Is LASIK Surgery Dangerous?

Dr. Jose Barraquer from Colombia in 1970 was the first person to develop the Microkeratome, an instrument that could cut thin flaps in the cornea and alter its shape. He is ultimately the one who made this type of corrective eye surgery possible.

Is Lasik Surgery safe? Yes, it is safe. It is very rare to have complication. This type of surgery is painless. Patients experience very little pain and usually fully recover within 24 hours. Their vision is noticeably improved as soon as the surgical procedure is finished. Patients are awake during the procedure and do go temperately blind while their cornea is being worked on. This sometimes frightens patients but only lasts for a short period of time.

Some terminology:

Laser-assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is a form of refractive laser eye surgery. This type of procedure is performed by an Ophthalmologist and is designed to help correct vision.

Microkeratome - A Microkeratome is a precision surgical instrument with an oscillating blade designed for creating the corneal flap in LASIK or ALK surgery

Eye Surgery - Ophthalmic surgery or ocular surgery, a surgical procedure performed on the eye or its adnexa.

Adnexa - Appendages of an organ.

Refractive - The turning or bending of any wave, such as a light or sound wave, when it passes from one medium into another of different optical density. It is also the ability of the eye to bend light so that an image is focused on the retina, allowing the image to be sent to the brain for processing.

In Situ - In situ is a Latin phrase used in many different contexts and means 'in place'.

Keratomileusis - A procedure for the correction of the refraction of the cornea by removing a deep corneal lamella, freezing it, forming it to a new curvature, and then replacing it.

Ophthalmologist - A physician who specializes in ophthalmology.

Ophthalmology - Branch of medicine that deals with the anatomy, functions, pathology, and treatment of the eye.

OK. By now I guess you understand what LASIK surgery is. It is one of the most popular types of laser eye surgery. This procedure can permanently reshape the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye, and change its focus power using an excimer laser. Millions of patients have been treated using LASIK, using of a wide variety of different lasers. This procedure can be used to correct myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism.

Prior to the surgery:

Before you undergo LASIK surgery you will have to get your eyes examined by a doctor to see if you are a good candidate. If you wear contact lenses, you will have to stop using them for 1 to 4 weeks before the surgery and switch to wearing your glasses, to allow the cornea to return to its original shape, or else this can have negative consequences like inaccurate measurements and a poor surgical plan; resulting in poor vision after surgery. These measurements would decide how much corneal tissue is to be removed, and have to be repeated a week after your first evaluation as well as before surgery, to see that the measurements have not changed.

It is important that you tell your doctor all about your past and present medical eye conditions, and also the medications you are taking or if you are allergic to any medicines. Then on the day of the surgery you will be given a numbing drop so that you do not feel pain, although some patients do experience some discomfort. The area around your eye will be cleaned and a lid speculum will be used, which is an instrument to hold your eyelids open. A suction ring will be placed on your eye and suction will be created by applying very high pressure to the cornea. As a result of this, your vision will dim and the pressure may cause some discomfort.

During the surgery:

A small device called a microkeratome will be attached to the suction ring; the blade of which will be used to cut a thin flap on your cornea. The flap is created, exposing cornea tissue. After this, both the microkeratome and the suction ring will be removed. The doctor will now lift the flap and fold it back on its hinge, exposing a layer of tissue called the stroma - the middle section of the cornea.

You will be made to focus on a particular spot and the doctor will begin the laser to remove the corneal tissue, according to the measurements taken at the initial examination. The flap is then put back into position and left to heal.

After the surgery:

As no stitches are required, you will just have to wear an eye patch as protection to prevent rubbing, getting poked, or any kind of pressure that might disturb the healing process. You can not drive home by yourself, so, you need to arrange someone to take you home. Within 24 hours your vision will come back. It may take up to three to six months for your vision to stabilize after surgery.

So... is LASIK surgery for you? Now you decide :)

By Simon