IS LASER VISION CORRECTION SAFE?

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, commonly and briefly known as LASIK, is an FDA-approved procedure for vision correction. The laser refractive surgery involves reshaping of the cornea for improving refraction. The surgery itself seems like a medical industry miracle. It was approved in 1999, when the number of people who had it done was highest.

From 1.4 million then, it has reduced to 700,000 now as surgeons and patients have become more selective. LASIK is for people who have myopia, hyperopia or astigmatism. People who already wear glasses or contact lenses go for this surgery. The target is to be able to see clearly without the use of contact lenses or glasses.

The Risks Associated With LASIK

LASIK has proved to be safe for a huge majority. It involves the use of a laser and most expert surgeons say that up to 90% of their LASIK procedures are successful. You may experience some itching, burning, and dryness the initial few days following LASIK but after that you likely don’t have to worry about much.

Unfortunately, though, you can also be among the less than 1% of people who experience complications, severe ones, following the surgery. Some people suffer long-term optical issues including eye infections, chronic pain, and even blindness after the surgery. The complications can be so tough that they can affect mental health adversely such that depression and suicide risk also heighten.

This is why some people think that the Food and Drug Administration should ban LASIK. At the same time though, statistics favor the surgery. You see, most people gain 20/20 or even better vision following a few days of the surgery. There are very limited studies on the long-term effects of LASIK. Most research works just track people who have had the surgery done for a few months or maximum a year.

Should You Go For LASIK?

Over the years the quality of the optical surgery has gone up. Furthermore, surgeons have also become more selective of which people should be considered candidates. For determining this several tests are conducted. These include personality tests to make sure that the person doesn’t have expectations that are too big.

Your ophthalmologist will tell you whether or not you are a good candidate. Always choose a professional who has a lot of experience and expertise with LASIK. Someone who is likely to tell you if you are not a good candidate. LASIK has become a business of sorts and your goal should be to go to a surgeon who doesn’t treat it like that.

The FDA doesn’t have any requirements as to how open eye specialists should be with their patients regarding the risks that come with LASIK. Choose a surgeon who mentions all the risks so that you can make a well-informed decision. Though you shouldn’t fear the surgery, you should know that though complications are rare, if any, those can affect your life quality substantially.