Do you want to enjoy clear vision without glasses or contacts? Are you considering LASIK to achieve visual freedom?
LASIK is one of the most popular elective procedures in the world, but there are a lot of misconceptions about it. It’s essential to learn the facts about LASIK so you can decide whether it could be your key to clearer vision.
Keep reading to learn more about what to expect with LASIK and put the myths to rest.
Myth #1: LASIK is Painful
The idea of undergoing a procedure on your eyes may seem daunting. However, the procedure and recovery are comfortable and painless.
Your LASIK surgeon at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute will numb the surface of your eyes with special eye drops to ensure you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. You may also have the option of light sedation to help with anxiety and keep you relaxed.
You may have mild soreness, or your eyes might feel gritty after the procedure for a few days, but the discomfort is typically minimal and can be managed with over-the-counter pain medications like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
Myth #2: LASIK Has a Long Recovery Time
LASIK only focuses on the outermost portion of the eye, called the cornea. Because of that, the incisions your eye doctor will make are very shallow and don’t need to be closed with sutures.
This allows for a relatively quick healing process. You may need to rest for a day or two after LASIK, but many patients find they can return to normal activities the very next day.
Myth #3: LASIK Only Works for Moderate Vision Correction
LASIK can correct a wide range of refractive errors. The procedure is effective for people with a prescription for nearsightedness up to -12.00 diopters, farsightedness up to +6.00 diopters, and astigmatism up to 6 diopters.
If you have severe nearsightedness with a prescription too high for LASIK, you may be a better candidate for EVO ICL, a different vision correction procedure offered at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute.
Myth #4: The Effects of LASIK Don’t Last
The vision improvements from LASIK are permanent. Your refractive errors will be permanently corrected, meaning you can enjoy clear vision for decades!
It’s worth noting that LASIK can’t prevent future vision changes from certain eye conditions like presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.
Myth #5: LASIK is High-Risk
LASIK has a high satisfaction rate of 96%, with a very low risk of complications. Your eye doctor will complete an extensive consultation with you before scheduling LASIK to ensure the procedure will be safe and effective for you.
If there is any concern that you may not be a good candidate for LASIK, your eye doctor can discuss alternative vision correction procedures with you, such as EVO ICL, PRK, and refractive lens exchange.
What are the Benefits of LASIK?
Not only is LASIK safe and effective, but it also offers many benefits, including:
Freedom from Glasses and Contacts
With sharp, clear vision from LASIK, you can enjoy your favorite activities, including swimming, working out, and traveling, without worrying about caring for glasses or contacts.
Clearer Vision
LASIK can give you better vision correction than glasses or contacts, with no worries about smudged glasses or dry, gritty contacts. This is because it can correct your vision beyond your original prescription, allowing many patients to achieve vision even better than 20/20.
Self-Confidence
LASIK can also boost your confidence. Crisp, clear vision without glasses can make you feel better about your vision and how you look, making you feel more self-assured at work, when meeting new people, and during social activities.
Less Waste
Glasses, contacts, and contact lens packaging are made of plastics that cannot be easily recycled. Getting LASIK reduces the need for glasses and contacts, reducing the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.
Saving Money
While glasses and contacts are a repeated expense, LASIK is a one-time investment that allows you to save money in the long term. With the financing options available at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute, LASIK is more affordable than ever.
What To Expect During LASIK
When you undergo LASIK, you won’t need general anesthesia, just numbing eye drops. Your LASIK surgeon may also offer you mild sedation if you are feeling anxious.
You will not be able to drive yourself home, so you should bring a friend or loved one with you to give you a ride to and from the procedure. Your surgeon will place a device on your face that will hold your eyelid open, along with a suction ring to stabilize your eye.
When your eyes are prepared, your LASIK surgeon will use a femtosecond laser to carefully create a small flap on the surface of your eye. They will open the flap to access your cornea.
Your eye doctor will then use an excimer laser to adjust the shape of your cornea. After the cornea has been reshaped, your eye doctor can close the flap to cover your cornea.
The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes for both eyes.
What is LASIK Recovery Like?
After LASIK, you will need to wear an eye shield for the rest of the day and while you sleep for several additional days. This prevents you from rubbing your eyes in your sleep.
You will need to use prescription eye drops to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. At your follow-up appointment the next day, your eye doctor will tell you when it is safe to resume activities like driving and working.
Many patients experience vision improvements almost immediately after LASIK, but it can take others around a week to notice them. Your vision will continue to improve as your eyes heal, and you will likely reach your peak vision around six months after the procedure.
After LASIK, you can enjoy a whole new world of vivid, clear vision. You can put your glasses and contacts away and start doing all of your favorite activities uninhibited by visual aids.
Are you ready to find out if LASIK is right for you? Schedule an appointment at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute in Orlando, FL, today! Why wait to start enjoying crystal-clear vision?
