LASIK Flap: Everything You Need to Know
March 19, 2022
Corrective eye surgery is an enticing option for a lot of people, especially for those of us who are dealing with vision problems.
Officially approved by the FDA over 20 years ago, LASIK eye treatment has been sought after by many people and has boasted extreme successful results since. The procedure has become a standardized process, involving the creation of a corneal flap to help you see more clearly.
If you’re interred in learning more about LASIK eye surgery in Calgary, we encourage you to contact our local eye clinic today. Our staff will be able to help you out however you need.
LASIK Flap Surgery Explained
The Procedure
LASIK is an acronym that stands for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. In the words, it is a surgical process that involves changing the shape of a patient’s cornea. By doing this, nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism will be remedied. That said, it is important to keep in mind that, depending on the severity of your case, you may still need to wear glasses after the procedure is completed.
During LASIK surgery, a flap is made on the surface of your cornea. The cornea is the clear layer that focuses incoming light, directing it through your eye and enabling you to see images more sharply. A special computerized laser is utilized to do this. The specific shape of the flap is designed in accordance with the shape of your natural cornea; both aspects need to fit together. Your eye surgeon will fold the flap so it’s out of the way, and then proceed to adjust the inner layer of your cornea. These alterations will affect how the light is focused and, by extension, how clearly you can see. Once this is done, the flap is put back in place.
Then you’re all done! If you have any concerns or questions about receiving this eye surgery near you, don’t hesitate to let your surgeon know so they can see to it that you’re taken care of.
Recovery Period
One of the great things about this procedure is that the recovery time is fairly quick for more patients. It takes a couple of days for your eye and your vision to start to get back to normal.
Your eye surgeon will provide you with special goggles that need to be worn while you’re sleeping, and DON’T rub your eyes for the two weeks following your treatment.
Remember, every patient is different, and so is the health of their eye and their body’s ability to heal. For some, the recovery process may take up to 3 months until it’s fully completed. With that said, however, you’ll be able to return to your regular habits such as wearing makeup, exercising, swimming, and using goggles 4 to 5 weeks after your surgery. Always be sure to follow the instructions given to you by your eye surgeon near you.
Complications
No treatment is 100% flawless, so complications may arise. Fortunately, with LASIK surgery, such side effects only happen around 1% of the time. The most common issue is the new flap becoming dislodged or wrinkles forming. In these cases, your surgeon may need to go back in and adjust the flap.
Are you interested in receiving LASIK surgery near you? If so, come into Clarity Laser Vision and schedule a consultation with one of our eye doctors at a time that works best for you! We’ll walk you through each stage of the process, so you know precisely what to expect.
Call, send an email, or visit our location in person to get started!