Is LASIK or Femto-LASIK Surgery Painless and Safe?

LASIK vision correction and Femto-LASIK vision correction are safe, effective procedures for correcting the vision of patients who qualify for the procedure. Those who qualify for laser vision correction are adults over the age of 18, people without any eye conditions or eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts, keratoconus, or herpes, women who are not pregnant or nursing, those who don’t have diabetes, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis, and those with reliable vision for at least a year prior to the procedure. This means that you have been wearing glasses or contact lenses. You also must have the proper corneal thickness to make the procedure more likely to be successful. If you meet these conditions, your eye care specialist or ophthalmologist may recommend LASIK or Femto-LASIK vision correction surgery.

What Is LASIK Vision Correction?

LASIK vision correction surgery is a common, safe, and effective method of vision correction using laser-assisted surgery. The procedure is incredibly effective at correcting vision in people who are farsighted, nearsighted, or have astigmatism. In LASIK surgery, a corneal flap is created using a mechanical instrument to make a tiny cut.

What Is Femto-LASIK?

Femto-LASIK is short for Femtosecond-assisted laser in-situ keratomileusis, and is another method of laser-assisted eye surgery to correct vision. The difference between LASIK and Femto-LASIK is that Femto-LASIK uses ultrashort infrared pulses to perform the procedure, rather than a mechanical instrument. Many patients find that their recovery and healing time is much shorter after Femto-LASIK. There are also fewer complications.

How Laser Vision Correction Is Performed

Both LASIK and Femto-LASIK reshape the cornea in order to resolve vision problems. Both procedures are safe, effective, and have very little associated pain. Neither one requires stitches or bandages. Both procedures are complex and have slight, rare risks associated with them, including the risk of infection, scarring, or not achieving your highest level of vision.

What to Expect From Laser Vision Correction

Before your LASIK or Femto-LASIK procedure, you will have a full eye exam and will be asked about your medical history. If you wear hard contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them for three weeks before the procedure. If you wear soft contact lenses, you may need to stop wearing them for three days prior. On the day of the procedure, you may eat a light meal and take your prescribed medications. You should not wear eye makeup or hair accessories. Your eye surgeon will use numbing eye drops on your eyes and may use a mild sedative. The surgeon will use a small instrument (LASIK) or laser (Femto-LASIK) to make a corneal flap, and will then reshape your cornea using a laser. The procedure will take approximately 20 minutes, and you should be able to return to work in a few days.

LASIK and Femto-LASIK Vision Correction Risks

The most common risks or side effects associated with LASIK and Femto-LASIK are temporary and rare. They include:

  • Glare
  • Difficulty with night vision
  • Dry, scratchy eyes
  • Light sensitivity
  • Bruising
  • Fluctuating vision
  • Halos around images

In very rare cases, you may experience infection or scarring. If you are concerned about the risks or side effects associated with LASIK or Femto-LASIK, you should discuss the procedures with your eye care specialist or eye surgeon. You may find that the benefits of LASIK outweigh the potential for side effects.

Contact Us at Panorama LASIK

If you’re interested in learning more about the benefits of LASIK and Femto-LASIK vision correction, come see us today at Panorama LASIK. Our experienced eye care specialists can determine if you qualify for LASIK or Femto-LASIK vision correction and discuss the outcomes and benefits of the procedure. Call us today or request an appointment online.

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