Benefits of LASIK

LASIK is the number one elective surgical procedure today, and more than a million Americans have had the procedure since its inception. The main reason for its popularity is the many benefits that it offers, including minimizing or in some cases even eliminating the need for the patient to use eyeglasses or contact lenses after the procedure.
 

Candidacy for LASIK

LASIK has an extremely high success rate. According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, 96% of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better. However, it’s high success rate doesn’t make LASIK automatically the right solution for everyone.

Candidacy for LASIK is assessed by our doctors on a case by case basis so that you be certain that whatever treatment is recommended for you, it will give you the very best opportunity to improve your vision. During your consultation, our doctors will perform a thorough examination of your eyes and vision, ask you about your general health and talk you through both the procedure and aftercare.

The general guidelines for LASIK candidacy state that patients must:

• be at least 18 years of age

• have had stable vision with no prescription changes for a minimum of 12 months

• have a current prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses that falls between specified parameters (Our doctors will be aware of what these parameters are)

• have no significant medical or eye-related problems that would make you a poor candidate

• have no history of corneal disease

• not be pregnant or nursing at the time of the procedure

Better vision

Clearly, the biggest reason for choosing LASIK is improved vision. While some patients have relatively mild problems with their eyesight, others experience major disturbances in their vision that makes functioning day to day almost impossible without the use of visual aids. LASIK can dramatically improve the quality of your vision, reducing the need to wear visual aids, or in some cases, completely eliminating it.
 

A short, painless procedure

LASIK surgery can be performed in one, very short procedure. You should expect to spend around 30 minutes in the surgery suite, but the actual time it takes can be as little as 10 minutes – for both eyes! The remainder of the time will be spent preparing you and ensuring you are comfortable afterward. The entire process is carried out after anesthetic drops have been placed into your eyes, so you can rest assured you will feel absolutely no pain throughout. However, if you are particularly anxious about the process, it may be possible to be given a sedative to help you relax.
 

Fast recovery

LASIK eye surgery is renowned for its fast, simple recovery process. You will be able to return home the very same day as your procedure, and the flap that was created in the corneal tissue will start to heal itself without the need for sutures or bandages. Most patients can return to work within a day or two of their procedure. However, you will be expected to attend a follow-up appointment with our doctors after your surgery so that we can ensure that your eyes are healing correctly.
 

Extremely safe

LASIK is an extremely safe procedure when performed by a certified and experienced eye surgeon. Laser technology means that the incisions are made with total precision and accuracy, and the process is completely sterile. The risk of complications in laser vision correction is very low, occurring in only around 1 in every 10,000 cases.

 

Better quality of life

Eyesight problems can be a huge inconvenience. Activities like swimming and snowboarding are much more difficult if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. In regular day to day activities, there can be the worry that your eyeglasses may fall off, or that you have left them behind when you need them. If you suffer from pollen allergies, you may find putting contact lenses in nearly impossible. In short, there are lots of ways in which the need for visual aids can interrupt your life, and it can be extremely frustrating. LASIK reduces or removes the inconvenience of eyeglasses or contact lenses and makes it much easier to get on with living life to the fullest.

Understanding expectations

An important element of any LASIK consultation is the conversation surrounding the expectations and predicted outcomes of your procedure. Many people mistakenly believe that LASIK will completely eliminate their need for visual aids. While this is a possibility for some patients, a good candidate for LASIK understands and accepts that they may still require the use of prescription visual aids in some circumstances, such as when driving in low light conditions.

If you are interested in finding out more about LASIK laser eye surgery, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, do not hesitate to contact our friendly, knowledgeable team. We look forward to supporting your journey to clearer vision.