Do you know what LASIK is and how it can help improve your vision? To help patients learn more about this groundbreaking procedure, Northern Lights Eye Care in Anchorage, AK, offers explanations about who can benefit from LASIK, how it works, and what care is needed following treatment. 

LASIK refers to a cutting-edge vision correction procedure, and it stands for “laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis.” Unlike other surgical procedures, LASIK is nearly painless, and improved vision often results quickly, even as soon as the day following the operation. The experts at Northern Lights Eye Care help answer these common questions about the LASIK procedure:

• Who Benefits From LASIK Eye Surgery? Suitable candidates for LASIK surgery include those who are nearsighted, farsighted, and astigmatic. You have to be at least 18 years old (with some exceptions), not pregnant, and don't have serious eye conditions, such as cataracts and uncontrolled glaucoma. Your vision should also be stable enough that your prescription has not changed for at least 12 months.

• How Does LASIK Surgery Work? Using a microkeratome or a laser, an experienced eye surgeon creates a thin flap in your cornea, folds it back, and removes corneal tissue underneath using an ultraviolet laser. This reshaping of the cornea allows you to better focus light, providing clearer vision. Once shaping is complete, the eye doctor replaces the corneal flap.

• What Follow-Up Care Is Required After LASIK Surgery? Following your operation, you will need to attend multiple appointments, so that your eye doctor can make sure your cornea is healing properly, keep track of your vision over time, and prescribe any necessary enhancement procedures.

Northern Lights Eye Care offers eye exams for all patients in Anchorage and surrounding areas. To find out if you're the right candidate for LASIK, call (907) 276-3937 to schedule your first appointment, or visit the website to learn more about other available vision correction procedures.