LASIK
Are you interested in experiencing reduced dependence on glasses and contact lenses? Laser vision correction can allow you to experience greater visual freedom! At Cumberland Eye Care, we are dedicated to providing you with options to achieve this goal.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a type of refractive surgery that can permanently correct your vision. During LASIK, your LASIK surgeon will use a specialized laser to reshape your cornea.
The process of reshaping your cornea will correct your refractive error and allow you to experience the world with greater clarity. LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
If you have worn glasses for the majority of your life in order to experience clear vision, you likely have a refractive error. After LASIK, you can expect to experience crisp and clear vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
The LASIK procedure is very safe, effective and boasts a high success rate. Over 96% of patients who have had the procedure are happy with their results!
Although there are many life-changing reasons why someone would choose to have vision correction through LASIK, it’s not the best option for everyone. To determine whether or not LASIK is the best method of vision correction for you, visit your eye doctor at Cumberland Eye Care in Crossville, Tennessee.
What Happens During Femto LASIK?
Femto LASIK is a procedure where your LASIK surgeon uses a specialized laser, called a femtosecond laser, to assist them in performing the LASIK procedure. During LASIK, the lasers are customized to meet your particular needs.
Bladeless LASIK is an advanced, personalized procedure that can allow you to experience visual freedom you have not experienced before. Prior to the LASIK procedure, your LASIK surgeon will instill numbing drops into your eyes to ensure you are comfortable during the procedure.
Next, they will use the Femto laser to create a flap in the top layer of your cornea, the clear dome-like structure at the front of your eye. Once the flap is created, your LASIK surgeon will use another laser to reshape your corneal tissue below this flap to correct your refractive error.
Once they have completed this process, your LASIK surgeon will reposition the flap to heal in place during your recovery, and the procedure is done. LASIK is an outpatient procedure, meaning you will get to go home the same day of the procedure.
What is Bladeless LASIK?
At Cumberland Eye Care, our LASIK surgeons use some of the most advanced technology available during the LASIK procedure. The Zeiss VisuMax is a cutting-edge laser system that uses high-performance femtosecond laser technology and is distinguished by its precision, speed, and mild treatment method.
Thanks to the Zeiss VisuMax, LASIK at Cumberland Eye Care is not your parent’s LASIK! Beyond offering a boutique experience and a customized approach, bladeless LASIK with the Zeiss VisuMax allows your LASIK surgeon to provide you with a personalized treatment plan.
During LASIK surgery with this specialized laser system, your LASIK surgeon will use the VisuMax Femtosecond system to create the flap in the cornea. Next, your LASIK surgeon will move you to the MEL 80 excimer laser.
Your LASIK surgeon will then manually fold back the corneal flap to expose the deeper layers of the cornea, which will be altered to correct your vision. Then, they will use the MEL 80 excimer laser to reshape your cornea using pre-calculated and personalized measurements.
The Zeiss VisuMax is perfectly synchronized for a convenient workflow, effective patient care, and the best outcomes.
What if You Are Not a Candidate for LASIK?
Cumberland Eye Care offers alternative procedures like ZEISS SMILE. SMILE is often a better fit for patients with dry eyes or who may have been told they are not good LASIK candidates due to thinner corneas. If your corneas are too thin, removing even a tiny amount of tissue from the cornea during a procedure like LASIK can cause complications and issues with your vision.
SMILE is a laser vision correction procedure that corrects nearsightedness and astigmatism. The procedure uses the ZEISS VisuMax femtosecond laser to create a lenticule (about the size of a contact lens) extracted through an incision of fewer than 4 millimeters.
During SMILE, there is no flap created. Instead, your surgeon makes a tiny incision, followed by a lenticule.
What to Expect During Recovery From LASIK Surgery?
After the procedure, you will be able to recover for a little while before going home. Since your eyes will need time to adjust, you will need to have a friend or family member drive you to and from the procedure.
Prior to going home, your eye doctor will provide you with detailed instructions on how to best recover from the LASIK procedure. This will include abstaining from strenuous activity, avoiding getting water in your eyes, and wearing an eye shield while you sleep.
Your eye doctor may also prescribe you eye drops to use during your recovery to help promote healing and avoid complications. It is essential that you take these drops as prescribed in order to make sure you have the best results.
Who Is a Candidate for LASIK?
In order to schedule the LASIK procedure, you must first qualify as a candidate for the procedure. Your eye doctor may have specific qualifications to determine candidacy. Although LASIK is approved for individuals over the age of eighteen, the best time to undergo LASIK is in your twenties.
One of the most important factors that your eye doctor will consider when determining whether or not you are a good candidate for the procedure is your corneal thickness. In order for your LASIK surgeon to create the flap in your cornea, your cornea must be thick enough.
If your cornea is too thin for you to have a safe and successful LASIK procedure, your eye doctor may recommend an alternative procedure that can accomplish your vision goals. Another important factor your eye doctor will consider is your glasses prescription.
It is essential that your glasses prescription is stable for at least a year prior to the procedure. This is to ensure that you experience the best vision results after the procedure.
The only way to tell whether or not you may be a candidate for LASIK, or any other permanent vision correction procedure, is to visit your eye doctor at Cumberland Eye Care for an evaluation.
How Does My Eye Doctor Determine if I am a Candidate for LASIK?
Before you can schedule your LASIK procedure, you will need to see your eye doctor at Cumberland Eye Care for a LASIK consultation. During this visit, your eye doctor will perform a thorough examination of your eyes.
Your eye doctor will need to dilate your pupils in order to evaluate the structures at the back of your eye to ensure they are healthy. Beyond the personal examination of your eyes, your eye doctor will also want to take careful measurements and images of your eyes.
These include the thickness of your cornea, the length of your eye, and the most up-to-date glasses prescription. The measurements will tell your eye doctor the information necessary to determine whether or not you will be a good candidate for the procedure.
At the end of your consultation, your eye doctor will discuss the options for vision correction that best suits your vision goals and eyes. If your eye doctor determines that you are a good candidate for LASIK, you will then be able to schedule your procedure.
Benefits of Choosing LASIK at Cumberland Eye Care
At Cumberland Eye Care, our eye doctors are dedicated to providing you with personalized treatment so you can build the vision you want to have. Here are some of the benefits of choosing LASIK at Cumberland Eye Care:
- You will receive a customized vision plan, personalized to accommodate your vision goals, lifestyle, and hobbies
- Our surgical center provides a boutique experience for patients
- Experience better vision than what was achievable with glasses and contact lenses
- Have improved depth perception and contrast
- Experience reduced dependency on visual aids
Since most people are able to greatly reduce their dependence on visual aids after LASIK surgery, investing in LASIK can save money over time on glasses and contact lenses.
How Long Do the Results of LASIK Last?
In some cases, the results of LASIK appear immediately after the procedure. However, some people may not notice the full potential of their vision until their eyes have adjusted and recovered from LASIK surgery.
The vision correction provided by LASIK is permanent, meaning that you will be able to experience the results of LASIK for a lifetime. In some cases, LASIK touch-ups may be needed to keep vision as clear as possible.
Although you can expect to experience excellent results from LASIK for a lifetime, LASIK will not prevent vision changes related to other eye conditions. There are numerous eye conditions that one can develop over a lifespan that may affect vision.
Many people who choose to have LASIK vision correction, will get to experience permanently improved vision and reduced dependency on contact lenses and glasses.
Do you want to learn more about LASIK? Schedule an appointment at Cumberland Eye Care in Crossville, TN, today!
