All You Need to Know About LASIK

It’s time to say goodbye to glasses and lenses! Your vision can be restored in 30 minutes or less with LASIK. If you are one of those who wear glasses or contact lenses to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism, consider getting rid of them. A quick, painless, and safe method can now be used to help correct your vision permanently. Read this article to get more information on LASIK.

What is LASIK Eye Surgery?

LASIK (lLaser In-situ Keratomileusis) is a common surgical procedure which is performed to cure different kinds of refractive errors associated with eyes, including myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness), and astigmatism (blurry vision). LASIK surgery involves reshaping the cornea with the help of a laser beam. Upon restoring the cornea’s refractive ability, patients become capable of viewing clearly without using glasses or lenses.

Undercorrected refractive errors are the most common cause of irreversible blindness in India. Furthermore, vision problems can affect daily life as well. When you drive, watch TV, or read books on a daily basis, you will encounter issues. In addition to this, wearing eyeglasses and contacts is also associated with a number of problems. As your eye power increases with age due to the corneal or eyeball defect, you will have to be careful not to break them. All these factors contribute to most people’s desire to undergo LASIK eye surgery to correct refractive errors.

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History of LASIK

LASIK originated in the 1940s as a crude procedure for reshaping the cornea. It is now more precise and requires fewer complications thanks to the use of lasers. The history of LASIK is shown below:

LASIK Procedures

LASIK is performed with multiple types of technology. Based on the complexity of the procedure, different types of LASIK surgeries are explained below:

1. 1. Standard LASIK

A. Top layer of the cornea is brushed off

B. The surgeon then reshapes the cornea with the help of excimer laser

C. The outer brushed off layer regenerate on its own

2. 2. Photoreactive Keratectomy (PRK)

A. The top surface of the cornea is scraped away

B. A laser is used to reshape the cornea

C. The corneal abrasion heals naturally in 3-4 days

3. 3. Laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy (LASEK)

A. The corneal flap is opened using microkeratome, exposing the cornea to ethanol

B. A specialized laser is used to reshape the cornea

C. Safe process because highly mechanized

4. 4. Epithelial LASIK

A. Epithelial from the middle part of the cornea (stroma) is removed

B. A mechanized blunt blade called epiteratome is used to penetrate the cornea

C. A laser is then used to reshape the cornea

5. 5. Smile LASIK

A. This is the latest type of LASIK invented

B. The cornea is reshaped using a laser to make a lenticule below the cornea surface

C. Once the lenticule succeeds in reshaping the cornea, it is removed through a small incision

When is LASIK Surgery Required?

Due to irregularities in the shape of the eye or cornea, refractive error causes the eyes to have difficulty focusing light on the retina with precision. The following factors can cause refractive errors:

• 1. Eyeballs either grow too long or too short
• 2. Corneas become irregular in shape
• 3. As the eye lens ages, it loses its ability to focus light
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Vision loss can be caused by any of the above factors, regardless of age group. The severity of refractive errors increases with age. In order to correct these refractive errors, LASIK surgery is performed:

• 1. The condition of myopia, or nearsightedness, occurs when the eyeball or cornea becomes long or curved. Because of this, faraway objects are difficult to see because the image forms in front of the retina.
• 2. The condition of hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, is characterized by a short eyeball or a flat cornea. When you have hyperopia, objects near you are difficult to see because the image is formed behind the retina.
• 3. In astigmatism, the cornea curves and flattens unevenly. The result is that both distant and nearby vision is impaired.
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Thus, LASIK surgery is able to eliminate all of these refractive errors easily and precisely.

Benefits of LASIK

There are several benefits associated with LASIK surgery. A few of the top advantages of LASIK surgery are explained below:

No Pain: An eye incision created by a laser sounds painful and scary, right? That’s not true at all! There is actually no pain associated with LASIK, which is one of the reasons it is so popular. Your surgeon will give you numbing drops before the procedure begins. The eye drops infiltrate the entire eye as soon as you blink after administering the eye drops. A speculum will hold your eye open during the procedure, but you won’t feel anything else. Some patients may find this off-putting and uncomfortable. But it feels just like applying contact lenses with an open eye!

Immediate Results: As soon as the surgery is completed, patients can expect significant improvements in their vision. It is possible for some patients to avoid wearing glasses right after surgery. However, in comparison to the past, it may not be as necessary for others. The day after surgery, patients can resume their usual activities.

Save More Money: When it comes to contact lenses, frames, and contact solutions, the costs can add up over time. Even occasional visits to the optometrist can be expensive. Patients can save money by reducing their dependence on eyewear after LASIK. As a result, your frames will last much longer, since you will wear your glasses less often (or not at all).

Improved Self-Confidence: After LASIK, you will no longer need to worry about the way you look in glasses. Additionally, you will feel more relaxed, active, and spontaneous. Also, you will not have to worry about searching for your glasses! Additionally, LASIK gives you more freedom to play sports.

Allergy Relief: Have you ever suffered from seasonal allergies while wearing contact lenses? You probably suffer from itchy, watery eyes every day. Contact lenses likely trap pollen, causing your eyes to become even more irritated. With LASIK, you will no longer have to suffer from seasonal allergies. As a result, you won’t need to worry about being uncomfortable when the seasons change.

Side effects of LASIK

A successful LASIK eye surgery is performed by experienced ophthalmologists who have performed more than 500 surgeries. It is also rare for the laser to be operated manually. Laser machines that remove corneal tissues are controlled and operated by computers. To protect other eye components from harm, the laser has an automatic detection system that stops working when the eyes move. As a result, there is a minimal risk of complications during the surgery. However, in rare cases, some of the side effects or complications can occur due to unavoidable reasons as stated below:

• 1. You might experience dry eyes since your tear production will be reduced. As a result, you may need eye drops to improve your vision.
• 2. It may be difficult to see at night for a few days and your sensitivity to light may increase. A bright light may also cause halos or double vision.
• 3. LASIK patients may also experience night vision problems after surgery. However, while you may see better in dim light or at dusk, your night vision may be affected in dim light.
• 4. There is a possibility of undercorrection if the laser fails to remove enough corneal tissues from the eye. Nearsighted people are more likely to have correction, which means they will need to undergo another procedure to achieve the ideal vision.
• 5. In the case of overcorrection, extra tissues may also be removed from the eye, causing even more vision problems.
• 6. In cases where lasers are operated manually, this complication may arise. Because corneal tissue is removed unevenly, the patient develops astigmatism.
• 7. The chances of your vision going back to the original prescription before the original prescription is expected are rare, but there is a chance it could happen sooner than expected. This phenomenon is termed as regression.
• 8. The loss of vision or changes in vision following LASIK eye surgery are rare surgical complications. Vision loss may result in a complete loss of vision or a reduction in sharpness or clarity.

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Preparation of LASIK Surgery

In order to prepare for surgery, you should do the following:

1. 1. Be sure that your doctor knows your medical history and any health conditions you may have.
2. 2. The day before surgery, you should stop wearing any eye makeup.
3. 3. At least one week before the surgery, get rid of your contact lenses and replace them with glasses.
4. 4. Prior to surgery, do not use creams, perfumes, or lotions.
5. 5. On the day of surgery, arrange for a caretaker to stay and drive you home.
6. 6. It’ll take you at least 30-40 minutes to lie on your back during the surgery, so wear comfortable clothes.
7. 7. Diet After LASIK Surgery
8.  

A person may not be able to eat before or after some types of surgery. It’s not like that with LASIK. It is recommended that patients eat a light meal and drink plenty of water before the procedure. It’s fine to eat right after LASIK, but make sure to consume healing foods. The following are some of the best foods to eat after LASIK:

• 1. Protein contains amino acids that promote tissue regeneration and wound healing. There are many great options available, including chicken, fish, eggs, beans, and nuts. A high level of omega-3 fatty acids is also found in most fish, which improves dry eyes.
• 2. In order to speed up recovery, vitamins should be consumed. Vitamin C, or ascorbic acid, plays a significant role in the speeding up of wound healing. This powerful antioxidant can be found in foods such as sweet yellow peppers, kale, and kiwis.
• 3. It is true that some fats are bad for you, but there are others that are extremely beneficial to your health. Healthy fat sources include nuts, avocados, fatty fish, olive oil, dark chocolate, full-fat dairy, chia seeds, among others. By consuming these foods moderately, you may be able to decrease inflammation.
• 4. The main source of energy for your body is glucose, which comes from carbohydrates. The immune system is supported by complex carbohydrates, such as brown rice and oatmeal. You should avoid sugar as it can make you feel fatigued.
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Cashless Medical Insurance For LASIK

Glamyo Health provides cashless medical insurance for LASIK surgery. This means that insured patients can avail of this facility if they choose Glamyo Health as their healthcare partner. During the process, Glamyo Health handles all the hassles and even fills the pre-auth form on patient’s behalf.Here are the four steps involved in filing an insurance claim for LASIK surgery with Glamyo Health:

Step 1: A care buddy from Glamyo Health is assigned to collect and verify the patient’s insurance documents.

Step 2: After the verification has been completed, the patient will be given the option to avail of cashless treatment or opt for reimbursement for the advanced piles treatment.

Step 3: The Glamyo Health care buddy handles all the paperwork involved with submitting a claim based on the option you selected in Step 2.

Step 4: After the claim amount has been sanctioned, the patient will be admitted to the hospital and the care buddy will deal with the remaining formalities simultaneously.

Besides handling the insurance paperwork, Glamyo Health also provides other lucrative services, such as pickup and drop-off on the day of surgery, private air-conditioned rooms for the patient and attendant, free post-surgery follow-ups, and more. These services make LASIK surgery easy, stress-free, and cost-effective.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does LASIK last for?

In spite of the fact that LASIK surgery results are permanent, the benefits can diminish over time. The results of LASIK last a lifetime for the majority of patients. It is estimated that between 10-12% of patients across the country will require enhancement surgery because of anatomical changes to their eye.

Is LASIK surgery painful?

In contrast to other surgeries, LASIK doesn’t cause pain. A numbing eye drop will be placed in both your eyes by your surgeon before your procedure. Even though there will still be a bit of pressure during the procedure, no pain should be experienced.

Can you go blind with LASIK?

LASIK surgery has an extremely high success rate, and complications are rare. Nevertheless, surgical procedures always come with some risk and the possibility of complications. You don’t need to worry about losing your sight after LASIK.

Does LASIK damage the eye?

LASIK surgery is a risk-free procedure that is aimed to reshape the cornea. The complications related to eye damage after LASIK surgery are minimal. Unless the patient has any prior health complication, there is a very low possibility of eyes getting damaged.

Who is not eligible for LASIK?

LASIK surgery may not be recommended for patients with diseases altering immune function, such as rheumatoid arthritis, HIV, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, and various other autoimmune disorders.

After LASIK, is it safe to work in hot temperature areas regularly?

Yes, it is completely safe to work in hot temperature areas after undergoing LASIK surgery. A recent study was conducted and the results evaluated from that clearly indicated that high heat and humidity does not alter the results of LASIK in any way.

What is the highest power for eyesight to go through the Lasik laser operation?

The ideal upper limit is -8.0, while -10.0 is acceptable. An ICL implant is a better option beyond this number than LASIK. LASIK can correct a plus number, such as hypermetropia, up to +5.0.

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