Be Aware! Things to Know Before Going Through LASIK Surgery

By Sarina Scotti

 

The eyes are one of the most important features of the body, which means they need to be well taken care of. But there will come a time that people will be experiencing different eye problems.

 

Especially as the person grows older, eye problems such as astigmatism and cataract can be experienced. For many decades, eye doctors have been providing the best medication for these problems. And luckily, as time goes by, the technology also has advanced. This means that there are already new and effective ways to treat eye problems, LASIK, for example.

LASIK is a surgical procedure that is used to treat eye problems such as astigmatism, farsightedness, nearsightedness, and the likes. It takes only about thirty minutes or less. The ophthalmologist makes use of the laser to change the shape of the cornea in order to improve the ability of the eyes to focus light rays into the retina, which is located at the back of the eye.

But every patient must know the pertinent information involved with the surgery. He should be aware of what to expect before, during, and after the surgery. Especially for the first timers, deciding to undergo the surgery means letting the doctor evaluate the patient's case to determine if he is a perfect candidate. So, what should a patient really expect before the surgery? Here are some of the points that one must know.

1. Contact Lenses. For those wearing contact lenses, it is recommended to stop wearing them before the initial evaluation. One should wear his or her eyeglasses full time. This is because contact lenses are there to change the shape of the cornea. Not taking these lenses off long enough for the cornea to go back to its original shape before the surgery can provide negative consequences such as poor surgical plan, inaccurate measurements, or even poor vision after the surgery. If one is wearing soft contact lenses, he should stop at least two weeks before the initial evaluation. If they are rigid gas permeable lenses, one should stop wearing them for about three weeks before the evaluation and at least four weeks if one is wearing hard lenses.

2. What to tell the doctor. The patient should always lay out his medical history to the doctor. One should tell the doctor about his past and present eye and medical conditions. Aside from that, he should be open about all the medications he is taking and especially those that he is allergic to.

3. One should have an eye exam. Doctors should conduct and eye exam to the patients and discuss the results with them. The doctor should also be able to discuss the risks, benefits and recovery process after the surgery. The patients should also take note of the responsibilities they have after the surgery.

Just like any other surgery, there would be risks involved so it is just right for the patients to be aware of all the things necessary in order to prepare themselves not only for the procedure but also for their life after the surgery.

If you want to know more about LASIK Surgery please contact:

http://www.laserforeyes.com/ilasik.htm

One should tell the doctor about his past and present eye and medical conditions. Aside from that, he should be open about all the medications he is taking and especially those that he is allergic to.

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