Have a Better Summer with Visual Freedom Thanks to LASIK
August 12, 2024
If you get your first eye prescription when you're young, it's natural to wear glasses or contact lenses while your eyes change and grow. However, once you reach adulthood, you can permanently correct your vision with a procedure like LASIK.
If you enjoy summer, live an active lifestyle, or have a profession that keeps you on the go, there's never been a better time to think about LASIK. Keep reading to discover how to have a better summer with visual freedom thanks to LASIK!
What is LASIK?
LASIK, which stands for laser in-situ keratomileusis, is a popular elective procedure. During LASIK, a femtosecond laser is used to correct vision by reshaping tissue under the cornea, the round dome at the front of the eye.
Reshaping the cornea allows light entering the eye to focus correctly onto the retina, creating clearer vision. LASIK corrects nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
You can only be a good candidate for LASIK if you're at least 18 years old. You also need a stable prescription that's remained unchanged for a year or more, among other vital factors. Many patients report having 20/20 vision after having LASIK, which makes enjoying the summer with clear, bright vision, even easier.
Is LASIK a Complicated Procedure?
The first step to starting your vision journey is scheduling a LASIK consultation at Whitten Laser Eye. Dr. Whitten of Whitten Laser Eye has performed over 250,000 laser vision correction procedures.
During your LASIK consultation, your surgeon will take your medical history and review your options. LASIK is an outpatient procedure performed in-office at Whitten Laser Eye and only takes a few minutes per eye.
If you're considering LASIK, the only way to know if you're a good candidate is to schedule a consultation.
Are you a good LASIK candidate?
Find out by scheduling your LASIK consultation!
What is the LASIK Procedure and Recovery Like?
Before LASIK begins, you'll receive numbing eye drops to ensure you won't feel any pain. First, they will create a flap in the cornea of your eye to reshape it and correct any refractive errors.
To correct nearsightedness, they will flatten your cornea, while to correct farsightedness, your LASIK surgeon will make your cornea steeper. To correct astigmatism, your LASIK surgeon will use a laser to smooth an irregular cornea into a more standard shape.
Reshaping the cornea usually only takes a minute or less. After reshaping the cornea, your LASIK surgeon will reposition the cornea with the flap, which rebonds with your eye naturally without needing stitches.
After LASIK, most patients report improved vision immediately, which will continue in the weeks following the vision correction procedure. You cannot drive the day you've had LASIK, but you'll be able to once your LASIK surgeon clears you to.
You'll need to come in for follow-up appointments after LASIK to ensure no complications or signs of infection. You may experience side effects like dry eyes, halos, or sunbursts around lights, often occurring at night.
These side effects usually dissipate over time. Patients also report improved vision immediately after LASIK; most have 20/20 vision afterward.
Why is LASIK Better than Wearing Contact Lenses?
Though there are many brands and styles of contact lenses, even disposable ones can leave your eyes dry and irritated. Wearing contacts all day, especially if you work or study using a screen, can leave your eyes red, itchy, and uncomfortable.
Many people spend more time outdoors during the summer, which makes them appreciate the freedom of not having to worry about contact lenses. However, contacts can also contribute to developing dry eye syndrome, which can lead to chronic dry eyes, among other frustrating symptoms.
Though contact lenses are comfortable for many sports, they can become dislodged during vigorous activity or severely irritated while swimming in the pool or ocean. After LASIK, most patients no longer need contact lenses and can enjoy sports and other activities without the worry and hassle of wearing these and other visual aids.
Does LASIK Work for Someone with an Active Lifestyle?
LASIK is an especially good option for people who are active in sports or enjoy being outdoors. Wearing glasses or contact lenses can be cumbersome for team sports like football, baseball, soccer, lacrosse, or field hockey.
If you wear glasses, these can get in the way while playing. Even while exercising or participating in activities like running or weightlifting, contact lenses or glasses can become dislodged or irritate your eyes, interrupting your ability to get into the zone.
Summer is a time of year when people enjoy being active. Imagine spending the summer at the beach, on the volleyball court, or at the pool without worrying about glasses or contact lenses.
What are Other Advantages to Having LASIK?
No longer having to wear glasses or contact lenses because you've had a vision correction procedure is also ideal for people in specialty careers. These may be those requiring travel at a moment's notice, or those that must respond to emergencies, including law enforcement and military members.
When you are on a deadline or facing an urgent situation at work, the last thing you should worry about is whether you've remembered your contact lenses, cleaner, solution, storage, and backup glasses. When you've had a successful LASIK procedure and corrected your vision, you no longer have to carry cleaning cloths or other materials for your vision.
Is LASIK Expensive?
LASIK is an investment in your vision that pays off in the long run. When you depend on visual aids, you'll have to pay thousands of dollars to replace your glasses when you get a new prescription or when they get damaged, broken, or lost. Contact lens costs also add up over the years when you factor in all the supplies, lenses, and other materials you will need to purchase.
LASIK is a one-time cost that pays off over a lifetime of good vision. Why not invest in yourself and finally achieve the vision you've always wanted?
How Do I Know if LASIK is Right for Me?
The first step is scheduling a LASIK consultation with your eye doctor. If you are a good candidate, your eye doctor will explain the procedure and tell you what to expect during and after LASIK.
Before having LASIK, you'll have your eye electronically mapped using a machine called a corneal topographer. The corneal topographer creates a map of your eye, which your LASIK surgeon uses to guide them during the procedure, ensuring the most precise outcome.
An estimated 10 million Americans have had LASIK since 1999. It remains one of the country's most popular elective procedures, and patients who have had LASIK report a high satisfaction rate.
Are you ready for a better summer? Take the next step towards amazing vision by requesting your LASIK consultation at Whitten Laser Eye in Charlotte Hall, Waldorf, and Chevy Chase, MD, and Richmond, VA.