Questions About Lasik Eye Surgery

If you have slight vision problems and are compelled to wear contact lenses or eyeglasses in order to see, you may want to seek out Lasik vision. This technology uses lasers to repair or rebuild the cornea of the eye. It is performed by a ophthalmologist who is a medical doctor who specializes in eye treatments. The surgery is performed in his office under a local anesthetic. It has proven to be very effective for people who are suffering from mild to moderate problems with their sight. Those who have severe eyesight problems, however, can find some improvement in their vision by undergoing Lasik surgery. However, they should understand that this is not a miracle cure.

Here are some frequently asked questions regarding Lasik eye surgery:

Can I get Lasik eye surgery with my vision?

If you have certain health problems, such as an autoimmune disorder or diabetes, you are not a good candidate for this procedure. There are also diseases like macular degeneration that cannot be cured with Lasik surgery as well as glaucoma. You must be 18 years of age before you can expect to undergo Lasik surgery.

Only your doctor will know for sure if you qualify for Lasik eye surgery. Schedule a consultation or talk to your optometrist about the possibility of Lasik surgery and how it can help you.

Will I still need to wear glasses?

Not all vision problems can be corrected with Lasik eye surgery. Certain vision problems will still require contact lenses or glasses. There are some cases where people cannot get contact lenses because of severe vision problems. In such cases, it may be possible to correct the vision to an extent where the individual will be able to wear contact lenses instead of thick eyeglasses. Each case is different and only your doctor will be able to tell you for sure what to expect. With general myopia, you can expect to toss away your glasses if your vision is mild to moderately poor.

What are the risks?

There is a very low risk and most of it is due to anesthesia. Usually you are put into a "twilight" state where you are not completely under anesthetics, such as if you undergo oral surgery. Vision side effects can be trouble seeing at night for the first few months after the procedure. There are also some cases that your vision could end up getting worse. Things can always go wrong whenever you are undergoing any type of medical procedure.

Does it hurt?

No. It is painless. You can expect to have eye drops if the eyes get dry or sting just a bit but for the most part, this is a painless procedure.

Do I need time off work?

You can expect to take a day off of work while you wear your eye mask and heal your eyes. After that, you should try to rest your eyes as much as possible and wear the eye mask.

Worried about LASIK? Other options might work for you.

Frightened by headlines about LASIK side effects? LASIK gets all the advertising, but there are half a dozen alternate eye surgeries -- from a simpler laser approach to implantable lenses -- that might solve your squint.

Robert Bezel's story on Lasik surgery

While I'm sure that this story has merit and applies to certain people, the FDA needs to ensure that doctors of optometry are not just hanging a shingle saying that they are capable of doing Lasik surgery when they have performed few of those surgeries and are inexperienced -- an …

Lasik News Story 4/24/08

I had RK surgery in the late 80's. This surgery flattened my cornea. I have gone from slightly over corrected eyesight in last years exam to 240 and 260. My eyes have always been sensitive to light.

As Economy Slows, So Do Laser Eye Surgeries - New York Times

Another sign the economy is slowing: Call it the Lasik indicator. With the weak economy forcing consumers to cut back on discretionary spending, the number of laser vision-correction surgeries has been falling — as it did during the last recession.

Federal panel seeks clearer warnings on Lasik eye surgery

In fury and despair, patients harmed by Lasik eye surgery told federal health advisers Friday of severe eye pain, blurred vision and even a son's suicide. The advisers recommended that the government warn more clearly about the risks of the hugely popular operations.