Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care is committed to helping you achieve improved eyesight through our vision correction options. Apart from eyeglasses and contact lenses, we also offer LASIK.
Here’s what you need to know about it:
How LASIK Works
First, your eye surgeon will apply topical desensitizing drops on your eyes. Once the anesthesia takes effect, we’ll create a flap on your cornea using a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. While retracting the corneal flap, we’ll use an excimer laser to remove the unnecessary laser tissues. As a result, your reshaped cornea will enable you to see clearly without corrective eyewear.
Your eye doctor explains that LASIK can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Once everything is in place, we’ll return the flap to its original position. You won’t have to worry about bandages or stitches as LASIK promotes natural healing of your eyes.
LASIK Candidates
LASIK is only available for patients 18 years of age and above. To qualify, your visual acuity needs to have remained stable for the past 12 months and you shouldn’t have any other eye conditions. You need to be in good overall health as well. Most importantly, you must have a good understanding of LASIK, including the procedure, possible effects and associated risks.
How LASIK Differs From PRK
While LASIK is now the most popular form of laser eye surgery, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) came out first. Unlike LASIK, PRK doesn’t involve creating a corneal flap. Instead, your corneal epithelium, the outermost layer, is totally removed. Your cornea may take a few days to heal, growing new epithelial cells during this period. We may ask you to use soft contact lenses as a bandage. We may also instruct you to return after a few days for an eye exam to ensure the success of the procedure.
To learn more about LASIK, get in touch with us at (301) 859-4060 or complete our form. We serve Washington, DC, Arlington, VA, and nearby areas.
