 |
Surgery Day
|
When you arrive at the center, you will immediately check in with the receptionist.
Should you have any question, you may request a meeting with your doctor.
This should help to eliminate any anxiety or concerns you may have.
Shortly after your arrival you will be escorted to the Patient Preparation
Area where one our technicians will begin to prepare you for surgery.
First, several eye drops will be administered to prepare your eye(s) for
the Lasik procedure. Adverse reactions associated with the drops are unusual,
however if you have a history of allergies, especially to medication, you
should inform our staff immediately.
A mild sedative(s) will be orally administered. It is important for patients
to remain relaxed throughout the procedure, as they will be asked focus
on various points throughout the surgery.
The Laser Suite
Once the sedative(s) has began to take effect you will be escorted to the
Laser Suite where the surgery will take place.
First, several anesthetic eye drops will be placed in the eye(s). The drops
will numb your eye(s) immediately, and will help to eliminate the sensation
to move or blink
The operating room bed, as well as the microscope, will be adjusted so that
we can precisely align your eyes with the aiming beam of the laser's microscope
light. The laser is programmed specifically for your refractive error. **Certain
lasers technologies may require the use of centration references. These
are tiny dots painlessly created on the eye by a special marker in order
to align properly the laser.
In order to prevent the eyes from blinking, a simple device called an eyelid
speculum is used. It's painless.
A suction ring is then applied to the eye. It is perfectly normal for vision
to become dim, and / or even completely black for a period of 30 seconds
while the suction ring is being applied. Although pressure may be felt during
this process, there is no pain. ***Remember, you are not alone during the
procedure. Dr. Siems will talk you through every step of the procedure***
The corneal flap is folded back, and the laser procedure is performed on
the corneal bed. During this step of the process you will be asked to concentrate
on a light. The fixation light will appear blurry, this is normal.
The Red Fixation Light can be seen between the white dots on the left
hand side of photo.
In order to receive the best results possible, it is important to continue
fixating on the light throughout the procedure. Although there is no need
to panic if you lose sight of it, YOU SHOULD INFORM THE DOCTOR. Our most
recent lasers rack eye movement and automatically shut off if the eye moves
to far.
The laser will make a clicking or snapping sound. We will notify you ahead
a time so that you will not be startled. You may also notice an odor which
is created by the debris produced by the laser. It is perfectly normal.
The laser is a cool ultraviolet laser and is non-thermal. There is no burning.
You will neither see nor feel the laser light.
Most laser applications last less than 30 seconds.
The corneal flap is repositioned and the interface is cleaned and inspected.
The total time spent in the operating room is approximately 10 - 15 minutes
for both eyes.
A bondage contact lens may be placed on the eye after surgery. It will generally
be removed the following day.
Common Symptoms You May Experience
There should be very little, if any discomfort after the procedure. As the
anesthetic drops begin to wear off, you may notice some mild to moderate
irritation. This could last a few hours. If you have taken your valium as
directed, you should sleep through any minimal discomfort you may experience.
In the event you are unable to sleep, mild analgesics, such as Tylenol or
Advil, should provide adequate relief.
Other possible symptoms may include: light sensitivity, tearing, scratching
sensation (similar to having dust in your eye), and/or mild redness.
The suction cup utilized during the procedure may cause small capillaries
in the eye to become damaged or even rupture. This is normal and is NOT
permanent. These will appear as small red spots on the white area of the
eye and will disappear within a couple of weeks.
|
|
