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6 Myths of LASIK Eye Surgery

If you’re considering an investment in LASIK surgery, you should know that it is the safest, most successful and most commonly practiced type of refractive eye surgery in the U.S. Despite these facts, quite a bit of misinformation exists about this procedure. Does it hurt? Will you go blind if something goes wrong? Should you see the least expensive eye surgeon you can? Take a few moments to learn more about some myths regarding LASIK:


1. Lasik is painful. 

Prior to the procedure, your surgeon will place numbing anesthetic eye drops directly onto the eye and the area will be cleaned. During the procedure, you will feel a bit of pressure as your corneas are shaped; however, the process is completely painless. While patients may feel what is described as a “gritty” sensation in the eyes after surgery, discomfort is minimal and can be mitigated by Tylenol or Advil.

 

2. Lasik only corrects nearsightedness.

Initially, LASIK only corrected nearsightedness (myopia).  However,  quite quickly the procedure  evolved and LASIK has been able to successfully correct  farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism for many years now.  Additionally, LASIK can also address age-related reading problems in many cases.

 

3. After LASIK, you will never need corrective eyewear again.

While this is the case for many patients, over time our vision can continue to change.   Typically, this is related to the normal loss of reading vision that happens with age (this will happen to everyone, with or without LASIK.)  Additionally, some patients may notice a slight decrease in nighttime driving vision with age.  Thus, reading glasses or a very mild prescription  for driving at night may ultimately be required. Routine eye exams will help determine this.

 

4. Permanent blindness is a side effect of LASIK gone wrong.

To date, there has never been a reported case of total loss of vision due to complications from LASIK surgery. Serious complications due to LASIK are extremely rare, and during your pre-LASIK exam, your surgeon will determine whether or not you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery.

 

5. The laser can burn your eyes.

LASIK uses a “cold” laser, or a microscopic “cool ultraviolet light beam” to reshape the cornea. No heat is applied to the eye during the procedure at all.

 

6. The cheapest LASIK surgery is no different from the most expensive one.

Cutting costs on eye surgery is probably not worth it. “Low cost” LASIK procedures may be cutting out things like post-operative care, or surgeons may not be as skilled at lower cost eye surgery centers. However, just as importantly, a less expensive LASIK procedure may be using older, less safe and less precise equipment in an effort to cut costs.  For some, vision insurance may cover some of the procedure, and financing options are always available.

 

In most cases, LASIK surgery provides permanent refractive correction. It is the most common refractive correction surgery performed in the U.S. and is a safe and painless procedure. For more information about LASIK and the facts behind it, feel free to contact us.