Skip to content
Back To Blog

Keep Calm & Get LASIK

So you want LASIK laser eye surgery, but… you’re scared. If this sounds familiar, you’re not at all alone. In fact, this is extremely common for many people in need of vision correction. They know they’re eligible for the procedure and they believe they’d benefit from it. But, they're terrified of LASIK side effects or something going wrong. They keep wondering, “is LASIK dangerous?” If you can relate to this, here’s some information to help you understand what you’re signing up for and how to stay calm along the journey.

Is LASIK Safe?

First, realize that LASIK is indeed safe. Second, LASIK is also a painless procedure as an anesthetic numbing eye drop is used before the procedure. And based on research, the rate of complications from LASIK eye surgery is estimated to be well below 1%, making it among the “safest elective surgical procedures available today.” The surgery was first approved in 1998, and has been performed more than 20 million times to date since then. Simply seeing and embracing these facts can be helpful in soothing your nerves.

LASIK Side Effects vs. Complications

Second, many patients are concerned about potential side effects. It’s important to clarify here that side effects are different from complications. Side effects are temporary effects people experience as they heal from the surgery, while complications are often severe and do not go away on their own (in other words, they’re not part of the normal recovery process).

With that understanding in mind, rest assured there are very few side effects from LASIK, usually limited to dry eyes and slightly distorted vision around lights (e.g. glare, halos, etc.). These almost always clear up over time, and are not a cause for concern.

When it comes to complications, these occur less than 1% of the time, as noted above. The most common forms of complications are infections and/or dislocation of the corneal flap that’s made during the surgery. Both require additional treatment, but are almost always able to be addressed effectively with no lasting damage. And, while LASIK patients sometimes express a fear of going blind from the procedure, there has “never been a case where LASIK was the primary cause of blindness.”

How To Get - And Stay - Calm

In order to settle your nerves, here are some tips:

  • Remind yourself of the proof points outlined above when you start feeling anxious, because the research shows just how safe and effective LASIK really is.
  • Remember that “more than 96% of patients report being satisfied with the outcome of their procedure.”
  • Choose the best LASIK surgeon who has performed the procedure numerous times and has special qualifications, like our very own Dr. Joshua Duncan (who is a board certified, fellowship trained specialist in cataract and refractive surgery).
  • Accept the Valium offered to you prior to the procedure; it helps!
  • Ask your doctor every question you have, so you know exactly what to expect with your procedure. Information is power!

And LASIK isn’t the only option when it comes to improving your vision. There are several other LASIK alternatives as well as other modern approaches we use to improve the wellbeing of our patients and their vision.

So, are you ready to take a deep breath and have your life changed by improved vision? Contact us today to ask about our LASIK exams and schedule yours.