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Lasik Eye Surgery: All You Need To Know

If one asks an eye surgeon, “Which is the most popular form of refractive surgery in Australia at the moment?” LASIK would be the answer. LASIK (laser in situ keratomileuses), after being approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 1997, has truly expanded the scope of surgical corrective techniques. One of the primary reasons behind the growing popularity of LASIK surgery is that they free the patients from contacts and lenses. Eye surgeons primarily suggest this mode of surgery for patients who want to get rid of corrective lenses. In a Sydney, eye clinic like George Street Eye Laser Centre offer LASIK surgery at an affordable price point for patients with eye disorders such as myopia, astigmatism, and hyperopia.

How does it work?

The laser makes use of UV light to vaporize the aimed cells, and the form of the cornea gets changed in the process. Hence, redundant tissues are vaporized and enhance the focus of the eye. Once the cornea gets flattened, the image would be able to reach the retina, which is otherwise not possible for the myopic eye. The advent of LASIK has truly been a breakthrough in eye treatment procedures.

In the case of hyperopia, the image is formed slightly behind the retina, and hence it would be blurred. Though the regulatory muscles that control the lens would be able to manage the situation for a certain period, these muscles weaken with age, and therefore treatment is required. Though most of the traditional eye clinics prescribe the patients to either wear glasses or contact lenses in Sydney, a Sydney eye clinic that suggests laser surgery as an alternative is the best option to get rid of hyperopia once and for all.  

Once the patient undergoes laser treatment, the curve of the cornea slightly increases which in turn enables the image to be formed properly on the retina. Consequently, the patient will be able to see distant objects clearly.

The spherical shape of the eye attains an oval shape in the case of astigmatism, which in turn leads to the formation of the image in two diverse points within the human eye. This means that the image formed on the retina will be blurred due to differences in orientation. However, laser treatment ensures 100% cure and patients will be able to see the objects clearly after the treatment.

Necessary Precautions to be followed by the Patient

There are a few things that one should notice while preparing for LASIK eye surgery.

Make sure that there is someone to aid you

It would be a bit challenging for the patient to drive home on her/his own immediately after the surgery since the impact of the medicines taken as part of the surgery might last for some time. To avoid risks, it is advised to make sure that there is someone to drive the patient home safely.

Skip lotions/makeup

Wearing eye makeup and applying cosmetics such as lotions or creams on surgery day is not advised. The patient’s eyelashes should be crystal clear during the treatment to reduce any chances of infection.

Avoid wearing contact lenses

At least one month prior to the day of surgery, the patient should switch to glasses if s/he is wearing contact lenses. This is because lenses can alter the cornea’s shape, which would have an impact on the measurement and outcome of the surgery.