Did you know that LASIK is one of the safest and successful procedures performed on the eye? Lasik has over a 96% patient satisfaction rate!
But there are still plenty of misconceptions about LASIK. These misconceptions or myths could be keeping potential patients from taking the plunge. Do yourself a favor and arm yourself with the knowledge you need by learning what LASIK myths to avoid!
LASIK Truth: Every procedure comes with potential risks to consider. When it comes to LASIK, complications are not normal! Vision correction is different for every patient, so it’s important to know what to expect.
Some possible complications after LASIK include infection or a condition known as corneal ectasia. While these complications can result in decrease in vision, they occur in fewer than 1 in 1000 cases. You also may experience dry eye or discomfort after LASIK, however this is usually temporary.
As you recover, it’s important to protect your eyes. This includes avoiding trauma or rubbing your eyes if they feel irritated and diligently using the prescribed eye drops and medications after your procedure.
LASIK Truth: Because it is an outpatient procedure, some people may believe LASIK is not surgery. This is false!
When you get LASIK, the corneas of the eyes become permanently reshaped. This kind of reshaping means you are causing your eyes trauma from which they need to recover. LASIK is not meant for everyone and requires a screening consultation.
LASIK Truth: This used to be true, but LASIK no longer uses blades to reshape your cornea. Instead, LASIK uses two lasers. The first is a femtosecond laser.
The femtosecond laser creates a flap in the cornea. The flap is then folded back, allowing access to the middle layer of the cornea.
Your LASIK surgeon then removes a tiny amount of corneal tissue with an excimer laser. It is this reshaping of the corneal tissue that corrects for any refractive errors you may have. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
LASIK Truth: Although LASIK can seem too expensive, it’s actually not! The up-front cost is usually $4,600-$5,200, or $2,300-$2,600 per eye.
Since LASIK is an elective procedure, your insurance won’t cover it. So how can LASIK be more affordable than glasses or contacts? Think about how much money you spend on glasses and contacts every year.
Most people are spending at least $500 per year on contact lenses alone! Glasses only need replacing every few years, but when they do need it, it could cost $700 or more. Imagine a world where you no longer have to pay that $500 every year, or $700 every 2 years for glasses and contacts. That’s the case after LASIK.
LASIK starts paying for itself after a few years, so you can think of it as an investment. Worth it!
LASIK Truth: While it is true that many LASIK patients do achieve 20/20 vision or better without glasses or contacts, you may become reliant on glasses as you get older.
As we age, the eye continues to change. This may result in the need for a LASIK “touch up” or the increased reliance on glasses or contacts in the future.
LASIK Truth: There are many requirements patients must meet to be a LASIK candidate. A thorough screening process is needed in order to determine if LASIK is appropriate for each patient. Prior to LASIK we look at the structure and strength of your cornea, the stability of your glasses prescription, and eye conditions such as severe dry eye that may exclude you from having LASIK.
Who isn’t a good LASIK candidate?
The LASIK screening process allows use to minimize possible complications as much as possible and ensure our patients have the best possible outcomes after LASIK.
Don’t let myths about LASIK scare you away from clear vision! Contact Washington Eye Physicians & Surgeons for your free LASIK consultation today!
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The material contained on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider.
