| 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 a suction ring will be placed on the eye ... |
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to prevent movement and to maintain pressure within the eye. |
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When the operative field is numb, the doctor will use an automated microsurgical instrument called a microkeratome. |
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This tiny instrument will carefully create a thin corneal flap ... |
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which remains hinged to the eye. |
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Underneath this flap the inner layer of the cornea, called the stroma, is exposed. |
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Next, your doctor will use a computer to control pulses of cool laser light. These pulses will delicately remove microscopically thin layers of cells from the stroma |
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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. The entire procedure usually takes about 5 minutes and is painless. |
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The corneal flap is then closed and the surface is rinsed. |
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Following surgery, you'll be given protective contact lenses to wear for a few days while the corneal flap heals. |
