How Is Laser Eye Surgery Performed? Your Simplified Guide

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Laser eye surgery helps people see better without glasses or contact lenses. It uses specific lasers to fix vision problems by changing the shape of the eye. If you’ve ever wondered, “How is laser eye surgery performed?” this guide will explain it in simple steps.

What Is Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser eye surgery helps you see clearly by using lasers to fix the eye. It is an advanced and quick method of solving problems like blurred vision.

What Causes Blurry Vision?

Blurry vision happens when the eye is shaped so that light doesn’t focus properly. This can make things look unclear. You can wear glasses or contact lenses, but laser eye surgery can fix the problem for good.

How Do Lasers Help?

Lasers can reshape the eye to make light focus the right way. This helps people see clearly without needing glasses or contact lenses.

Types Of Laser Vision Correction

There are different kinds of laser eye surgery, and each one works in a specific way. Your eye doctor will help you choose the best possible type that fits your needs.

Let’s look at the most common types of laser eye surgery and how they help improve vision.

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis)

LASIK surgery is one of the most popular types of laser eye surgery. It is quick and helps you see clearly without glasses or contact lenses.

How It Works: The doctor makes a tiny flap on the top layer of your eye. Then, a laser reshapes the eye under the flap to fix vision.
Who It’s For: LASIK works well if you have blurry distance vision or problems caused by refractive errors.

LASIK eye surgery is great because it heals quickly, and you might see better the very next day.

SMILE (Small Incision Lenticule Extraction)

SMILE is a more recent type of laser eye surgery that uses a small cut to fix vision.

How It Works: A laser removes a tiny piece of tissue from inside the eye through a small cut.
Who It’s For: This method is perfect if you have thinner corneas or play contact sports.

SMILE is gentle, and healing can feel more comfortable for you because there’s no flap.

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)

PRK is another way to improve vision without making a flap in the eye.

How It Works: The doctor works on the eye’s surface to reshape it with a laser.
Who It’s For: PRK is good for people with very thin or irregularly shaped corneas.

While healing might take a bit longer than LASIK, PRK is a practical option for many.

PRESBYOND (Laser Blended Vision)

PRESBYOND is for you if you can’t see either close-up or far away. This can often happen due to age-related vision changes (presbyopia).

How It Works: A laser reshapes the eye to help focus both near and distant objects. This creates a “blended vision,” where one eye focuses more on close-up tasks and the other on far distances.
Who It’s For: PRESBYOND is ideal for those aged 40 and older who want to limit their need for glasses or contacts.

PRESBYOND offers a solution for you to maintain clear vision at different distances.

How Do You Choose?

Each type of laser eye surgery is for specific needs. Your doctor will look at your eye shape, vision problems, and lifestyle to decide which one suits you best.

No matter which type you choose, these procedures can help you enjoy life with clearer vision!

How Is Laser Eye Surgery Performed?

Laser eye surgery procedures are simple and quick and help improve vision. They use a specific laser to change the shape of the eye so you can see clearly without glasses or contact lenses.

Let’s take a closer look at how they’re done, step by step.

Getting Ready For Surgery

Before the surgery, your eye doctor will make sure everything is set for success. This step helps the doctor understand your eyes and plan the procedure.

Eye Exam: The doctor will examine your vision, eye health, and medical history. This includes looking at the shape of your eye and measuring how it focuses light.
No Contact Lenses: If you usually wear contact lenses, stop wearing them for a few days or weeks before surgery. This allows your eyes to return to their natural shape, giving the doctor accurate measurements.
Plan The Surgery: The doctor will explain the procedure and what to expect. They will also tell you how to care for your eyes afterwards. You can ask any questions you have during this time.

What Happens On Surgery Day?

Surgery day is exciting! The procedure is quick, and you’ll be ready to see the world better soon.

Numbing Drops: First, the doctor will put specific drops in your eyes to numb them. These drops ensure you won’t feel much pain during the surgery.
Comfortable Position: You’ll lie down on a comfortable bed under the laser machine. A gentle device will hold your eyelids open, so you don’t have to worry about blinking.
Relax And Stay Still: The doctor might ask you to focus on a small light. This helps keep your eyes in the right position for the laser.

Using The Laser

The laser reshapes your eye to fix vision problems. The type of laser used depends on the surgery you’re having.

For LASIK: The doctor makes a tiny flap in the top layer of your eye. The femtosecond laser works underneath the flap to reshape the corneal tissue and correct vision.
For SMILE: A small piece of tissue is removed through a tiny cut in the eye. This helps the laser reshape the eye without making a corneal flap.
For PRK: The excimer laser works on the eye’s surface, removing the outer layer (corneal epithelium). Then, it starts to reshape the cornea.

After The Laser

Once the laser has finished, the doctor will care for your eye to help it heal.

Replace The Flap (For LASIK): If you have LASIK, the flap will be gently placed back into position. It will heal naturally without stitches.
Protect Your Eye: To protect your eye while you heal, a shield or protective cover might be placed over it.

The doctor and team will guide you through every step to ensure your comfort and relaxation. Soon, you’ll be on your way to clearer vision!

Laser Surgery Recovery

After a laser eye surgery procedure, your eyes start healing right away. The good news is that most people notice better vision within just a day or two!

Let’s talk about what to expect during your recovery and how to take care of your eyes while they heal.

Tips For Healing

Follow a few simple tips to help your eyes heal as fast as possible. These will ensure your recovery goes well and your vision improves over time.

Don’t Rub Your Eyes: After surgery, your eyes may feel a little itchy or dry. It’s important not to rub them, even if it feels tempting. Rubbing can irritate or harm the healing process.
Use The Eye Drops: Your doctor will give you eye drops to keep your eyes moist and prevent infection. It’s important to use these drops exactly as your doctor tells you.
Wear Sunglasses: Your eyes might be extra sensitive to light after surgery. So wearing sunglasses when you go outside will help protect them. Sunglasses also help keep dust or wind from irritating your eyes.
Rest Your Eyes: Take breaks from screens, reading, or anything requiring much focus. Giving your eyes some rest will help them heal faster.

What To Avoid

During your recovery, there are a few things you should avoid to make sure your eyes heal well:

Swimming: To avoid infection, don’t swim in pools, lakes, or hot tubs for at least a few weeks after surgery.
Makeup: Avoid applying makeup, especially eye makeup, until your doctor allows you. This helps avoid irritation.
Strenuous Activities: You should avoid things like lifting or contact sports for a few weeks.

Follow-Up Visits

Your doctor will plan follow-up visits to check on your healing progress. These visits are important to make sure everything is healing as it should.

Ask your doctor during these visits if you have any concerns or questions.

How Long Does It Take To Recover?

Many people might recover fast, but healing can take a few weeks. It’s important to continue using your eye drops and following your doctor’s advice during this time.

Your vision will continue improving over time. As a result, you’ll soon enjoy clear sight without glasses or contacts.

Benefits Of Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery has many great benefits that can change how you see the world! It can make life easier by helping you see without glasses or contact lenses.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the amazing benefits of this procedure.

Clearer Vision

One of the biggest perks of laser eye surgeries is clearer vision. Many people notice a big difference in how they see things right after the surgery.

For some, it happens within hours, while for others, it may take a few days to notice the improvement. Whether reading street signs or watching your favourite TV shows, laser eye surgery helps you see everything better.

Long-Lasting Results

One of the best parts about laser eye surgery is that the results last a long time. The improvements you see in your vision should last many years, or even for life!

Say Goodbye To Glasses And Contacts For Good: After the surgery, you might never have to worry about visual aids again. This saves money in the long run since you won’t need new glasses or contact lenses.
Enjoy Clear Vision For Years: The reshaping of your eye lasts a long time. This means you’ll enjoy clearer vision for many years to come.
Less Need For Future Treatments: Laser eye surgery offers improvements for most people. Some people rarely need a minor touch-up, but this is uncommon.

Laser eye surgery offers many exciting benefits that can make life more enjoyable. It’s a great way to improve your vision and live without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can have laser eye surgery?

Not everyone can have laser eye surgery. The doctor will check your eyes to see if it’s right for you. Here are some things to keep in mind:

You need to be 18 or older.
Your vision should be stable.
Your eyes should be healthy.

Can I drive after surgery?

After your surgery, you won’t be able to drive right away. Your vision might be blurry, so you’ll need someone to drive you home.

What happens if I need a touch-up after the surgery?

In some cases, you may need a small touch-up after your surgery. This is usually a quick procedure a few months after the first surgery. If it’s needed, your doctor will talk to you about it and make sure you understand what to expect.

Conclusion

Laser eye surgery is a simple way to help you see clearly without needing glasses or contact lenses. It can make a big difference in your everyday life, from reading to driving to enjoying outdoor activities.

Now that you know how laser eye surgery is performed, you might feel ready to take the next step. Remember, every eye is different, and an eye doctor can check your eyes to see if laser eye surgery suits you.

Imagine waking up and seeing the world clearly—without reaching for your glasses or contact lenses. It’s possible!

Laser eye surgery can help you see better and live without limits. Want to find out if it’s right for you? We’re here in Melbourne to help!

Take the first step today! Talk to Dr Anton and learn how laser eye surgery can change your life.

Call Dr Anton Van Heerden now: 03 9000 0389

A clearer vision is just a step away—let’s get started!

Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.

Sources:

Boyd K 2023. Laser Surgery Recovery Tubert D, editor. American Academy of Ophthalmology. Available at: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/laser-surgery-recovery [Accessed November 22, 2024]

Healthdirect Australia 2022. Laser Eye Surgery. Healthdirect. Available at: https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/laser-eye-surgery [Accessed November 22, 2024]

U.S. Food and Drug Administration 2021. What Is LASIK? U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Available at: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/lasik/what-lasik [Accessed November 22, 2024]

Watson S 2022. PRK Vs. LASIK. WebMD. Available at: https://www.webmd.com/eye-health/prk-vs-lasik [Accessed November 22, 2024]

Williams F 2021. What to Know About LASIK and Dry Eyes. Medical News Today. Available at: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/lasik-dry-eyes [Accessed November 22, 2024]

Zimlich R 2022. Laser Eye Surgery: What You Should Know. Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/eye-health/laser-eye-surgery [Accessed November 22, 2024]