Achieving better vision has become easier than ever thanks to the development of reliable eye surgery options. Skilled ophthalmologists have performed millions of eye vision correction surgeries for satisfied patients. For people who are tired of irritating contact lenses or the limitations of glasses for their active lifestyle, laser surgery is a fast and reliable solution.
It’s common for people to be nervous about having almost any kind of surgery. The idea of having eye surgery and being able to “see” everything that’s happening can be especially unnerving for some.
The good news is that corrective surgery for the eyes is extremely safe and fast. In most cases, you will be in and out of the surgical room within 15 minutes. Keep reading to learn more about two of the most common eye surgery options.
LASIK Surgery
Perhaps the best known laser corrective surgery option is LASIK.: Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis.
LASIK is a procedure where eye surgeons use highly specialized lasers to reshape the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.
Preparation for the procedure begins with an ophthalmologist applying numbing drops to the eyes. The patient may also be given light medication to reduce anxiety. A patient’s eyelids are held open during the surgery using a speculum. With these elements in place, LASIK surgery begins.
To start the surgical procedure, a femtosecond laser cuts a thin flap on the cornea surface. Next, a tiny amount of inner corneal tissue is removed with the help of a computer-controlled excimer laser. These revolutionary lasers track minuscule eye movements during the procedure to ensure that the device removes tissue from the areas that need correction.1
Reshaping the cornea allows light to better focus on the retina, which sharpens the patient’s ability to see clearly. Once the cornea is reshaped, the flap is replaced and the procedure is completed for one eye. Then, the process is repeated with the other eye. The actual surgical procedure is normally completed in less than a minute for each eye.
After the LASIK procedure, patients are fitted with a protective eye patch or shield and must be driven home by another person. When home, the first order of business should be to take a nap, which minimizes eye movements. While vision remains blurry for several hours after surgery, it becomes incredibly sharp and clear soon after. Improvement should be significant within a day or two.
Patients are prescribed drops which must be put in the eyes several times a day over the weeks following surgery. It’s vital for patients to stick to the eye drop schedule, as this will help avoid infections, improve comfort, and ensure the eyes heal properly.
Implantable Contact Lenses
For patients who are not good candidates for LASIK, implanted contact lenses (ICLs) may be a great alternative. For example, patients with severe nearsightedness are often not good candidates for LASIK, but ICL is a viable option for them. Implanted lenses are replaceable should the patient’s vision change, which provides flexibility over the years.
Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center uses Visian Implantable Contact Lenses. Visian lenses are made of collamer, a substance that occurs naturally in the human body. Visian lenses are inserted through a smaller incision because they are flexible and can bend in the smaller space.
Clinical trials showed that 95% patients who with Visian lens implants had 20/40 or better vision. The same studies showed that three years after the procedure, 59% of patients had 20/20 or better vision.2
Learn More about Eye Surgery Options in Phoenix
Every day, Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center performs LASIK and ICL procedures for satisfied patients in Phoenix. With the finest state-of-the-art equipment and decades of experience in these procedures from our surgeons, we are confident in our ability to bring our patients’ long-term vision satisfaction.