Posted on: 01/17/22

Lasik Surgery

Do you get frustrated when you have to wear glasses and contact lenses all the time? Does it feel like there should be something better? 

For those that are good candidates, LASIK may be a perfect solution! But the thing is, LASIK isn’t right for everyone. In some cases, it’s about maturity. Keep reading to learn if you’re mature enough to get LASIK!

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a popular elective procedure to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. Most people who get LASIK often end up with 20/20 vision or better!

LASIK is a popular and safe procedure that works by reshaping the tissue under the cornea, the round dome at the front of the eye. Reshaping the cornea allows light entering the eye to focus correctly onto the retina, creating clearer vision. 

How Do I Know if LASIK is Right for Me? 

Before getting LASIK surgery, the first step is to schedule a LASIK consultation with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor will take your medical history, conduct an eye exam, and talk to you about the procedure to determine if you are a good candidate. 

They also will explain the procedure to you and what to expect during and after surgery.

What Happens During LASIK? 

During LASIK, your surgeon will numb your eyes with eye drops. After numbing your eyes, your surgeon will then use computer-controlled laser technology to reshape the corneal tissue. 

Reshaping the cornea will improve your vision. To correct nearsightedness, they flatten the cornea. To correct farsightedness, they make the cornea steeper. 

The surgeon smooths the irregular cornea into a standard shape for patients with astigmatism. Each procedure generally takes only 10-15 minutes. Your eye heals and keeps the new shape naturally after the procedure. 

What is the Recovery Like? 

After having LASIK, your eye doctor will ask you to temporarily wear a shield to cover the affected eye for the first 24 hours and overnight while sleeping for the first two weeks. However, most patients report improved vision right after surgery, though patients cannot drive the day of the procedure. 

It’s recommended to take a day off work to let your eyes start recovering. Your eyes may feel uncomfortable and dry, but this usually goes away after about a week. Many patients go on to have 20/20 vision after LASIK. 

An estimated 10 million Americans have had LASIK surgery since 1999. It remains one of the most popular elective surgeries in the country. 

Who is Eligible to Get LASIK?

Children are never eligible to get LASIK surgery because their eyes are still developing until 18 and beyond. The FDA has approved LASIK for patients who are 18 and older. 

However, it is generally recommended only for people whose eyeglass prescription has remained stable for at least two years. The average age for getting LASIK is between 20 to 40 years old. 

The LASIK procedure is usually performed on adults whose eyes are relatively healthy. They do not suffer from cataracts. Having these pre-existing eye conditions makes them ineligible for the procedure. 

Though LASIK is FDA approved for those 18 and older, most LASIK surgeons recommend having the procedure in their mid to late twenties. Having it at this time ensures that your eyes will not change after LASIK and ensures you have the best results. 

Are you wondering if LASIK may be right for you? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Cutarelli Vision in Denver, CO, now!