A Must Read Before Having A LASIK Eye Surgery

Had you ever imagined that you could get rid of those uncomfortable always-tagging-along eyeglasses, and have a clear bright sharp vision without having to wear any eye gear; and that too with a procedure of only 15 minutes!? But, with LASIK surgery in Andheri West, this becomes possible; and successful too! With LASIK eye surgery, you can now see the world around you without glasses, contact lenses, or any other aid by having a very simple and quick operation. If you still can’t believe it, and are wondering how this is possible, here we are to help you learn.

What is LASIK?

LASIK is a ten minute procedure wherein before the surgery you are given drops to instill into the eye so that they become numb. During the surgery, your eyelids are kept open and in place with the help of a soft corneal suction ring. Then, a laser is used to cut a flap into the cornea, with a hinge left at one end of the flap. This flap is raised, revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Now, an excimer laser is used to remodel the stroma such that the refractive error in the eye is brought down to zero. Then, the flap is carefully repositioned back onto the eye, which is left to heal on its own over time.

Why should you opt for LASIK?

First and foremost, LASIK is a quick and very comfortable procedure, which makes it the best number correction procedure. Moreover, it has seen 98% success rates showing significant improvement in the eyesight. The safety of this surgery is also very high with no significant problems or complications. With all of this, LASIK has been proven to be more effective than all other methods that have been used till date. Last but not the least, LASIK is an absolutely painless procedure, which requires a little aftercare, but one can get back to normal work the very next day; thus no loss of time at all!

Who all can opt for LASIK?

Everyone who suffers from nearsightedness, farsightedness, or stigmatism can undergo LASIK.

• Nearsighted people are those who can see only the things that are near; like they may not have problems reading a newspaper, watching television, or using their cellphones. But, they have problems reading billboards and road signs that are even 100 meters away. People with nearsightedness have a cornea that is deformed into a conical shape.
• Farsighted people, on the other hand, are those who can see things clearly that are far away, but can’t comfortably read, watch television, or use cellphones and laptops without the help of eye glasses or contacts. People having farsightedness have a very short eyeball, or a misshaped cornea or lens.
• Astigmatism is when objects appear to be relatively blurry at each distance. This happens because the eye does not focus light evenly on the retina because of the irregular curve that the cornea has. This irregularity changes the way light passes into the retina, causing trouble.

Should you actually go in for LASIK?

Even though LASIK is a great procedure that can solve all kinds of refractive error problems, yet we ask if you should actually go in for LASIK. Our question may definitely confuse you. But, as eye specialists, we care for your eyes more than our business, and this is why we want you to undergo the procedure only if necessary, and under the right circumstances.

First and foremost, you must think about opting for LASIK only if you are having serious problems wearing glasses or contact lenses, and if you have a high number. Don’t opt for it only because everyone else is, or you want to get rid of your glasses because you don’t “want to” wear them. If your glasses or contacts are not giving you any problems, and if you don’t have such a high number, you can as well go on with such additional aids for longer.

Now, let us look at the right conditions under which you may think about a LASIK surgery. If you genuinely have problems with your vision, and are thinking about a surgery, you need to make sure that you are apt for it. Above all, your eyes must be in good health. There should be no eye infections or eye diseases that you must be suffering from. In addition, your eye number should be constant, at least for the past 6 months. This is the reason why people above 18 years are allowed surgery, because those under that age have a fluctuating refractive error. Last but not the least, you can have a LASIK surgery only if your eye number ranges between 0.5 and 5.0 diopters.

Before and after the surgery

Before the surgery – LASIK surgery does not require any strict complicated care before the procedure. But yes, you have to stop using contact lenses at least one month before the procedure; and any kind of eye makeup, cosmetics, hair sprays, and perfumes a few days before the procedure. Also, let your doctor know well in advance all the medications you are on. There could be some medications you will need to discontinue for a while before the LASIK surgery.

After the surgery – You need to keep your eyes protected against the sun and dust for a few days, which is why you need to constantly keep your sunglasses on for at least a month. Avoid all kinds of digital gadgets (and also work if possible) for the first few days after surgery. Keep your eyes rested and relaxed. Never touch your eyes or rub them for the next few days! Even when you are putting eye drops, be very careful; never touch your upper eye lid, instead use your lower eyelid to open your eyes. Last but very importantly, avoid all kinds of water activities for 1-2 months. And, to be safe, just quit driving for at least one week after the surgery.

Complications after LASIK

Although LASIK has been proven to be a very safe procedure, there could be rare cases of complications, but that too, those that can be solved easily. These may include burning sensation, itching, redness, or headache. But, worry not! Resting in a dark room, or using a cold compress could help relieve you from such irritations.

Where to get your LASIK done?

Now that everything about LASIK is clearly open in front of you, and you want to opt for it, the next question will be where to get it done. The best place where you can get a LASIK surgery in Andheri West is at Arohi Eye Hospital, where there is a team of experienced eye doctors on the job, with our chief eye surgeon having more than 15 years of experience in LASIK surgeries!

Dr. Shradha Goel

Dr. Shradha Goel, Chief Surgeon at Arohi Eye Hospital, is a renowned Phaco-LASIK surgeon with over 10,000 surgeries to her credit. She earned her MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and a Master’s in Ophthalmology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal. As a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Dr. Goel specialises in LASIK, refractive errors, and cataract treatments.