New York Laser Eye Surgery
The Lasik Procedure
Prior
to Lasik surgery, most laser eye surgery patients receive a small
dose of an
oral sedative for relaxation. The surface of the eye
is then anesthetized with drops and antibiotics
instilled.
The laser eye surgery patient is aligned under the laser and familiarized
with the sounds of the laser and the fixation lights.
The ocular surface and surrounding skin is then prepped
with an antiseptic solution and then sterilely draped.
After
positioning under the laser, the eye is held open with
a lid speculum (a wire device designed to gently hold
the eye open and provide the Lasik surgeon with sufficient
exposure). The microkeratome (flap maker) is applied
to the eye with suction. This suction is felt by the laser eye surgery
patient as a "pressure" and the vision dims during this
part of the Lasik procedure. The flap is then created with
the keratome and the suction ring removed. This part
of the procedure is the only time any discomfort is
experienced and usually lasts for somewhere between
30 and 60 seconds. Your vision will become dark or even
absent during this part of the procedure.
The
flap is then gently lifted superiorly, out of the path
of the laser beam. After realigning the eye, the laser
energy applied to the exposed corneal surface. Minute
quantities of corneal tissue are removed with each pulse
of the laser. There is no sensation of pain or discomfort
during the application of laser energy to the tissue.
The time it takes to remove the correct of amount of
tissue is usually less than one minute and is directly
proportional to your prescription.
The
newly reshaped corneal surface is irrigated and the
flap floated back into position. There is a normal pump
action which pulls fluid from the surface of the eye
and tends to stick the flap in place. The flap is dried
for 3 minutes and the lid speculum removed. In cases
of bilateral laser eye surgery, the keratome is then prepared
for the other eye and the Lasik procedure repeated. The actual
laser eye surgery time is less than 5 minutes per eye, but significant
time is spent in preparation of the eye and instruments.
You should expect to be in the laser eye surgery suite for 30
minutes in the case of bilateral surgery.
After
the laser eye surgery, you will be escorted back into an exam
room. The flap is evaluated after 10-15 minutes to insure
proper placement and adhesion. Post-operative instructions
are reviewed and an appointment is made for an office
visit the next day. It is imperative that you follow
all of your instructions to decrease the chance of suffering
a complication.
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