Laser eye surgery has been a major part of our society for more than a decade now. In that time, many people have decided to lose their glasses or just improve their vision by have a laser eye surgery performed. Many people, however, are curious about this procedure but are either skeptical of the benefits or are hesitant to participate in this trend due to lack of knowledge about the operation. In this article, we will learn about laser eye surgery, how it works, how much it costs, the benefits involved, and what you should expect afterwards.

What is Laser Eye Surgery
Laser eye surgery, or LASIK, is a technique that uses computer-guided lasers to cut into your eye and correct problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism (blurry vision). The FDA has approved LASIK and laser eye surgery since 1998 and there is a very slim chance of anything going wrong. Most people are able to restore their vision to perfect or nearly perfect quality by undergoing laser eye surgery. You are awake the whole time and feel no pain, although some patients report a smell like burning hair as their inner cornea is burned away by the laser.

Is It Really Worth It
While laser eye surgery may seem like a scary operation, most patients report it as being less traumatic than going to the dentist and there is little to no discomfort involved. As for the cost itself, prices for laser eye surgery vary depending on the level of correction that you need, whether you need both eyes corrected or just one, and what type of laser eye surgery you select. Fortunately, prices for laser eye surgery have not risen in several years, most likely due to the recent economic problems worldwide. The only universal factor in laser eye surgery is that surgeons quote prices per eye. Therefore, if you need both eyes corrected, your price is doubled. The strictly traditional laser eye surgery will most likely cost you about $1,500 per eye while the more advanced, highly accurate procedures would set you back about $3,000 per eye.Laser Eye Surgery

Pre-Op Check
Contrary to popular belief, not everyone is eligible for laser eye surgery. There is a crucial and mandatory pre-op checklist that you have to meet in order for the surgeon to work on you. For example, if you have any diseases or conditions such as glaucoma, diabetes, cataracts, or similar disorders, you will not be able to receive laser eye surgery. Studies show that, on average, about 50% of people who come in for a laser eye surgery consultation are rejected.

First Phase
The first phase of laser eye surgery begins by the surgeon having you lay back while he administers a type of eye drop that numbs your eye. The surgeon then cleans your eye and inserts a device to keep your eyelid open while he operates. He then places a ring on your eye to apply suction to the cornea while he cuts a small flap into your cornea that will allow the laser to access your inner eye.

Second Phase
The surgeon then removes the suction ring and asks you to stare at the light in order to keep your eye still. This phase is short but is extremely important as your eye needs to be steady in order for the laser to do its job accurately. The device that keeps your eyelid open is, of course, left intact.

Third Phase
The third and final phase of laser eye surgery involves the use of a laser to cut into your inner cornea and burn part of it away. This reshapes your eye and allows for it to settle into a more appropriate position that causes you to have much better vision. The laser is then turned off and the flap is closed with a protective layer over it that keeps external hazards like dirt and airborne bacteria from entering your eye.

Post Operative Care
Once the operation is over, the surgeon will schedule you for several post-operative check-ups in order to make sure that everything is going as planned. He may also give you a cleaning solution in order to wash out your eye. Whatever he tells you, you need to follow the surgeon's instructions to the letter. Try not to drive for a few weeks and be careful not to get anything in your eye. Fortunately, most people experience improved vision within the first 24 hours and it gets even better as more time passes.