Posted by: LaserVue LASIK & Cataract Center in Category: LASIK
How Long Does LASIK Eye Surgery Take?
We get it. You’re sick of the hassles of glasses and/or contacts, but that doesn’t mean you’re without reservations about getting LASIK. Any kind of medical procedure is a little scary, especially when it involves your eye. The quicker you can be in and out and onto recovery, the better. So how long does LASIK take exactly?
Well, let us break it down for you!
Stages of LASIK eye surgery
Advanced LASIK involves two lasers. The first is called a “Femtosecond laser.” It preps your eye for the vision correction part. This stage of LASIK takes about 10 seconds per eye. For the science geeks out there, the Femtosecond laser itself — as far as lasers go — is fast. Each pulse lasts 700 femtoseconds, and one femtosecond is one trillion times faster than the speed of a housefly flapping its wings one time.
Once that’s over with, you meet laser number two: the “Excimer laser.” This is the one that actually reshapes your cornea to correct your vision. It makes corrections as small as 0.25 microns at a time. That’s 4,000 times smaller than a grain of sand. It’s precise. The second stage of LASIK takes one to two minutes per eye.
So while you can expect to be at the surgeon’s office for about an hour, the actual LASIK eye surgery procedure, (if you’re getting both eyes done) takes less than 5 minutes.
How do I keep my eyes open and still, and for how long?
Obviously keeping your eyes open and perfectly still is already a difficult task on its own. Now imagine how difficult it would be while undergoing surgery. Although it sounds like an impossible task, it really isn’t. And you won’t have to do it alone.
First, a small device will be used to hold your eyelids open, which prevents you from blinking. But don’t stress. Eye drops are applied to numb your eyes and reduce your impulse to blink.
As for keeping your eye still, an “eye tracker” monitors the position of your eye and compensates for any small, involuntary eye movements. This ensures that each correction is delivered to the exact right spot while the laser is active.
I Still Have More Questions About LASIK Eye Surgery
Of course you do! And the best person to talk to is an experienced doctor who performs LASIK. The surgeons at LaserVue LASIK & Cataract Center have years of experience. And, they are more than happy to answer any and all questions you may have.
Contact us to schedule your LASIK eye surgery consultation by calling (800) 527-3745 or fill out the form below to get in touch with us and learn more about LASIK.
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