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Lazer eye surgery is a very common surgery which is done to improve vision and reduce or completely eliminate the use of spectacles and contact lenses.

LASIK eye surgery, otherwise known as Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a surgery, which changes the shape of the cornea to be able to correct vision problems. Lasic eye surgery has been changing over the course of the past ten years, and some potential patients are quite confused as to exactly what LASIK is. In order to clear up LASIK concerns and questions, some important facts need to be understood about what happens before, during, and after a lazer eye surgery.

Before one can undergo a lazer eye surgery, one must have the eyes evaluated. It is advised that wearing contact lenses should be stopped and a switch must be made to glasses before the first evaluation. Contact lenses tend to change the shape of the cornea and may interfere with an accurate evaluation. If wearing contact lenses is essential then there is still a need to stop wearing them for at least 2 weeks before the evaluation. individuals wearing toric or gas permeable lenses should stop wearing them for at least 3 weeks, and those who wear hard lenses need to stop wearing them for at least a period of 4 weeks before the first evaluation.

During an evaluation, the doctor determines whether or not one is a good candidate for LASIK surgery. One needs to be honest about ones medical history and any medications one is currently taking in addition to medications that one is allergic to. The first evaluation should also be the time when there is a frank discussion about         the risks of the LASIK surgery and what one should expect from it. It is important to take some time to review and absorb everything that is discussed with the doctor before committing to a decision. LASIK is an elective surgical procedure, and because of this fact the decision to undergo this type of procedure should never be made on an impulse.

It is important to understand the various responsibilities and what to expect. The day before the surgery is to take place the use of all creams, lotions, makeup and perfumes has to stop. The candidate should be able to arrange transport to and from the surgery location for the surgery and for all the prearranged post-op visits. The LASIK surgery itself is usually less than 30 minutes.

The patient is asked to lie in a reclining chair, and then numbing drops are placed in the eyes. After that the area around the eyes is cleaned, and a lid speculum instrument holds the eyelids open. Once the eyelids are held open, the first cut into the cornea is made. During this procedure there is a sensation of pressure and discomfort, but it is mild. Vision also dims and start to blur. Then the laser reshapes it.

After surgery, a shield is placed over the eyes to protect them and let them heal. Vision immediately following LASIK is often hazy and blurry but vision usually stabilizes in 3 – 6 months following the surgery.