You may long to be without these devices if you rely on eyeglasses and/or contacts to improve your vision. Inserting and taking out your contacts day in and day out takes time, yet when you wear glasses, you must be careful not to scratch the lenses and order costly pairs as needed. Fortunately, there is a solution. LASIK surgery can be done on many people who rely on glasses. This procedure uses a laser to reshape the cornea, correcting the improperly shaped cornea causing nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. If you are considering this procedure or already have an appointment, you may be curious how long it takes. Here are a few steps involved in this eye surgery and how long each step takes.
The Consultation
Before LASIK can be scheduled, a consultation will need to be done. This consultation typically requires a couple of hours of your time. The doctor must know your medical and eye health history during the consultation and conduct a thorough eye exam. To be eligible for the surgery, there are many boxes that you must fit into. You must not have any active eye diseases, must be over 18, must have a healthy cornea, must have a stable eyeglass prescription for the last two years, and be able to undergo this procedure medically.
The Procedure Itself
Believe it or not, this procedure is relatively fast. It takes less than ten minutes per eye, with some people being treated in less than a minute. As such, you should expect to be done with the procedure in less than 20 minutes if both eyes are being treated.
Pre- and Post-Op
Most offices will ask you to come in 30 to 60 minutes before your scheduled surgery time to prepare you for your surgery. You will then wait another 30 to 60 minutes after the surgery to be able to leave. You will need someone to drive you home, as your vision will be blurry. Typically, you will have a post-op visit one to two days after your surgery. The doctor will ensure your cornea is healing well. Most people get most of their vision back within 24 to 48 hours after their procedure, but it can take up to 60 days for your vision to stabilize fully.
If you are interested in improving your eye sight and getting rid of glasses and contact lenses, we can help. Contact Southwestern Eye Center to discuss all of your Lasik needs.