Battening Down for LASIK Surgery

So you’ve decided to take the plunge and undergo LASIK surgery. It is a good choice if you’re looking to get your sight back to 20/20 or even 20/15 after years of eyeglasses and contact lenses. You may know of some people who have successfully had their eyes treated and has reaped many benefits from LASIK. Since you’re next in the operating room after having passed through the requisite tests, how do you even prepare?

Do not use any facial healthcare products such as moisturizers in the days before your appointment, about three days should do. You may have to arrange a few days off from work to allow yourself ample recovery time. Arrange for a loved one to be with you to and from the practice, because the doctor will not allow you to drive or travel alone.

Prepare for the procedure by eating a light meal and taking your normal medication. Be prepared to sign the consent forms before the operation and your loved one should be the witness. Most importantly, stay calm and if you have to, ask for anti-anxiety medication. A LASIK operation will usually take no more than 30 minutes but it can be one of the most exhilarating times of your life yet.

Correcting Astigmatism

Astigmatism may be one of the most common vision problems yet it is often misunderstood. It is defined as inability of the eyes to properly focus on light sources, because the light is directed at other sections of the retina. You know you have astigmatism when you are forced to squint to see an object more clearly. There are ways to correct them that an eye doctor can help you with.

Corrective treatments are the first option, and eyeglasses are a popular choice among the patients. The practitioner will first test your eyes through various methods and determine the right grade for the lenses. The patient will then have to choose the material for the frame. In some cases, however, the patient may opt for glasses and a pair of contact lenses. The eye doctor will then determine whether soft or extended-wear lenses are appropriate, depending on your level of activity, as well as explain the maintenance options for the lenses.

A more or less permanent solution to eliminating astigmatism is to undergo refractive surgery. LASIK, where the cornea’s flap is cut open and a laser beam shapes the cornea underneath, is a highly popular option because of its relatively fast healing time and the excimer laser used in the procedure does not generate heat. PRK is also the same as LASIK, but has longer recuperation time.