Common Myths About Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery

Lasik eye surgery is a well-known medical procedure that changes the shape of your cornea to help improve your eyesight. Although this surgery is becoming more and more common as we advance into the 21st century, several myths come with it.

For example, many people think that it won’t work for them or that sneezing at the wrong time might throw the whole operation or even a burning smell when the procedure starts. However, these are common misconceptions, which this blog will help explore and refute.

What Is Lasik?

Lasik is a type of refractive surgery that is used to correct myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism. A laser is used to change the shape of a person’s cornea to correct their vision. The reshaping of your cornea’s curvature helps change the way the light hits the back of your eye and thus corrects your vision.

LASIK in Harrisburg offers this longstanding treatment for anyone suffering from both long and nearsightedness and astigmatism.

The Burning Smell

Many people believe that since the laser is directed onto the surface of your eye and is reshaping your cornea, you can smell a funny burning smell during the procedure. While it is true that there is a funny smell during the process, you can rest assured that it is not a burning smell.

This is because the laser does not produce any thermal effect on your tissue, so it cannot burn your cornea—this is a myth. The actual source of the odor is a chemical reaction happening when the laser reacts with the cornea at near-atomic precision.

I Am Too Old For Surgery

Several people use their age as a reason not to get LASIK surgery—worrying that they are too old for the procedure. However, the truth is you are never too old to be treated for laser eye surgery. That being said, you need to check that your eyes are in good health before the surgery, and age might affect your suitability.

This means there is no hard rule ruling people in their 50s or 60s out from having the surgery, but instead that it will need to be taken case by case to assess the health of your eyes.

It Is All Very New

FDA approved Lasik in 1995, which is over 20 years ago, which means it is not a new technology but has advanced into the 21st century.

It Is Painful

The world of cinema and sci-fi has painted lasers as a painful intrusion when they come against your body; thus, many people think that the laser will hurt when it touches your eyes. Yet, this is not true; it does not hurt.

Patients are given anesthetic drops before surgery, which number your eyeballs, so you will not feel anything from the laser. What you might feel instead is a sense of downward pressure when the laser docks with your eyeball. But you certainly won’t feel a burning or the corneal flap is created.

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