Can You Get LASIK Eye Surgery for Farsightedness?
Can You Get LASIK Eye Surgery for Farsightedness? LASIK eye surgery stands as a beacon of hope for those troubled by visual imparities. Belonging to the family of refractive surgeries, it has revolutionized the field with its possibility of correcting vision issues such as farsightedness.
Farsightedness or hypermetropia renders near objects blurred while distant ones appear clear, causing considerable discomfort in daily life. The promise that LASIK brings to this condition is fascinating and invites further examination.
The potential benefits and risks associated with LASIK are worthy of understanding before one considers undergoing this treatment option. It’s essential to note that insurance coverage varies across providers consulting your company directly would give clarity on their policy regarding LASIK.
Can You Get LASIK Eye Surgery for Farsightedness? What is LASIK Eye Surgery?
LASIK eye surgery, an acronym for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is a popular form of refractive surgery in the field of ophthalmology. This surgical procedure employs precise lasers to reshape the cornea the clear front part of your eye. The reshaping improves how light entering your eyes is processed – leading to sharper vision overall.
This type of vision correction method has been instrumental in treating various conditions such as myopia (nearsightedness), hypermetropia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. For those affected by farsightedness, near objects appear blurry while distant ones are clear. By altering the curvature of their cornea through LASIK, these individuals can achieve better focus on nearer objects.
The procedure involves creating a thin flap on the surface of the cornea. Then using another laser to remove some corneal tissue underneath this flap according to specific calculations made based on each patient’s unique prescription. Once completed, this flap gets repositioned onto the underlying tissue where it bonds quickly without stitches required.
One fascinating aspect about LASIK eye surgery lies in its rapid recovery period and minimal discomfort post-procedure compared with other forms of refractive surgeries. While not everyone might be eligible for this corrective operation due to certain medical conditions or individual characteristics like having large pupils or thin corneas; for suitable patients, it provides a potent solution often resulting in 20/20 vision or better.
LASIK Eye Surgery for Farsightedness
In farsightedness, or hypermetropia, the light entering the eye does not focus on the retina as it should. Instead, because of an irregularly shaped cornea or lens and sometimes due to a shorter than average eyeball length, this light focuses behind the retina. This misalignment results in a blurred vision of close objects while distant ones remain clear.
LASIK eye surgery intervenes precisely here – it corrects this refractive error by modifying the shape of your cornea so that incoming light can focus correctly onto your retina. In simple terms, during LASIK for farsightedness treatment, surgeons aim at flattening out too-steep corneas and enhancing their focusing power using laser technology.
The procedure begins with creating a thin flap on your cornea’s surface using femtosecond laser technology. The surgeon then folds back this hinged flap to expose underlying stromal tissue; another specialized excimer laser is used next which emits ultraviolet light pulses to remove microscopic amounts from the central area of your exposed cornea carefully.
People who undergo LASIK eye surgery often achieve 20/25 vision or better which translates into significant improvement in quality of life since near tasks like reading become easier without needing glasses anymore! However remember everyone’s eyes are unique therefore outcomes might vary but generally trend towards noticeable enhancement post-surgery.
Despite such promising prospects though one must keep in mind potential risks associated with all surgical interventions including LASIK – discussing these thoroughly along with benefits offered by ophthalmologists can help make informed decisions regarding whether this procedure suits your specific needs best.
Benefits and Risks of LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK eye surgery brings a host of benefits to the table, offering an effective solution for those burdened by farsightedness. Yet, as with any surgical procedure, it’s not without its risks. It is crucial to weigh these advantages against potential drawbacks before making a decision.
The following are some noteworthy benefits and risks associated with LASIK eye surgery:
- Improved Vision: Post-LASIK, many patients experience significantly improved vision – often 20/25 or better. This improvement can make daily tasks like reading more comfortable without the need for glasses.
- Quick Recovery: One of the key bonuses of LASIK is the relatively rapid recovery time compared to other refractive surgeries.
- Long-lasting Results: Once your eyes have adjusted post-surgery (usually within few months), results are typically stable barring any significant shifts in your overall health or vision down line due to aging or illness.
- Reduced Dependence on Eyewear: Many people find that they’re less reliant on glasses or contact lenses after undergoing LASIK, if not completely free from them!
Conversely though one must be aware about certain risks involved:
- Dry Eyes: Some people might experience dry eyes after having LASIC surgery, which may require treatment with eyedrops temporarily till natural tear production resumes adequately.
- Flap Complications: The creation of corneal flap during LASIK might lead to complications such as infection or excess tears; however these are rare occurrences thanks largely to technological advancements ensuring precise cuts minimizing chances for such events.
- Visual Aberrations: Some individuals could face issues like glare/halo around lights especially while driving at night but this usually resolves itself over time as their eyes adjust post-procedure.
- Rarely Under-corrections/Over-corrections : Depending upon individual responses, there might be instances where not enough or too much tissue is removed leading to less than perfect vision. However skilled surgeons can usually avoid these issues by following strict pre-operative evaluations and calculations.
So while LASIK eye surgery holds considerable potential for correcting farsightedness, a thorough understanding of its benefits and risks will allow individuals to make the most informed decisions regarding their vision correction options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is a suitable candidate for LASIK eye surgery?
Not everyone can opt for LASIK. Ideal candidates are typically aged over 18, have had a stable prescription for at least one year, and possess healthy eyes with no diseases or injuries. It's also important that the individual's corneas aren't too thin or irregularly shaped.
How long does the LASIK procedure take?
The actual laser treatment in LASIK takes less than a minute per eye. However, you should plan to be at the clinic for about two hours on your treatment day to cater to pre-operative preparation and post-operative care instructions.
Will I feel pain during the procedure?
Before beginning the procedure, anesthetic drops are used to numb your eyes; thus making it virtually painless. You may feel slight pressure when creating corneal flap but typically there’s no discomfort while reshaping underlying tissues which is quite quick.
Can I go blind from LASIK surgery?
While all surgical procedures carry some degree of risk, severe complications like blindness from undergoing modern-day refractive surgeries such as LASIK are extremely rare thanks to technological advancements ensuring high precision and safety standards during operation.
