North Yorkers are both excited and scared about what happens during LASIK eye surgery. We don’t do the surgery ourselves but we work with patients before and after their treatments so we know the whole process and can help you know what to expect at every step.
Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, seems scary but it’s actually a quick and easy surgery. The surgery takes 15 to 30 minutes for both eyes but you’ll spend more time at the surgical centre getting ready and recovering right after the surgery. People are often surprised to learn that the actual laser treatment for each eye only takes a minute.
We take care of you before and after your surgery with our before and post-op LASIK and cataract treatment services. We take lots of measurements and do tests to make sure you’re a good candidate and to give the surgeon all the information they need to set up the laser for your eyes. We do a full eye exam to make sure your eyes are healthy and there’s no issues that will make the treatment or your recovery harder.
The surgeon will put special drops in your eyes to numb them so you won’t feel any discomfort during the surgery. You’ll be awake the whole time which can feel unusual but the surgeon and staff will guide you through each step. Making a tiny flap in the outer layer of your cornea is the first step in LASIK. Depending on the method used, a blade or a laser can do this. This step may feel some pressure but shouldn’t hurt.
After making the flap, the surgeon will fold it back to see the corneal tissue underneath. Then the laser will change the shape of this tissue to fit your needs. If you’re nearsighted, the laser will take away tissue to make your cornea flatter. It will take away tissue to make your cornea steeper if you’re farsighted. The laser will smooth out bumps and dips in the cornea’s shape to correct astigmatism. After the reshaping is done, the surgeon will carefully put the flap back in place. It will naturally stick back in place without stitches.
Our job becomes more important after your surgery. We see you for follow-up visits to check on your recovery and talk about any issues you may have. A lot of patients have some pain, dryness or fuzzy vision in the first few days. We’re here to help you deal with these issues with our dry eye treatment services and other types of care. Most people see a big improvement in their vision within 24 hours but it takes longer for their eyes to fully heal.
As part of our promise to avoid eye disease and keep your eyes healthy long after surgery, we’ll keep an eye on your progress. Patients sometimes have issues that need to be fixed but this doesn’t happen very often. If it does, we’re ready to deal with eye emergencies and injuries.
We talk about nutrition and healthy habits that can help you heal because your diet and overall health can affect how well you heal. Drinking enough water, eating foods high in vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids and not smoking all help you get well.
We tell families in North York who come to our specialist myopia control clinic in North York that LASIK isn’t suitable for kids but there are other ways to deal with vision problems when you’re younger. This helps parents understand all the different types of vision care that are available as their kids get older. Our optical services can help you see better while you’re preparing for surgery or recovering afterwards. Some patients need new glasses to wear between their consultation and the day of their surgery.
We at SeeRite Eye Clinic are with you every step of the way for your LASIK. We don’t do the surgery but we’re with you before and after to get you ready, answer your questions and keep an eye on your recovery. We can help you understand the LASIK eye surgery process so you can relax and set realistic expectations.