| Now it's time to talk about the actual procedure your doctor has recommended for you.
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On the day of your operation, |
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you will be asked to put on a surgical gown. |
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You may receive a sedative by mouth |
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and an intravenous line may be put in. |
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You will then be transferred to the operating table. |
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and you'll be given an anesthetic in the form of eye drops ... |
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and an eyelid holder |
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will be placed around the eye to prevent blinking. |
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When the operative field is numb, the doctor will carefully remove the epithelium, or top layer of cells, exposing the stroma - the non-cellular portion of the cornea. |
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Next, your doctor will use a computer to control pulses of cool laser light. |
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These pulses will delicately remove microscopically thin layers of cells from the stroma. By removing tissue in this manner, your doctor will tailor the new shape of your cornea according to the exact nature of your vision problem. |
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The entire procedure usually takes about 5 minutes and is painless. |
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Following surgery, you'll be given protective contact lenses to wear for a few days while the outer layer of cells grows back. |
