LASIK - Introduction

For most people, good sight and a good appearance are prerequisites for all aspects of daily life. The eyes are not called the windows of the soul without reason - they contribute substantially to the way in which one expresses their personality. The eye is, however, not just a visually salient beauty feature, but also a medium of sight which bears significant importance in one's daily life. The necessity of wearing glasses due to sight deficiencies is thus often felt to be an impairment by those affected - one the one hand, they are hindrances in sports and many obligations of daily life; on the other hand, they disrupt a person's natural appearance. Having to wear contact lenses does not really represent a realistic alternative in this case - not all people wear them and their daily use is effort-intensive and costly. In many cases, a substantial improvement of sight deficiencies can be achieved through a laser operation.

LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) refers to a method in which a precisely pre-determined amount of corneal cells is removed using a computer-driven laser beam. In eyes with normal sight functions, incoming light is refracted in the cornea and lens in such a way that a sharp image is generated on the retina. Sight deficiencies have their root in an incorrect angle of light refraction, which can be corrected via precise resurfacing of the cornea. In addition to other procedures offered by refractive surgery (e.g. LASEK, etc.), LASIK is, world-wide, the most commonly used form of correction for sight deficiencies: in the last year alone, 10,000 people underwent LASIK eye treatment operations.

The procedure typically lasts only a few minutes and is accomplished using only local anaesthetic administered via drip. It is a method which is pain-free and minimally effort-intensive in terms of preliminary and followup treatment. To this end, patients who have decided to undergo a laser operation should refrain from wearing contact lenses and eye cosmetics in the time before the procedure. In the first hours after the operation it is advisable to hold the eyes closed in order to guarantee an optimal healing process. Afterward, with the observation of a few preparatory measures, a normal life is possible for the most part and an eye bandage is typically not necessary.
Naturally, in the time directly following the procedure, regular check-ups with your eye doctor should take priority so that your personal healing process can be tended to optimally. For this procedure, risks arise only in rare cases. The doctor who is treating you will clarify the actual steps, advantages, disadvantages, as well as possible risks of LASIK treatment in a consultation session.
After about four to six weeks, most LASIK patients achieve normal sight to within +/-0.5 diopters and no longer need to wear glasses¹ – results that can be seen!