About Lasik surgery
LASIK eye surgery is the best-known and most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems. During this, a special type of cutting laser is used to precisely change the shape of the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of your eye (cornea) to improve vision. If your eyes have normal vision, your cornea refracts light precisely onto the retina in the back of the eye. LASIK eye surgery is performed on those with nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism, whose corneas bend the light incorrectly, resulting in blurred vision. The usage of Lasik and Lasek is to reduce or eliminate hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism, and to dispose of glasses. Although, Lasik cannot be performed for patients suffering from high hyperopia. In Lasik surgery, a layer of the cornea is cut and removed, and after scratching the lower layer, the layer is restored to its place, but in Lasek and PRK, the surface layer of the cornea is scratched and treated without removal. Accordingly, the side effects including displacement of the cut corneal layer, etc., are not presented in Lasek.
LASIK Surgery Techniques
LASIK Surgery
Epi-LASIK
PRK Surgery
Wavefront LASIK
Monovision LASIK
If you use soft contact lenses, stop using your lens at least one week in advance. If you use rigid gas-permeable contact lenses, stop using your lens at least 3 to 4 weeks in advance.
Who Can Benefit from LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK eye surgery is a popular and effective way to correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These conditions are caused by irregularities in the shape of the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye, which affects how light is focused on the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. By using a laser to reshape the cornea, LASIK eye surgery can improve the clarity and quality of vision for many people.
However, LASIK eye surgery is not suitable for everyone. There are some factors that may make a person a good or a bad candidate for the procedure. Some of the criteria that a person should meet to be eligible for LASIK eye surgery are:
Being over 18 years old, as the eyes are still developing and changing before that age.
Having a stable eye prescription for at least two years, as fluctuations in vision may affect the outcome of the surgery.
Having a moderate degree of refractive error, as LASIK eye surgery may not be able to correct very high or very low prescriptions.
Having healthy eyes and no history of eye diseases or injuries, such as glaucoma, cataracts, or corneal scars, that may affect the healing process or the results of the surgery.
LASIK eye surgery can offer many advantages for people who are tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses, or who want to enhance their appearance, confidence, and quality of life. However, it is important to consult with a qualified eye doctor who can evaluate the condition of the eyes, discuss the options, and recommend the best course of action for each individual case. LASIK eye surgery is not a one-size-fits-all solution, but a personalized decision that requires careful consideration and preparation.
What is the best age for LASIK surgery?
The minimum age for LASIK surgery is 18 years old. However, most eye doctors and surgeons recommend waiting until the age of 25 or older, as the eyes are still developing and changing before that age. The vision prescription should be stable for at least one or two years before getting LASIK surgery, as fluctuations in vision may affect the accuracy and the results of the surgery.
The best age range to get LASIK surgery is between 25 and 40 years old, as the eyes are more likely to have reached their final shape and prescription, and the vision problems are more likely to be moderate and treatable by the surgery. People in this age range can enjoy the benefits of LASIK surgery for a long time, as their vision is expected to remain stable until they reach their 40s or older.
After the age of 40, most people start to experience presbyopia, which is a natural decline in the ability to focus on near objects due to the aging of the eye lens. Presbyopia affects everyone eventually, and it cannot be prevented or cured by LASIK surgery. People who have LASIK surgery for distance vision may still need reading glasses or bifocals to see clearly up close. However, there are some options for people over 40 who want to get LASIK surgery, such as monovision or multifocal LASIK, which can correct both near and distance vision by adjusting the focus of each eye differently.
There is no age limit for LASIK surgery, as long as the eyes are healthy and free of any diseases or conditions that may affect the healing process or the results of the surgery. However, older people may have higher risks of complications or side effects, and may need more follow-up care or additional procedures to maintain the desired results. Therefore, it is important to consult with a qualified eye doctor or surgeon who can evaluate the individual case and recommend the best course of action.
Lasik Risks
Lasik Recovery
Most patients will resume most normal activities within a day or two, but the healing period takes about 3-6 months.