The surgeon can't use a general anesthetic because you have to remain conscious, throughout, and be able to look directly at the laser. However, anesthetic drops are used for your eyes, so you will not feel any pain - only some pressure and a little discomfort. You will be able to see during the entire procedure, although your vision might blur or flicker, for a few moments.

Lasik surgery can be separated into 6 steps

1. First of all the surgeon will drop a few numbing drops into your eye and clean the area around it. Then your eyelids will be propped open.

2. Before the laser can start its work, the surgeon will need to cut a flap in your cornea. This could be done with either a laser or with microkeratome - a special cutting instrument. It might sound scary, but don't worry: you won't feel the cutting.

3. After that, the laser will be positioned over your eye and you will have to look directly at it for about 60 seconds. The reshaping has not started yet, but your eye needs to get used to being focused on the light. When your eye is in the perfect position, the laser will start its work. The laser is controlled by a computer, which is preprogrammed by the surgeon to remove a specific amount of corneal tissue.

4. After your cornea is reshaped, the flap is put back on it place.

5. Stitches won't be used to keep the flap in place; instead, doctors use a special protective shield to hold it. The shield will protect your eye from being touched accidentally.

6. That's it! Usually you can go home straight after the procedure, but you will have to organize a lift for yourself because you might feel a bit dizzy and your vision will be blurred, at first; obviously you shouldn't drive, under these conditions. The improvement in vision is usually noticable the same day, or by the following morning, at the latest.

Straight after lasik surgery you might feel some discomfort, like there is something in your eye. The most difficult thing is to resist the urge to rub your eyes, but you mustn't touch them until the flap is healed. There are also several restrictions, after the surgery. You shouldn't use any eye make-up for two weeks, play any sports for four weeks, or swim or take a hot bath for two months. Also you will have to come in for a follow up visit within 48 hours after the surgery, plus a few more visits during the following six months.
About the Author

Tanya Turner is an eye health expert. For more information about eye health and lasik surgery visit http://www.1-contact-lenses-consumer-guide.com/lasik-surgery.html

A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Lasik... Vision Correction Surgery There are different forms of vision problems, such as myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Vision correction methods continue to grow. Refractive surgery for vision correction has made important advances since its beginning . The first form of vision correction surgery is the radial keratotomy, or RK, used for the first time in the 1960s in Japan. This form of vision correction surgery was performed for the first time in the USA in 1978. Nowadays there are certain different methods of vision correction that can help the most of the people who need to improve their vision. Vision correction surgery are efficient for the patients with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. There are diverse ways of vision correction that can be used today, such as: radial keratotomy, laser vision correction, intacs and clear lens extraction. About 90% of Americans who have vision correction surgery choose the use of LASIK. Laser vision correction can treat myopia, myopia...

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