Everything You’ve Ever Wanted to Know About Lasik

Your eyesight depends greatly on how accurately your cornea refracts light onto your retina. When the cornea becomes compromised, such as from normal aging or disease, things may go out of focus. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, refers to this as a refractive error. Eyeglasses or contact lenses can correct most refractive errors, but Lasik actually changes the angle of the cornea, itself, making corrective lenses unnecessary.

What Is Lasik?

During Lasik surgery, your eye specialist uses a laser to reshape the angle of your cornea. Movements of the laser are precise and highly controlled, and they shave off small segments of the cornea, changing its shape and improving its focus.

Lasik surgery is non-invasive and usually brief, taking place in as little as 30 minutes. You’ll receive eyedrops before the procedure that numb your eyes, so you don’t feel any pain. Recovery is usually uneventful, though your eyes may feel a bit gritty or itchy afterward, and it may take one to two months for your vision to stabilize completely.

Is Lasik Permanent?

Lasik is a permanent treatment to correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. Once you’ve had the Lasik procedure, there’s usually no need for a second treatment. Your vision may be restored as much as 20/25 or better without the need for corrective lenses.

Why Is Lasik Better Than Eye Glasses?

Lasik isn’t necessarily a better treatment option than eye glasses. Rather, it may be a better choice for patients who don’t want to wear corrective lenses. Roughly 80 percent of patients who elect to have Lasik no longer need to wear glasses or contacts to see better.

If you’re interested in learning more about Lasik surgery in Champaign, IL, call Champaign Eye Professionals to schedule a consultation.