What Happens During Laser Eye Surgery?
Do you wear glasses or contact lenses? You may be able to reduce or even eliminate your need for corrective lenses with laser eye surgery. These procedures correct your vision, often with minimal recovery time, and allow you to enjoy life with clearer eyesight.
What is Laser Eye Surgery?
People who need corrective lenses usually have a refractive error. When light enters the eye, it should focus on the retina at the back of the eye. If the light does not focus correctly, laser eye surgery can help. Visionmax offers several types of laser eye surgery, allowing us to treat more people with their most effective option.
What Happens During Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery works by reshaping the cornea. This dome-shaped layer at the front of your eye helps focus light. During laser eye surgery, an excimer laser removes microscopically thin layers of the cornea to create a new shape. Your reshaped corneas focus light on the retina for clear eyesight.
LASIK
If you have LASIK, your procedure begins with a femtosecond laser that creates a flap in the outer layer of your cornea. This flap gives your surgeon access so they can use the excimer laser to adjust your corneal shape. The flap is put back in place and starts to heal quickly.
SMILE
SMILE uses a laser to create a disc of corneal tissue underneath the surface layers. This disc lets the cornea achieve the necessary shape. A small incision allows your surgeon to remove the disc and requires minimal healing time.
PRK
During PRK, your surgeon removes the cornea’s outer layer and performs vision correction with the excimer laser. PRK has a longer recovery time than other options but may be ideal for those who meet certain criteria or are not eligible for LASIK or SMILE.
Request a Consultation
We’d love to help you get all the information you need in order to make the best choice for your eyes. Request a consultation today! Our staff is available and happy to answer your every question.
What is Recovery Like After Laser Eye Surgery?
Recovery from laser eye surgery depends on the procedure. People who have SMILE or LASIK can usually return to work within three days. They may experience irritation, sensitivity, or blurriness for the first few days. People who have PRK can expect a recovery time of a few weeks while the corneal epithelium regrows. In all cases, your vision may continue to stabilize and improve for weeks after treatment.
Am I a Good Candidate for Laser Eye Surgery?
Good candidates for laser eye surgery have healthy eyes and reasonable expectations. People who are not good candidates for LASIK, especially due to thin corneas, may still be candidates for SMILE or PRK. People with an eye infection or medical condition may not be good candidates.
Take the Next Step
To learn more about laser eye surgery, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (780) 452-4111. We look forward to helping you!
