Alyssa Mencacci
ISM 6th period
Bekker, Mary. "Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK)." The Gale Encyclopedia of
Medicine, edited by Jacqueline L. Longe, 5th ed., Gale, 2015. Health & Wellness
Resource Center,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/FTJNVP920790735/HWRC?u=j084910009&sid=H
WRC&xid=1f6e0422. Accessed 25 Oct. 2018.
LASIK stands for Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis.
A procedure executed by ophthalmologists on patients that have myopia
(nearsightedness), astigmatism, or hyperopia (farsightedness).
There are different procedures for different eye conditions, for example Myopia is treated
by flattening the cornea, Hyperopia is treated by steepening the cornea.
A good candidate for LASIK has either Myopia, Hyperopia, or Astigmatism. The patient
must be 18 years or older and they must have had relatively stable vision for at least 2
years.
A standard LASIK procedure takes from 10-20 minutes and the patient should see results
immediately after the procedure.
Before the procedure an ophthalmologist will use a variety of tests to check if the patient
is still a good candidate for the procedure.
Patients are given anesthesia drops for their eyes and drops hat prevent inflammation and
infection.
The laser process takes 30-60 seconds. This process changes the cornea depending on the
condition that the patient has.
Patients who got the procedure were part of the upper class or upper middle class, it was
a very elective procedure.
An optometrist is usually the person who handles the pre-op and after care.
A patient who gets a LASIK procedure is recommended to have a follow up visit every 6
months.
There are two kinds of LASIK, standard and custom.
Standard LASIK is when patients have the same refractive error and are treated with the
same setting on the excimer laser.
Custom LASIK is when patients undergo a more specific testing that beams light through
their eyes, based on how the light enters their eyes can determine what kind of
irregularity they have.
This article had very thorough information about the LASIK procedure and how it works,
it also gave insight on what will happen after and before the surgery and what to expect
afterwards.
Alyssa Mencacci
ISM 6th period
Vorvick, Linda J., et al. "Lasik eye surgery." ADAM/Surgeries and Procedures, Truven Health
Analytics, 2011. Health & Wellness Resource Center,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A270980567/HWRC?u=j084910009&sid=HWRC&xid=
a0f14b29. Accessed 26 Oct. 2018.
the cornea covers the iris and is transparent.
The cornea is the part of the eye that bends light.
If the cornea isn’t the right shape or in the right position that can affect someone’s vision.
Before a procedure, surgeons use water soluble ink to plan where incision are going to
be.
Surgeon performs a Keratectomy to cut the cornea into a flap, which exposes the
underneath.
A keratectomy causes a corneal flap, which allows surgeon to see cornea underneath.
The surgeon uses a small incision tool to cut around or through the corneal flap.
In some cases, the laser machine will arrange the cornea into a position that will fix the
vison of a patient.
Illustrates the difference from before and after how the cornea looks.
Depending on what kind of eye condition the patient has, the cornea will look either
flatter or steeper.
The article also shows where the surgeon places the ink and how the cornea rotates to fit
into its new position.
To prep the eye for surgery, surgeons use drops to numb the eye.
The procedure includes a computer controlled laser that redirects the cornea based on the
placement of the surgeons previous ink marks.
Right after the cornea is put into a new position, the outer edges of the flap connect and
bind to the edges that were cut.
The article shows the cornea’s previous shape which was causing the low vision, and
then there is another picture that shows the cornea either flattened or steepened, which
fixes the patients vision.
The pictures in the article shows the process of cutting the corneal flap and then using
ink, which is in circles on the eye, to plan where the cornea needs to be placed.
The ink circles move according to where the laser moves them, after the cornea is moved
the circles are in different areas of the eye because of the rotation.
This article was very informative and had a lot of visuals to show the difference of the
cornea shape before and after a procedure, it explained what a keratectomy was.
Alyssa Mencacci
ISM 6th period
“LASIK Eye Surgery.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 30
Dec. 2017, www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774
While normal cornea can bend light into the eye and produce clear vision, people with
eye conditions don’t see as well because their corneas don’t bend light as well or a much.
LASIK is an alternative to having prescribed lenses, for example contacts or glasses.
There are some risks associated with LASIK that surgeons will let patients know about
before the procedure.
There can be signs of dry eyes, overcorrections, under corrections, or corneal flap
problems and vision changes.
There are certain conditions that patients may have that will increase risks after the
procedure.
If patients have autoimmune diseases, dry eyes, unstable vision due to being pregnant or
being on medications.
Patients will talk with their doctors well before the procedure to make sure that the don’t
have
LASIK surgery is considered an elective procedure, so many insurance companies may
not cover the price.
Another thing to remember is that after the surgery patients will not be able to drive due
to the procedure, so they should make sure to have a person that can take them to the
appointment and take them back home.
Also after the procedure patients should stay away from wearing eye makeup or anything
that could cause infection or irritation to the eye.
Before getting the incisions done, the surgeon will put a suction on the eye to test the
pressure of the cornea,
After surgery patients may be given medication for pain or any discomforts.
Overall patients have a very good chance of having 20/20 to 20/25 vision after the
procedure.
Some patients might still need prescribed lenses but they would be not as intense.
There is a statistic of 8/10 people who no longer needed any prescription lenses after
having LASIK.
If patients need to have both of their eyes done, then the surgeon will do both on the same
day.
During surgery, patients are asked to stay relatively still and to focus on a light that the
doctor has set up above them.
Surgeons will use a laser that has already been programmed to reshape the cornea, this
procedure is known for having a big technological role.
This article talked about the LASIK surgery, the importance of it, and who should get
LASIK, overall, I got a lot of information from this website about LASIK and its use to
patients.
Alyssa Mencacci
ISM 6th period
