During LASIK Surgery

Most of the fear related to any type of surgery lies in the unknown element of the procedure.  LASIK laser eye surgery is no different than any other type of procedure.  LASIK laser eye surgery is actually a very simple process that can be explained easily.

You will sit down in a reclining chair in a room specially designed for LASIK laser eye surgery.  There will be a large machine with a microscope attached to it and a computer screen as part of a laser system.  The whole process should not take more than 30 minutes to complete.

The first step your doctor will take is to clean your eye and place a numbing drop of liquid in it.  With the LASIK laser eye surgery now underway a ring will be placed around the eye to create suction to the cornea.  This will cause the first discomfort of the surgery and blurred vision, but it will only be temporary.

While the suction ring is still around your eye a cutting instrument, called microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in your cornea.  From this point on during the LASIK laser eye surgery you will experience some fluctuating blurred vision. 

During the evaluation for LASIK laser eye surgery your doctor should have informed you that you will need to be able to stare at a laser for 60 seconds or more during the surgery.  You will do this after the tissue has been folded back and dried out by the doctor during the procedure.  The laser will direct your eye to the spot that the surgical laser will use to perform the vision correction.

At this point LASIK laser eye surgery may take on an unexpected smell, that of something burning.  This is probably because your eye is under the intense scrutiny of the laser that is correcting your vision problems.  Though the laser may make some very human sounds (ticking) and smells (burning hair) it is still a very controlled process.

The computer in the room that is hooked up to the laser controls the amount of energy delivered to your eye.  Some tissue will be vaporized and finally the flap of the corneal tissue is put back in place, effectively ending LASIK laser eye surgery.

After LASIK laser eye surgery is completed your doctor will supply you with a shield or patch for your eye to prevent irritation.  You will quickly realize how many times your eye gets bumped or you involuntarily rub it when you cannot do so.  Wear the patch and save yourself some heartache.