the shape of your cornea as with LASIK. And unlike LASIK surgery, the results of ICL surgery are reversible; if the patient’s eyesight changes dramatically, the ICLs can be removed or replaced with new ones.