Also known as laser assisted in situ keratomileusis but shortened to LASIK, LASIK laser eye surgery has long been a popular method of surgical vision correction. Alongside the PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) and SMILE (small incision lenticule extraction) techniques, LASIK works by surgically adjusting the shape of the cornea at the surface of the eye. By changing the cornea’s curvature, the way that light is refracted (bent) through this surface can be adjusted to come to a sharp focus on your retina which results in clear vision and no glasses. You can read a more detailed explanation on how LASIK works.
If you’re still not sure about whether LASIK is worth your time (and money), take a look through this list of 5 advantages of LASIK surgery.
1) You can stop wearing your glasses and contacts.
The whole point of laser eye surgery is to be able to say goodbye to glasses slipping down your nose or contacts getting dry and scratchy by the end of the day. The vast majority of LASIK procedures are considered a raving success, significantly improving your unaided vision. Even if a tiny residual prescription remains after the operation, you’re still likely to be in a much better situation than pre-LASIK.
The effects of LASIK are intended to be permanent. However, in the minority of cases, a touch-up or enhancement procedure may be required if you experience a regression, meaning your prescription begins to creep back.
2) Short recovery time.
After LASIK eye surgery, many people report their vision is pretty good as soon as within a few hours post-op. Compared to PRK, which requires at least a week off from work and driving, individuals undergoing LASIK can often return to work the day after, as long as their work tasks are not strenuous or expose them to potential contamination.
The discomfort during the healing period after LASIK also tends to be significantly less than that experienced after PRK. Immediately after LASIK eye surgery, your eyes may feel gritty and sore, but this soon resolves over the following few days. Here are some tips on optimizing your LASIK recovery.
3) LASIK may be cheaper than glasses or frequent replacement contact lenses in the long run.
Of course, this depends on a number of factors, such as how much you tend to spend on your glasses or contacts, and any employer or health insurance contributions.
At the present moment, private health insurance doesn’t tend to cover LASIK as it is considered an elective procedure. However, some employers may offer a flexible or health savings account, so you can accumulate pre-tax dollars over time to put towards your LASIK surgery.
LASIK fees can be affected by factors such as location and surgeon experience. Do your research – you may be surprised at how cost effective LASIK can be in the long-term.
4) The procedure is quick and painless.
LASIK is performed as a outpatient procedure and you can be out the door as quickly as a couple of hours from the moment you first stepped in. The LASIK operation is conducted under mild sedation and local anesthesia rather than putting you under completely. This not only shortens your post-op recovery time but also eliminates all the risks that come with general anesthesia.
The LASIK operation itself typically takes less than half an hour to treat both eyes. During certain steps of the procedure, you may feel the sensation of pressure on the eyes, but patients don’t usually report pain or discomfort.
5) LASIK can treat a wide range of prescriptions.
When first introduced in 1990, LASIK was only suitable for near-sightedness (myopia). Nowadays, it can treat myopia as high as -12 diopters, far-sightedness (hyperopia) up to +6 diopters, and astigmatism up to -6 diopters. However, it should be noted that the limits of treatment on your individual eyes may be different depending on factors such as your corneal thickness.
While LASIK sounds amazing, it does come with some limitations and risks. Your eye doctor will assess your suitability for LASIK eye surgery. If they identify any factors which may increase your risk of a complication, fear not, just ask them to suggest an alternative.