What is LASIK Surgery

LASIK is a procedure to correct your vision. It is done by changing the curve of the clear front surface of your eye (cornea) using a laser. Changing the shape of your cornea can help focus light rays correctly on the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye (retina).

You may have this procedure to correct vision problems, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This procedure can reduce or eliminate the need for glasses or contact lenses. You may have one eye done at a time or both eyes done the same day. If you are near or over the age of 40, make sure to talk to your health care provider about how this procedure will affect your reading vision.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any medical conditions and eye problems you have or have had, including dry eye.
• Any surgeries you have had, including eye surgeries.
• Whether you are pregnant, may be pregnant, or are nursing.
• Any previous eye problems members of your family have had, especially cornea problems such as corneal dystrophies, keratoconus, or corneal transplantation.
• Your use of contact lenses and when you last wore contacts.
• How stable the prescription is in your current glasses or contact lenses.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Infection.
• Bleeding.
• Allergic reactions to medicines.
• Over-correction or under-correction of your vision. If this happens you may still need glasses or contact lenses or you may need to have another surgery.
• Severe dry eye.
• Vision loss or worsening of vision.
• Trouble fitting contact lenses, if they are required.
• Scarring of the cornea. This may require corrective surgery or, rarely, a corneal transplant.
• Problems with night vision.
• A decrease in contrast sensitivity, visual crispness, or sharpness. This may mean that objects look fuzzy or blurry.
• Dropping eyelid.

What happens before the procedure?

• You will have a detailed eye exam to help make sure your eyes are healthy and to allow your health care provider to plan the procedure.
• If you wear contact lenses, stop wearing them as told by your health care provider.
• Your health care provider may ask you to stop wearing makeup, lotions, and perfume for 1–2 days before the procedure.
• Ask your health care provider about:
  • Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
  • Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not take these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
• Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure since your vision will be fuzzy.
• If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
• You may be given antibiotic medicine to help prevent infection.

What happens during the procedure?

• Your surgeon may put an antibiotic eye drop into your eye.
• Your surgeon will put numbing drops into your eye.
• A device will be placed over your eye to hold your eye open and prevent blinking (eyelid speculum).
• Your eye will be moistened with drops.
• Your surgeon will use a cutting tool (microkeratome or laser keratome) to create a hinged flap on the surface of your cornea to lift the surface away.
• Your vision may blur when the flap is lifted.
• A computer-controlled laser will be positioned in front of your eye. The laser will be programmed based on your eye exam.
• You will be asked to focus on a point of light. During this time, the laser will use pulses of light to reshape your cornea.
• The corneal flap will be replaced after the laser is removed.
• Eye drop medicines will be placed in your eye.
• The eyelid speculum holding your eye open will be removed.
• A clear shield may be placed over your eye to protect it while it heals.
• After the procedure is done on one eye, the other eye may be done.

The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.

What happens after the procedure?

• You will need to return to your surgeon for a checkup.

LASIK Surgery, Care After

Refer to this sheet in the next few weeks. These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• A mild burning or itching feeling.
• Mild pain.
• Feeling like there is something in your eye.
• Watery eyes (tearing).
• Bloodshot eyes.
• Light sensitivity.
• Blurred vision or other vision changes.
• Distorted vision, especially at night. You may see halos or starbursts around lights.
• Dry eyes.

Follow these instructions at home:

Medicines

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Use eye drops as told by your health care provider. You may have to do this for several months.
• Use liquid tears as told by your health care provider.

Activity

• Do not drive or operate heavy machinery until your health care provider approves. It may take several months for your vision to stabilize.
• Do not drive at night until your health care provider says you can do so.
• Do not do any sports, especially contact or racquet sports, until your health care provider approves.
• Rest at home until your health care provider says you can go back to work. Ask your health care provider when you can return to your usual activities.

General instructions

• Do not put your contact lenses back in, even if your vision is blurry. Only start wearing your contact lenses once your health care provider approves.
• Do not use eye makeup, creams, or lotions as told by your health care provider.
• Do not swim or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves.
• Do not rub your eyes.
• Wear your eye shield as told by your health care provider. Make sure to wear it at night.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
• Wear sunglasses when you are outside.
• Avoid bright lights as told by your health care provider. Try to rest your eyes in a dark room as much as possible.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You continue to have significant pain, itching, dryness, redness, or light sensitivity after several days.
• You have new symptoms.
• Your symptoms get worse.

Get help right away if:

• You have severe eye pain.
• You have any sudden vision loss.