LASIK Eye Surgery for Nearsightedness (Myopia) in Chicago, IL

What is myopia ?

Myopia, often referred to as Nearsightedness, is a condition of the eye in which the light that enters the eye does not directly fall onto the retina, but in front of it. This abnormality causes the images in the distance that are being looked at to be out of focus, as the image or object moves closer, the image becomes clearer. People who are myopic often complain of blurred and distorted distance vision, squinting, eye fatigue, and headaches. Individuals who are nearsighted may experience all or some of these myopia symptoms.

Can LASIK Fix Nearsightedness?

There are several ways in which a patient can choose to address their myopia diagnosis. Lasik is a procedure to correct myopia and to give patients the freedom of not having to rely on glasses and contacts to see clearly. By using a laser to reshape the cornea, Lasik eye surgery for myopia is a useful and effective way to cure myopia.

How Does LASIK Correct Nearsightedness?

Dr. Colman Kraff has been committed to providing safe and effective treatments to his patients over the past 3 decades. Here at the Kraff Eye Institute, we utilize the most advanced technology to deliver the best results!

The Lasik procedure works by reshaping the front surface of the eye, called the cornea, so that when light and images enter the eye, they fall directly onto the retina instead of in front of it. To determine if you are a candidate for Lasik to treat myopia, the first step is to come in for a no cost, no-obligation consultation. During your consultation you will have a series of preliminary measurements to determine your eligibility, they include:

• The strength of your current prescription and how well you see with it.
• The thickness of your cornea.
• The shape of your cornea.
• Your overall eye health.
• Your overall general health.

Your doctor will review the measurements taken, and determine if Lasik is indeed an option for you.

If you decide to move forward with surgery you will need to be out of your contact lenses for a short period of time leading up to your dilated pre-operative exam and surgery. The measurements obtained at your initial consultation are meant only to be a screening evaluation to see if you fall within treatable perimeters for surgery. At your pre-op, we will gather all the precise measurements that will be used on the day of your surgery. Dr. Kraff will review these measurements in addition to looking at the internal health of your eye. He will then confirm if surgery is still a safe option for you and will be glad to answer any additional questions you may have.

On the day of surgery, you should plan on being in the office for about 2 hours. Prior to surgery, you will be given an oral sedative to help relax you during the procedure. During surgery, you will be given several sets of topical numbing drops to ensure a pain-free experience! You will also need a way of getting home without driving yourself or taking public transportation alone.

Once you and your doctor determine Lasik for myopia is right for you, the procedure involves the following steps:

• Using a laser, a thin flap will be created on the front surface of the cornea.
• Once the flap is created, the surgeon will lift the flap allowing access to the underlying corneal tissue.
• Using an excimer laser, the surgeon will re-shape the corneal tissue to correct the myopia.
• After reshaping the cornea, the surgeon will realign the flap back over the cornea.

The flap, over the next several days, will naturally readhere to the cornea and work as a bandage to help expedite the healing process. With LASIK, most patients have a highly functioning vision and can resume most of their normal activities within 24 hours.

Recovery Time After Myopia LASIK Procedure

One of the benefits of having LASIK surgery is the quick recovery time! Immediately following your LASIK procedure you will be encouraged to go home and try to sleep for as long as possible. You will be given oral pain medication to help manage and minimize any discomfort you may experience. Patients may feel some discomfort following the procedure, here a some of the things you might experience:

• Burning
• Irritation
• Tearing, often excessive
• Light sensitivity
• Foreign body sensation
• Scratchiness

These can range from very intense to very mild, and each patient can have very different experiences. Most patients have highly functioning vision within 24 hours and resume most of their normal activities.

Is LASIK Treatment Effective for Myopia?

LASIK eye surgery can be used to treat mild to moderate nearsightedness, in individuals that have healthy eyes. LASIK for extreme nearsightedness is also highly effective. LASIK has been shown to work very well to reduce an individual's myopia or nearsightedness. Almost everyone has an improvement in their vision, with most people finding they are significantly less dependent on glasses and contact lenses. LASIK eye surgery is a safe option for individuals who meet the criteria for the procedure, your surgeon will determine at the time of your consultation if LASIK is the best option for you.

Am I a Candidate for LASIK Nearsightedness Correction?

There are many factors that go into determining if an individual would be a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. The best way to establish whether or not LASIK is a safe option for you, is to come in for a no-cost, no-obligation consultation. During your consultation you will have several tests and measurements of your eye, including but not limited to:

• Current prescription
• Prescription stability
• Corneal thickness
• Mapping the corneal shape
• Overall eye health

If all of these measurements fall within the parameters of performing the procedure safely, your doctor will recommend the procedure to you. LASIK eye surgery can be a suitable option to fix your nearsightedness.

Schedule a Consultation

To schedule a complimentary no-charge consultation, please click Schedule Lasik Consultation or call 312-444-1111.