Photo credit: iris.ca
In the case of nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, or presbyopia refractive surgery can help either reduce or eliminate the need for glasses/contacts and improve vision. Good candidates include:
- Patients with stable unchanging refractive errors
- Patients with thick healthy corneas and good overall ocular health
- Patients whose lifestyle/expectations match the surgery they choose
Candidates may have limited options or should avoid refractive surgery if they have:
- thin corneas
- severe dry eye
- extreme levels of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism
- corneal scars
- cataracts
- history of eye infections or an active eye infection
- diabetes
- glaucoma
What to expect with refractive eye surgery
Before your surgery, your optometrist will:
- Discuss options and expectations associated with the different types of refractive eye surgery
- Test your vision
- Measure the surface and thickness of your cornea
- Double check if any other existing conditions may complicate or prevent a successful outcome
During your surgery, your doctor will:
- Instill numbing eye drops
- Instill devices around your eyelids to prevent blinking
- Have the patient will stare at a target light to prevent from moving
- Clicking sounds, duration, other details may vary between different types of surgeries
After your surgery, you will:
- Use a see through shield to protect your eye while it heals for a few days
- Apply eye drops to reduce dryness and promote healing
- Experience varying amounts of scratchy/burning sensations temporarily
Be sure to discuss with your eye care provider about the varying types of refractive surgery options and if they are right for you. Some of these include: LASIK, PRK, ICL, LRI, SMILE etc.