What happens during a LASIK procedure?
The LASIK procedure will be performed on an outpatient basis in our comfortable in-office surgery center. Prior to surgery you will be given Valium™ or other appropriate medication to help you relax. During the procedure your eye will be numbed with a topical anesthetic eye drop. You will be awake for the procedure but you will not experience any pain.
A lid holder will be placed on the eye to prevent blinking. You may feel some slight discomfort but no significant pain. The doctor will then use either the microkeratome or the IntraLase laser to create your corneal flap. During this part of the procedure you will feel some pressure on the eye and your vision may go dark for a few seconds (especially with the traditional microkeratome). The flap is then lifted and the laser pulses will be applied to the cornea. The laser pulses sound like a loud crackling noise.
Myopia (Nearsighted)
Hyperopia (Farsighted)
Excimer on Human Hair
Instead of using heat to alter tissues like other lasers, an excimer laser beam breaks the bonds that link tissues together with only minimal effect on surrounding tissue. These unique properties allow the excimer laser to be used to reshape tissue immediately beneath the surface of the corneal flap.
A computer programmed by the doctor for each person's own correction, controls the laser and the reshaping of the cornea. The focal point of the beam only penetrates the cornea about two-thousandths of an inch (about half the thickness of a human hair). The corneal flap is replaced (without stitches) and the IntraLASIK or LASIK procedure is complete.
After the procedure, the doctor will place some drops into your eye and place a protective plastic shield over your eye/eyes to protect them. You will be instructed to use drops at home for one week. You will need to make arrangements for someone to drive you home from our office. We recommend that you get as much rest as possible that day after your LASIK.
On the first day following the procedure, the doctor will want to see you for a follow-up visit. You should be able to drive yourself to this appointment, but you will need to wear sunglasses to help with light sensitivity. Your follow up visits will typically be at 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months. Additional visits may be scheduled if the doctor believes it is medically necessary or if there is a possibility of the need for an enhancement.
An enhancement is a second procedure, usually performed at least three to six months after the first laser to correct significant residual refractive errors. During an enhancement the "seal" around the flap is gently broken and the flap is gently lifted up. The laser than shapes the cornea in the same way as the first procedure. Enhancements are fairly common. National statistics are between 10% and 20% of all procedures. At the Omaha Eye & Laser Institute and Lincoln Eye & Laser Institute, our enhancement rate is even better at around 5%-8%. Enhancements are more likely on patients who had high refractive errors prior to their first procedure.
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Our Locations
Omaha Eye & Laser Institute
11606 Nicholas St.
Omaha NE 68154
info@omahaeye.com
Toll Free: 800.766.8705
Local: 402.493.2020
Lincoln Eye & Laser Institute
Bryan Medical Plaza-East
1500 S. 48th. St. Ste 610
Lincoln, NE 68506
Toll Free: 800.726.2647
Local: 402.483.4448