Many people worldwide suffer from eye conditions and ailments that adversely affect their sense of sight. Fortunately, advances in modern medicine have made it possible to treat and correct eye defects without resorting to corrective glasses. An optometrist can conduct some surgical procedures in-office, thereby eliminating the need for glasses. Below are some common surgical procedures that can be performed during an optometrist appointment.
1. LASIK Eye Surgery
LASIK is an abbreviation for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. This laser-assisted technique is designed to improve patients’ eyesight and eliminate the necessity for contact lenses or glasses. It’s a very common operation. This treatment is quick and generally takes about half an hour to correct both eyes. Laser therapy removes underlying tissue beneath the cornea, which helps restructure your cornea and improves your eyesight. Astigmatism, long-sightedness, and shortsightedness are the most prevalent issues that this surgery corrects.
2. PRK
The full name of this procedure is photorefractive keratectomy. It’s a refractive surgical procedure to cure long-sightedness, short-sightedness, and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK, this surgery eliminates cells from the surface of your cornea and doesn’t generate a flap to alter its surface. Some people’s corneas are more suitable for this procedure than for LASIK. The process takes around 10 minutes during an optometrist appointment, and your eyes may be uncomfortable and suffer for some time afterward. Most patients restore their vision by 80% after four weeks and 95% within 12 weeks of rehabilitation.
3. Glaucoma Surgery
Glaucoma is a disorder that occurs when the optic nerve in your eye is injured. Increased pressure inside the eye socket is the most typical reason. This is a dangerous disorder that, if left untreated, can result in blindness. Traditional glaucoma surgery or laser surgery may be used to treat you. Since the latter is an outpatient therapy process, you’ll be able to go home after it’s completed. There may be some hazy vision or eye irritation for a few hours, but it should completely clear up by the end of the day. Glaucoma surgery is used when laser therapy fails. After the treatment, you’ll be allowed to go home, but it could take up to a week before you can resume your typical activities.
4. Cataract Surgery
Cataracts grow and obscure the lens of your eye, causing your vision to blur or dim. They mostly affect people as they age. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataracts impact about 24.4 million Americans over 40. By 75, over half of all Americans suffer from cataracts. The clouded lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens during surgery to rectify the condition. Cataract surgery takes less than an hour.
If you’ve got any eye defects or impairment, scheduling an optometrist appointment can help an optometrist understand your condition and conduct the surgical procedure to correct the issue. Do you need surgery to correct an eye defect or condition? Give NV’y Optical on Main – Annapolis Eye Doctor a call today to schedule an optometrist appointment.