After this step is complete, a laser or blade will be used to create a hinged flap in the cornea tissue. Next, a preprogrammed laser will reshape the tissue while you gaze at a small light. You won’t need stitches after this process is complete, and each eye takes just 10 to 15 minutes. (If you’re having both eyes done, the procedure will be complete in about a half an hour.)
One important thing to know is that you won’t be able to drive once the procedure is complete. So you’ll need someone to drive you home. You may also need to wear an eye shield to protect the eyes, especially at night. It’ll be important to follow this step so that you don’t accidentally irritate your eye in your sleep.
You’ll also be sent home with special eye drops to keep your eyes moist and to speed recovery. And you might need to skip work for a few days while your body recovers. This all depends on what your job entails and what your doctor feels is necessary.
Plus, you may have some after effects once the procedure is complete. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), this may involve burning of the eyes for a few hours. And you might experience blurred vision for a day or two.
LASIK Risks
While this sounds like a quick and easy procedure, LASIK eye surgery doesn’t come without risks. The worst-case scenario is irreversible blindness or eye damage. This would happen if the laser malfunctions of if you don’t take to the surgery well in general. That said, this doesn’t happen very often, meaning that LASIK eye surgery is relatively safe overall.
There are risks when it comes to vision in general, post-LASIK. There is a chance that vision may worsen, and you still might need glasses or contacts. Plus, there’s also a chance that corrective eyewear may not improve your vision to the same extent that it did before. You also run the risk of experiencing interference in your vision. For example, you may notice glare, double vision or halos.