Imagine waking up the morning and being able to tell time from your mobile or by a wall clock without being dependent on your eyeglasses?
Your dream to shed the burden of glasses and get rid of the fuss of wearing and removing your lenses can be achieved through Laser eye surgery.
Lasik is a simple laser procedure done with a harmless excimer laser on the inner layer of your cornea. Lasik is the most common laser procedure performed all across the world for the last 3 decades, and there are no serious complications reported with a properly planned and evaluated Lasik procedure. This is a complete outpatient, non-surgical procedure, and painless.
We hope to clear up a few LASIK myths out there. That way you can avoid worrying about problems that don’t exist or avoid experiencing those that do.
By looking at the most common myths and learning the truth, you can make the best choice for your eyes.
Myth: I’m too old for LASIK.
Fact: LASIK is recommended for those over 18 years of age, but does not have any upper age limits. The only disadvantage with an older age would be the other age-related conditions affecting the eye (Macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma, etc) which may preclude you from getting the surgery.
Myth: LASIK is still a relatively new surgery so long-term side effects haven’t been evaluated.
Fact: This procedure has been performed for nearly 3 decades Several long term studies have shown the efficacy of LASIK and currently, it is the most popular refractive surgery being done and incurs very few complications, thanks to technological advancements.
Myth: LASIK is painful eye surgery.
Fact: With the exception of a brief moment of pressure felt during corneal flap creation, patients do not usually experience any discomfort or pain. The pain is usually alleviated using anesthetic eye drops and can be supplemented with medications for anxiety if need be.
Myth: LASIK is for nearsighted patients only.
Fact: The current advancements in technology allow us to treat a wide variety of refractive errors (myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism)using LASIK. With treatments like monovision, multifocal LASIK, or blended vision we can tackle presbyopia (age-related farsightedness).
Myth: Permanent blindness is a potential LASIK complication.
Fact: LASIK is a procedure aimed at reshaping the surface layer of the eye (cornea). There have been no reports of blindness following the surgery. Few complications that may occur post-surgery are usually mild and are alleviated in time.
Myth: LASIK is not affordable for most people.
Fact: Over the years, advances in technology have led to a significant decrease in surgical cost.
Financing plans and vision insurance coverage are some of the other options available.
Myth: The effects of LASIK surgery only last a few years.
Fact: LASIK aims to provide permanent refractive correction and usually produces long-lasting results. Some amount of regression of the refractive error can be seen with time, which can be corrected using enhancement surgeries, which are offered for minimal or no cost at many eye facilities.
Myth: It takes a long time to recover from LASIK surgery.
Fact: The improvement of vision is usually noted immediately after the procedure, though at times it may be delayed for 24-48 hours, by which time there is recovery. The side effects such as dry eyes usually are temporary and can be managed successfully.
Myth: If you have a poor outcome from LASIK surgery, nothing can be done to fix it.
Fact: Usually most patients who undergo the procedure are very satisfied with the outcome. If the results prove suboptimal, a wide variety of treatment options are available to tackle the same.
Myth: A successful LASIK surgery means you will never need eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Fact: It does not prevent the progression of normal aging changes in the eyes and hence one may need reading glasses after 40 years of age. One might also still need to wear glasses on a part-time basis for specific tasks, such as driving at night.
Are you ready to move past the myths and get the facts about LASIK eye surgery? Schedule a free consultation with a LASIK specialist at M.M.Joshi Eye Institute
Author
Vijay Krishna