Are you frustrated with visual aids like glasses and contact lenses? Does it feel like they hold you back from seeing the world in the most clarity possible? You may want to consider a vision correction procedure called LASIK. Here at Mehan Eye, we’re proud to offer this incredible procedure to our qualifying patients.
LASIK is a permanent laser refractive procedure that corrects refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
LASIK is the most popular elective procedure you can undergo, with millions worldwide improving their vision. You can experience the world without glasses or contact lenses holding you back by undergoing a simple procedure to change how your eye focuses light.
LASIK also enhances your vision beyond what visual aids are capable of. Most LASIK patients end up with 20/20 vision or better, along with improved depth perception and contrast.
LASIK uses a femtosecond and excimer laser to reshape your cornea and correct refractive errors. The femtosecond laser is first used to create a small flap in the cornea.
The flap provides access to tissue in the cornea’s middle layer to reshape it. After using the femtosecond laser, your surgeon will use an excimer laser to remove a precise amount of tissue from the cornea.
Removing tissue from the cornea is what reshapes it and corrects refractive errors, improving your vision and ability to see clearly.
LASIK has the potential to correct your vision and help you see far more clearly than you ever could with glasses or contact lenses. But not everyone is a good candidate for the laser vision correction procedure.
You may be a good LASIK candidate if:
If you think that LASIK may be the right vision correction procedure, you can find out if you’re a good LASIK candidate by scheduling a LASIK consultation at Mehan Eye in Dayton, OH!
On the day of your LASIK procedure at Mehan Eye, it’s recommended that you wear loose, comfortable clothing. You’ll also want to wash your face, so it’s free of makeup.
When you arrive at our office, we’ll begin by putting special eye drops in your eyes to numb them. These eye drops will ensure you won’t feel any pain or discomfort during your procedure.
Once your eyes are numb, the procedure can begin. We’ll start by using an instrument called a speculum to hold your eyelids open during LASIK.
Next, your LASIK surgeon will create a small flap in the cornea to gain access to tissue in the cornea. You may feel slight pressure while they make the flap, but it should never be painful.
After creating the flap, your surgeon will reshape tissue in the cornea with a laser. They will only remove a precise amount of tissue to ensure the most accurate visual correction of your refractive errors.
You’ll be asked to stare straight ahead at a light to keep your eye in place. Your surgeon will use measurements of your eye taken during your LASIK consultation.
Once your surgeon finishes reshaping your cornea to the necessary qualifications, they can move on to the other eye. You can have LASIK performed on both eyes, with the procedure only taking a few minutes to complete.
After LASIK is over, there are no stitches or sutures to worry about, as the flap heals on its own. LASIK is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home after it’s over.
Make sure you have a trusted friend or family member to drive you home, as the medication to help you relax will make it unsafe for you to drive.
After having LASIK, the first thing you should do is rest and relax. Resting your eyes is the best way to start your recovery. In the following days after LASIK, your vision will continue improving. You may notice that your eyes feel dry, itchy, or irritated. These side effects are a normal part of the LASIK recovery process and should improve as you continue healing. Make sure you use eye drops prescribed by your eye doctor to reduce inflammation and prevent infection. You’ll also need to avoid all contact sports, swimming in bodies of water, and strenuous activities for several weeks. Be careful when getting water directly near your eyes in the shower, as it can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Your ophthalmologist will need you to come back for follow-up appointments periodically after your vision correction procedure. The first will be the day after LASIK to ensure your eyes are healing correctly and there are no complications. You’ll need to return for other follow-up appointments after a month, three months, six months, and a year after LASIK. During this time, your vision will continue improving, with many patients noticing that they can see with more clarity and precision than before having LASIK.
Most patients end up with 20/20 vision or better, though all patients are different. If you love the idea of achieving visual freedom from glasses and contact lenses, you should find out if you qualify for LASIK. Schedule your LASIK consultation at Mehan Eye in Dayton, OH, and start your journey to visual freedom!
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1020 Woodman Dr. Suite 200
Dayton, OH 45432
