1. What Are the Risks?

More than 5,000,000 Americans have already had LASIK and the number is increasing. Experienced LASIK surgeons report a less than 1% complication rate. Many ophthalmologists believe the long-term risk of wearing contact lenses can exceed the one-time risk of LASIK by a factor as high as 5X, and the most recent studies, including an Advisory from the FDA, suggest that contacts represent a serious risk to eye health.

2. Can I Really Get Rid Of My Glasses?

By choosing LASIK with the right doctor who is using advanced technology, the typical person age 18 to 45 will not need prescription glasses at all. Sometime between age 40 and 50, most of us will need reading glasses whether we have had LASIK or not. This condition is called Presbyopia and can be effectively handled through a special LASIK technique known as monovision, which has given thousands the ability to see both close up and far away. If you are considering LASIK and are using reading glasses, you should ask your LASIK surgeon if monovision will work for you.

3. Will LASIK Work For Me?

Most people over age 18 who suffer from nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism can be helped, but a thorough eye exam is the only way to determine if LASIK is right for you. The exam should include full corneal mapping, corneal thickness measurement, and measurement of your pupil size.

You can’t guess whether LASIK is the best solution for your vision and neither can your doctor. A LASIK Evaluation will tell you – and give you the opportunity to ask any questions you have.

4. Will It Hurt? When Can I Return To Work?

LASIK in the hands of an experienced surgeon using advanced technology, such as all-laser LASIK, is virtually painless. After a good night sleep, you can expect to wake to the joy of seeing the world clearly and without lenses - usually for the first time in many years. Most people are able to return to work within 24-48 hours of their LASIK procedure.

5. What Is PRK?

Procedures such “epi-LASIK” and “LASEK” are forms of PRK: a type of vision correction where the laser treatment is done on top of the eye, instead of under the protective flap. PRK is necessary for certain eye conditions where the cornea is too thin to create a protective flap. PRK is a less comfortable procedure than LASIK and can take up to two months to achieve the level of vision that LASIK can deliver in just a day or two, but PRK is better, when necessary, than the alternative of wearing contact lenses or glasses.

6. Isn’t All LASIK Laser Vision Correction The Same?

No. The biggest differences are between traditional LASIK and All-Laser LASIK. Some LASIK discount centers want you to believe that LASIK should be purchased like a commodity and that surgeon experience, technology, and follow-up care don’t matter. LASIK Laser vision correction will affect the way you see for the rest of your life. You should make your decision to have laser vision carefully, not quickly – and ask your surgeon exactly what technology he is using.

7. What About Night Vision Side-Effects?

Night vision side-effects when they do occur, (most usually with traditional LASIK) can include halos, starbursts, and glare around lights. In 2003, the FDA approved Bausch & Lomb’s Zyoptix wavefront excimer custom laser. This sophisticated laser system traces the unique contours of the eye to produce a precise three-dimensional map. This map allows the doctor to detect and solve the tiniest aberrations, resulting in a much higher percentage of patients achieving 20/20 vision in just one treatment, and a much lower likelihood of night vision problems.

8. How To Choose the Best Doctor?

This is definitely the most important question of all. Look for a local surgeon who will personally oversee every step of the procedure and take the time to answer all your questions. Remember, the only dumb question is the one you don’t ask. Ensure you feel at ease with the surgeon and his staff and that you’re being treated with the respect and care that you deserve as an individual.

LASIK is an extremely precise procedure and a surgeon who is thoroughly skilled and expert, with a superb track record, knows precisely what results he can achieve for you.