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LASIK eye surgery has become much more popular over the past decade. It's a common practice that brings relief to patients suffering from astigmatism, farsightedness and nearsightedness. If you've heard of LASIK, you've probably considered having the procedure done. The important thing is to understand the LASIK procedure before making your decision. The world LASIK stands for "Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. During this procedure, a laser is used to permanently change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the clear covering of the front of the eye, and this reshaping can provide relief and even cure a pre-existing condition. The relative speed and ease of the procedure are the main reasons why LASIK eye surgery is so popular. In just thirty minutes, the entire LASIK surgical procedure can be completed. The LASIK procedure begins with you lying back on a reclining chair in the examination room. This room will also house a large machine containing a microscope, a computer screen and the laser itself. After you've settled in to your reclining chair, your doctor will clean the area around your eye and will administer eye drops. An instrument called a lid speculum will be used to hold your eyelids open. Once this instrument is in place, the doctor will place a special ring on your eye. Very high pressures will be applied to create suction to the cornea. Your vision will dim while the suction ring is on, and you may feel pressure and a little discomfort during this part of LASIK eye surgery procedure. The suction ring also holds a cutting instrument called a microkeratome. This tiny instrument is used to gently cut a flap in your cornea. Once the cut is made, the suction ring and microkeratome will be removed. You'll be able to see during this part of the process. The doctor will then lift the flap and fold it back to allow the exposed area to dry. The next step of the procedure will bring the laser into play. A light is positioned over your eye, and your doctor will ask you to stare directly at this light. This is not the laser used to remove tissue from the cornea, but is a light used to help you keep your eye fixed on one spot once the laser comes on. If you're not able to stare at a fixed object for at least 60 seconds, then you may not be a good candidate for this surgery. With your eye in the correct position, the doctor will begin removing corneal tissue using the laser. At this point, you may notice a slight odor, similar to burning hair. While your doctor has control over the laser, a computer controls the amount of laser energy delivered to your eye. These settings were determined by your own personal data, which was taken at your initial evaluation and entered into the computer before your surgery began. Based on your data, the computerized laser vaporizes the predetermined amount of tissue. Once the pulses of laser energy have finished vaporizing the corneal tissue, the flap is put back into position. A shield is placed in position over your eye as a final step, providing necessary protection for the surgical area. If you've lived a lifetime with poor eyesight, it is truly amazing to think that this condition can be cured in just 30 minutes. No wonder LASIK eye surgery is so popular today.
Article Source: http://www.worldofarticles.net
Contributor Ernestine Clagge is a columnist for several web sites, on health and beauty and healthy body themes.
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