| Most LASIK and PRK procedures can be completed in only about 5 to 10 minutes and are nearly painless. Patients are often amazed at the ease and speed of the procedure,
as well as the rapid visual recovery LASIK is notorious for achieving. Before the surgery, you are offered a small dose of Valium and the eyes are numbed with anesthetic drops. Next, you are taken into the laser vision correction room
located at the Eye Foundation of Kansas City. You will be gently reclined on your back; your eyelids carefully disinfected, cleaned, and draped. In order to prevent your eyelids from closing during your procedure, a small eyelid holder will be inserted between your eyelids to keep them open throughout the procedure. Next, you’ll practice with your surgeon looking straight ahead at a small red target located underneath the laser itself for fixation. The eye not having surgery will also be taped shut during your procedure, to allow your operative eye to correctly view the assigned fixation target.
LASIK patients first notice the vacuum ring once applied which serves to elevate eye pressure so as to allow creation of an optically desirable flap. Within seconds after applying the ring, your vision will go to total darkness while a microkeratome is used to create the desired flap. This is actually nice, as then you will not have to "watch" this part of the surgery. The flap is hinged and gently folded back over the hinge to expose the corneal tissue underneath it (called the bed). Next, the
specialized eye tracking customized VISX excimer laser is used to reshape the corneal surface and restore vision in the process. This treatment takes variable times, depending on the extent of your eyeglass prescription, varying from seconds to a little over a minute. There is a popping sound and a bit of an odor to the laser as it reshapes the eye surface. This is all normal. After the laser treatment is completed, the corneal flap is gently reflected back into its original position and carefully realigned and smoothed into place. The interface is irrigated and the surface briefly air-dried to better secure its position. The lid holder is then carefully removed and a series of eye drops are instilled that include antibiotics, steroids, and anti-inflammatory properties. Clear bubble safety shields are placed over each eye for protection against accidental rubbing.
If your second eye is being treated the same day, then a completely different set of instruments and surgical gloves are used between your eyes. For eyes undergoing PRK procedures, there is simply no flap, and only one eye is done. These eyes require the addition of a bandage contact lens (comfort contact lens, with no refractive power in it). Your surgeon will examine your eyes following your surgery
either before you leave the Eye Foundation or by the next day to check your vision and your flap positioning. You will be given verbal and written instructions and a supply of eye drops
(artificial tears and antibiotics drops) to use over the next several days. You must have a driver take you home from the Eye Foundation. You will NOT be permitted to drive home under any circumstances.
Additional out of pocket costs include the purchase of additional artificial tears, and occasionally steroid eye drops that aide in healing of the eye.
To view our LASIK FAQ's (Frequently
Asked Questions), click here.
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