Misconceptions About Lasik

There are many misconceptions and myths floating around about Lasik eye surgery. Despite the negative misconceptions, 98.4% of patients said they would choose the surgery a second time. If you are considering Lasik, it’s important for you to know what Lasik is and if the rumors you’ve heard about it are true.

What is Lasik?

Lasik is a corrective eye surgery that reshapes the cornea and, as a result, fixes vision issues. The cornea’s job is to focus light so that you can see an image. When the cornea is shaped imperfectly, it can create vision problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. During Lasik surgery, a surgeon uses a laser to reshape the cornea to treat these vision problems.

What are some misconceptions about Lasik?

The recovery time is long

Even though many people think that Lasik surgery takes a long time to recover from, it’s actually a relatively short recovery period. The procedure itself takes very little time to complete, around 15 to 30 minutes, and the recovery usually only takes a couple of days. Of course, your vision will take longer to completely stabilize, but it should be completely stable and clear 3 to 6 months after the procedure.

Lasik is painful

Doctors use a numbing solution before they perform the surgery so that you won’t feel any pain. There may be some discomfort after surgery, such as itchy or burning eyes, but the discomfort will fade as you heal.

My vision will be 20/20 after Lasik

Not everyone who receives Lasik surgery will have 20/20 vision afterward. Some people may still need to wear glasses or contacts after surgery depending on their vision before the surgery or as they age. A few people will need to have Lasik a second time to further fix vision problems, but this is rare.

Side effects are common

Serious side effects aren’t common, but there are a few minor side effects to be aware of. These side effects are all temporary and will go away during the healing process. Side effects include seeing glare and halos around lights, blurriness and difficulty driving at night. Dry eyes is a more common side effect after Lasik surgery, and it can be treated with eye drops. Eye infections are always possible, but these are also easily be treated.

Lasik won’t work for me because I have astigmatism

Astigmatism is caused by a misshapen cornea or lens. Lasik can fix this, especially with recent advancements in technology. However, people with astigmatism usually need to have stable vision without recent major fluctuations in eyesight to qualify for Lasik.

Now that you know about these common misconceptions, you’re ready to set up a consultation with an eye surgeon to see if you qualify for Lasik. At your consultation, the doctor will evaluate your vision, measure your eyes and discuss any questions you may have about Lasik.