For those who, like me, were unlucky enough to inherit poor vision (years of reading in the dark undoubtedly did not help either), wearing glasses or contacts is just another aspect of daily living. I thought laser eye surgery sounded too fantastic to be true when I first heard about it. How about a few minutes in surgery, during which you are fully conscious, and the promise of lifelong excellent vision? It has to be a scam. Not to mention, I was really uncomfortable with the thought of having surgery (well, technically, laser surgery) on my eyes.
But I decided it was time to make the leap after years of straining at screens, pulling out glasses during performances, and unwittingly ignoring people in public because I could not see them. My only regret is that I did not do it sooner. This is all the information you require about the operation that can change your life.
What is the procedure known as laser eye surgery?
Reshaping the eye with laser energy is known as laser eye surgery. “It modifies the cornea’s curvature to address disorders related to myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism,” explains James Kelly, MD, a specialist in ophthalmology and refractive surgery at Kelly Vision Center. “This could lessen or completely eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses.”
The cornea, which is responsible for the eye’s ability to bend and refract light, is where all the magic is found. The procedure corrects the eye’s refractive issues by reshaping the cornea using laser technology, improving eyesight.
As you may be aware, the two most popular laser eye procedures are tiny incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK), both of which take roughly ten minutes to complete. According to Dr. Kelly, “Lasik surgical results are usually permanent; however, around 10% of individuals may need a LASIK augmentation at some point following their initial procedure.”
What distinguishes SMILE from LASIK surgery?
According to Dr. Kelly, “the primary distinction with SMILE is that the laser incision is even smaller than with LASIK.” Instead of using a laser to remove tissue as in LASIK, a tiny disc of tissue is taken out of the cornea to influence vision correction. The primary advantages of SMILE are a quicker return to exercise and a lower chance of transient post-laser dryness.
What is the cost of laser eye surgery?
According to Dr. Kelly, the average cost of LASIK for both eyes is $4,500, though the exact amount will depend on your doctor and region. SMILE is usually a little more expensive because the dangers are reduced and the downtime is shorter.
Another thing to keep in mind is that, even though certain insurance plans might pay for part of the procedure, laser eye surgery is typically classified as elective surgery, meaning you will typically have to pay for your own costs.
What are a few typical laser eye surgery adverse effects?
The most frequent adverse effects of laser eye surgery, according to Dr. Kelly, include glare at night, dryness, and light sensitivity. Your eyes may require moisturizing eye drops during the first few weeks following laser eye surgery because the procedure temporarily reduces tear production; however, I did not require any after all. SMILE.
What to anticipate with laser eye surgery?
A thorough consultation is required before undergoing LASIK surgery. Those who are strong candidates for the treatment typically have the greatest long-term outcomes, which is another way of saying that your cornea must be thick enough to be surgically removed. To determine whether you can have the surgery done safely, your eye doctor will perform an examination, as well as interview you about your medical history. Along with figuring out the precise quantity of tissue to be removed, they will also assess which parts of your cornea need to be reshaped.
The next step, if you are authorized for laser eye surgery (I went with SMILE), is to cease wearing contact lenses for at least a few weeks prior to the treatment. This is because contact lenses have the potential to alter the curvature of your cornea. Additionally, you will be instructed to pick up a few prescription medications from the pharmacy for later usage (do not do as I did and forget to pick them up; it was not enjoyable to stumble to CVS wearing sunglasses right out of the operating room).
You might be offered medication on the day of the procedure to help you relax (Xanax works wonders, I promise). Your doctor will use an equipment to keep your eyelids open after administering numbing drops to your eye. The strangest thing is that right before the corneal flap is sliced, a suction ring is applied to your eye. It does not hurt, but you can feel some pressure.
The real cutting process then begins. To help keep your eye fixed while the laser works, you will be asked to fixate on a point of light. A tiny hinged flap is sliced away from the front of your eye with a little blade or cutting laser, and a small amount of corneal tissue is then removed with a laser that has been programmed. The surgeon repositions the flap once the cornea has been reshaped; this healing process eliminates the need for stitches.
Does laser eye surgery cause pain?
Although I was informed that there would be “moderate discomfort” during the process, the only difficult aspect of it was thinking about it—the actual surgery was painless. It can be frightening, but rest assured that the 10-second interval during which your vision is entirely dark is normal. The nurse gave me her hand and said I had a “amazing grip,” so I was thankful for that.
What is the recovery period following laser eye surgery?
According to Dr. Kelly, “there is typically about 5 hours of moderate to substantial discomfort following LASIK, which may include weeping and eye pain.” “Yet, a lot of people are able to return to their regular activities after a day, such as driving, working, using a computer or smartphone, and watching television.” After LASIK, you had to wait a week before applying foundation, but I was advised I could start wearing makeup right away with SMILE (I was prepared and waited a few days just in case).
The seemingly straightforward recuperation procedure was difficult for me to believe, yet my experience matched the doctor’s expectations. On the day of the procedure, I was essentially unable to move; my eyes felt as though they had just undergone a strenuous exercise, and I was unable to rub them, which was really annoying. However, I slept the deepest I have in weeks, and the next morning, I felt normal.
Having said that, I did experience mild blurriness for a week, but it was nothing severe, and it improved every day. And it was still a huge improvement over my incredibly hazy eyesight prior to the procedure. I was instructed to use lubricating eye drops as needed and antibiotic eye drops many times a day, but to be honest, I rarely needed to use the latter because I felt OK in my eyes. One week after my surgery, I received the news that my snazzy new eyeballs had 20/20 vision (flex).
Do laser eye procedures pay off?
Given the expense and inconvenience involved, this is undoubtedly a personal topic, but I have to say that my quality of life has never been higher. I have been blind for years because I detested wearing glasses and would not wear contacts, but I can tell you that life is much better when you can see. If you are unsure about getting a medical surgery, I do advise going ahead since you will be shocked that you waited so long in the first place. As with any medical operation, do your homework and find the correct doctor.