As we grow older, our eyes – much like the rest of our bodies – don’t perform as well as they used to, leaving us trying to remember where we placed our glasses or applying irritating contact lenses to our eyes every morning. Thankfully, with recent medical advancements in optometry, many people are saying goodbye to their corrective lenses and turning their sights toward laser eye surgery.
Two Common Laser Eye Surgeries
LASIK
The most popular and safest laser eye surgery is the LASIK procedure, or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a painless outpatient medical procedure that begins with a computer-guided laser cutting a small flap in the eye, folding it over, and then remodeling the corneal stroma. This process usually takes less than a minute. The flap is then replaced and naturally heals quickly, allowing the patient to continue normal activity 24-72 hours after the procedure. LASIK is ideal for people who are at least 19 years old, have had a corrective lens prescription for at least a year, and suffer from moderate to light refractive error.
Corneal Inlays
Unfortunately for many people with more severe vision problems such as glaucoma or cataracts, LASIK simply isn’t an option. Luckily, however, corneal inlays such as the Raindrop® Near Vision Inlay are. The 10-minute process is nearly the same as LASIK except that instead of reshaping the cornea, a biocompatible lens is placed between the outer layer of the eye and the cornea. The inlay, which has a viscosity similar to the cornea, then forms to the shape of the eye and the patient can go about his or her business shortly thereafter.
Before Your Surgery
While the laser eye surgery procedures themselves are handled rather quickly, there are some steps you need to take before scheduling your own.
- Schedule a preemptive consultation with your local ophthalmologist or optometrist, where you will undergo a complete eye examination, a corneal topography, and receive a WavePrint Map of your corneal makeup. A surgeon will then review your results and decide whether you’re an ideal candidate for laser eye surgery.
- If you have any questions about the surgery or your results, the surgeon will answer them during your consultation.
- If approved, you should discontinue the wearing of soft contact lenses 2 weeks before surgery, toric lenses 2-3 weeks prior, and hard or gas permeable lenses 4 weeks before stepping into the operating room.
- On the day of your laser eye surgery, it is important to have reliable transportation by a responsible adult.
Schedule a Consultation
If you think you are a good candidate for LASIK or the Raindrop® Near Vision Inlay, or you simply want to view our large selection of prescription contacts, eyeglasses, and sunglasses, contact Michigan Eye Institute or call us at (810) 484-0555.
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