Should You Opt For Laser Eye Surgery?
Actor Shruti Haasan recently tweeted, "I'm almost ninety percent blind without my glasses. I can't see something that is two cms away from me." The 24-year old confessed that she often wishes the wrong person because of bad vision. "Yesterday, I wished the wrong person! Also walked into a glass door! Everything was a massive blur… not a nice feeling at all!! Long live contacts and glasses," her next tweet read.
But, being dependent on glasses and contact lenses all the time can be a pain. LASIK or laser surgery is a good option to correct your number. But is it safe? Is it a long-term solution? Here are factors you should take into consideration before you opt for it.
Stable Eye Number
But, being dependent on glasses and contact lenses all the time can be a pain. LASIK or laser surgery is a good option to correct your number. But is it safe? Is it a long-term solution? Here are factors you should take into consideration before you opt for it.
Stable Eye Number
"Irrespective of whether you are long-sighted or short-sighted, make sure your number has been constant for the past two years," says Dr Kirit Mody, FRCS. FRCO, Cumballa Hill Hospital and Heart Institute. If eye power is not stable, there are chances of a relapse after surgery.
Age Factor
"Anyone who is 19 or 20 and above can opt for LASIK or Laser in situ keratomileusis," says Dr A Sanjana, Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon, L H Hiranandani Hospital. This is because according to her, the number of our eye stabilises by the age of 19. "After the age of 40, one usually suffers from long-sight or gets reading glasses. This can be corrected with press biopic LASIK, another type of laser surgery," says Dr Sanjana.
LASIK is not recommended for those above the age of 55 as they are likely to develop cataract and will have to opt for a cataract surgery.
Is it Painful?
"The surgery is not painful at all as you are given local anaesthesia and it takes only about 10-15 minutes," says Dr Mody. But here are a few things you need to keep in mind post the surgery.
- Do not splash water or rub your eyes at least for two days.
- Avoid eye make-up like kajal, liner and mascara for the next two days.
- Wear an eye patch if the doctor recommends one.
- Use lubricating eye drops if your eyes are likely to be exposed to glare from the computer.
- Avoid going for a swim at least for two weeks.
Your vision maybe foggy or blurred and your eyes may water. But it lasts only for two days. So, you can even get laser surgery done over the weekend and be back to work by Monday/Tuesday!
Who Cannot Opt For LASIK?
"Those with thin cornea cannot opt for the surgery, as a part of the treatment involves making it thinner to correct vision," says Dr Mody. The cornea is usually made thinner and its curvature changed to correct the problem. So, those with a cornea thinner than 50 microns should not opt for laser surgery.
"Those suffering from glaucoma (a condition where the tension/pressure in the eye is higher than normal) cannot opt for the treatment as the surgery could raise pressure in the eye further," says Dr Sanjana.
People with a degenerated or damaged retina and those with Uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye or the 'uvea') cannot opt for LASIK. Pregnant women should stay away from the surgery and avoid it for up to three months from giving birth too.
Laser surgery is a good option to correct your vision, provided you follow the precautions mentioned above and take good care of your eyes afterwards. Here are more tips for healthy and beautiful eyes.
Have you opted for LASIK?
