LASIK Naperville

Are you planning on having LASIK surgery to correct your vision? If so, you should know what to expect and how the process works. Your doctor should explain everything to you as well as recommend specific procedures for your individual needs. You may not know that sometimes there are things you will be asked to do before and after the surgery.

Pre-operation Practices
If you wear contact lenses, your LASIK surgeon will probably advise you to stop them a few weeks before the surgery. Some contact lenses can alter the shape of the cornea, and if this occurs after the doctor has measured your eye, the accuracy of the surgery will be compromised.

If you wear make-up around your eye, you will be asked to stop applying that the day before and the day of surgery. The reason for this is to avoid the risk of any infection in the eye. Cleaning your eyelashes for a few days before your LASIK procedure is also advised.

The first step in the process is an assessment and exam. During this visit your doctor will ask you about your medical history and examine your eye with specialized instruments. In order to measure the shape of your cornea, an aberrometer is used. This machine is a scanner that when combined with a new technology called Wavefront-guided technology, can create an accurate and detailed topographical map of your eye. This then allows your surgeon to plot the exact areas in your cornea and amount of tissue to ablate in order to create the correct shape.  By ablating and etching small areas of the cornea, the doctor re-shapes it to give you 20-20 vision or close to it.

Post-operation
The entire LASIK process lasts about 15 to 30 minutes.  You will be able to leave the doctor’s office soon afterward, and many people report improved vision right away. You will need to avoid bright sunlight and keep a cover over the eye at night to prevent scratching it.

Your eye may feel itchy or burning after the anesthetic drops wear off. The doctor should give you some eye drops or pain medication to help. This discomfort may last a few days, but will gradually improve. You should wait 2 to 3 weeks before using eye make-up again as a precaution to avoid infection. Swimming, strenuous sports and activities such as hot tubs or saunas should also be avoided during this period.

Your vision will improve gradually, and it may take 2 to 3 months before your vision is stable. You should be able to see clearly without glasses or contacts at this point. It is important to undergo follow-up visits to your doctor for up to 12 months to make sure you are healing correctly and to circumvent any complications.

Naperville, IL
Naperville, located west of Chicago 28 miles west, is considered one of the top cities in the U.S. to raise children and live (Money Magazine 2005). With about 145,000 residents, it hosts many acclaimed schools, including excellent public and parochial schools, and a top-notch public library system. With a low crime rate, Naperville also offers many public parks, shopping and dining in the downtown district, public transportation options, and choices for employment and housing. Some of the city’s employers are factories, retail, technology companies, and small business. Naperville also has its own living history museum called the Naper Settlement.