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If you rely on eyeglasses and/or contacts to improve your vision, you may find yourself longing to be without these devices. Inserting and taking out your contacts day in and day out takes time, yet when you wear glasses, you have to 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 that is causing nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. If you are considering this procedure or already have an appointment scheduled, you may be curious how long it takes. Here are a few of the 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 hours of your time. During the consultation, the doctor will need to know your medical history, your eye health history and conduct a thorough eye exam. In order 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 the age of 18, must have a healthy cornea, should have a stable eyeglass prescription for the last two years and be able to medically undergo this procedure.

The Procedure Itself

Believe it or not, but this procedure is relatively fast. The procedure itself takes less than ten minutes per each 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, one to two days after your surgery, you will have a post-op visit. 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 fully stabilize.

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.