If you are looking into getting refractive surgery, your main goal is likely to reduce your dependence on visual aids and gain greater visual freedom. Relying on glasses and contact lenses can be a hassle.
Glasses can be easily broken, lost, or misplaced, affect your style, and limit the activities or hobbies you want to enjoy. Contact lenses can feel uncomfortable or get foggy.
LASIK can allow you to experience a life less dependent on visual aids. Keep reading to learn if you need glasses after LASIK!
What is LASIK?
LASIK is the most popular type of refractive surgery. The results are consistent, the procedure is quick, recovery is straightforward, and most importantly, it is very safe.
LASIK works by changing the shape of your cornea. The cornea is the transparent dome at the front of your eye.
If you look closely enough at someone’s eye from the side, you can see it is round and clear. The cornea performs many functions, including bending the light that enters your eye so you are able to see clearly.
In fact, the cornea is responsible for most of the focusing power of your eye. Nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism are refractive errors caused by a cornea that is irregularly shaped or an eye that is too short or too long.
By reshaping the cornea, your eye doctor can correct your refractive error and compensate for the irregular shape of the eye.
What Happens During LASIK?
First, your eye doctor will numb the surface of your eyes using anesthetic eye drops. This will ensure you are comfortable during the procedure.
Then, they will create a flap in the front surface of your cornea. The cornea has three layers, and the middle layer is the thickest.
The flap is made in the first layer, and the actual reshaping is completed in the middle layer. Once the cornea has been reshaped, your LASIK surgeon will reposition the flap for healing.
Will I Need Visual Aids After LASIK?
While LASIK is highly effective at reducing dependence on glasses and contacts, some people may still need visual aids after surgery. Over ninety-six percent of LASIK patients are happy with their results, and the procedure is typically very effective.
However, there are several reasons you may still need glasses or contacts periodically after a successful LASIK procedure. LASIK can not prevent future vision changes that may occur later in life due to other eye conditions.
For example, presbyopia is a common eye condition that develops as you age. As you get older, the lenses inside your eyes lose flexibility.
This makes it harder to focus up close. You may need to begin wearing reading glasses to help compensate.
You may also need LASIK touch-ups in the future if your vision changes. All things considered, it is likely that you will significantly reduce your dependence on visual aids after LASIK and give yourself greater visual freedom.
If you have questions about the results of LASIK, talk to your eye doctor. Determining that you are a good candidate for LASIK will also increase your chances of not having to rely on visual aids after LASIK.
Do you want to learn more about LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Frantz EyeCare in Fort Myers, FL, today!
