Are you sick of viewing life through a blur because of your poor eyesight? LASIK surgery may help you see things clearly.

Drs. Clifford Salinger at V.I.P. Laser Eye Center perform this safe and effective surgery to help patients regain their clear vision, sometimes for the first time in their lives.

Are you a candidate for LASIK surgery? Read on to discover if this laser procedure is right for you.

LASIK explained

To understand how LASIK corrects your vision, you must understand how your eyes work.

If you have normal vision, you receive images that are clearly focused on the retina in the back of your eye, because light rays bend properly when passing through your cornea to contact the retinal surface.

However, if you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism, your cornea is imperfectly shaped, which causes light to bend incorrectly and focused away from the surface of the retina. This lack of precise focus causes your brain to receive a blurred image.

Most people with distorted vision use lenses to correctly bend light and aim it at the surface of the retina. LASIK is a form of laser refractive surgery that reshapes your cornea, permanently correcting your vision at the source of the problem.

During LASIK surgery, your eye surgeon creates a thin corneal flap, then pulls back the flap to expose your corneal tissues. Then, a laser reshapes your cornea in a pattern unique to each patient.

The surgery takes about 30 minutes.

What are the side effects of LASIK?

The side effects of LASIK are mild and include some discomfort that you can treat with over-the-counter medication and ice packs; sensitivity to bright lights and haloed vision; and dry eyes you can treat with eye drops.

Side effects can last from a few days to a few months.

Are you a good candidate for LASIK?

A good candidate for LASIK eye surgery is at least 18 years old and:

• Has worn glasses or contacts for at least three years
• Has had stable vision for at least one year
• Has a lens prescription within certain parameters
• Is not pregnant or nursing
• Does not have a history of active corneal disease, corneal ulcers, cornea thinning,  glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy

If you think it’s time to ditch your glasses and restore your vision, book a consultation at V.I.P. Laser Eye Center. Call the location most convenient to you  to schedule an appointment today.