LASIK Vision Improvement: What to Expect After Surgery

Laser surgery is used to treat a plethora of medical conditions, and has made a significant impact on eye care. LASIK surgery (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is the preferred treatment of more than 85 percent of laser eye surgery patients in Europe and the U.S. (Ref. 3.)

Uses

• LASIK is used to correct visual impairment in the form of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It aims to restore 20/20 or near-perfect vision.

How It Works

• During LASIK surgery, an incision is made in the cornea (the clear window in the front of the eye that is responsible for focus), creating a flap through which cornea tissue is altered or removed, depending on the condition.

Procedure

• According to WebMD (Ref. 2.), the actual eye surgery is completed within 10 minutes.

Results: Final Vision Improvements

• In most cases, vision is corrected immediately after surgery, or by the following day. Results are permanent. (Ref.2.)

Recovery

• Recovery is rapid. The minimal side effects that come with laser eye surgery subside in a couple of days. According to WebMD, these side effects may include dryness and irritation of the eye, difficulty seeing at night, and fluctuating vision.

Effectiveness

• The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery's 2008 survey showed a worldwide success rate of 95.4 percent for LASIK patients.