LASIK Surgery - Recovery, Risks, and Benefits

LASIK surgery is performed by an eye doctor to fix a patients vision. The surgery can be done on patients who are near sighted (can't see far away) or patients who are far sighted (can't see up close). Over 85% of patients with these conditions are eligible for laser eye surgery.

Because this surgery has a fast recovery time it has become a popular option in today's busy society. In most cases the LASIK recovery time is only 2 days. This quick LASIK recovery allows patients to take a minimum amount of time off work to have the surgery done. The surgery has also become popular because there is little pain involved in the procedure

An Optometrist will do an eye exam to decide whether or not a patient is a good candidate for LASIK. By doing an exam the optometrist will be able to determine how much correction will be needed as well as the general health of the eyes. A corneal topographer is used to create a map of the cornea. This map will be used to help the laser eye surgeon decide which peaks in the cornea will need correction. The optometrist will be able to tell the patient if they are a good candidate for LASIK surgery right away.

Laser eye surgery patients often ask if the procedure is safe. The answer to this question is a simple yes. The FDA has approved the procedure stating that the LASIK surgery is safe as well as effective. The procedure uses a cool beam of light that is controlled by a computer. A surgeon is always watching to make sure that the procedure goes exactly as planned. The surgeon has the ability to stop the surgery at any time.

There are some risks that come with LASIK surgery. From time to time patients will experience a glare or dry eyes from the surgery. This happens to approximately 3-5% of those who elect to have the surgery done. Less than1%of patients experience any serious side effects such as loss of vision. In the United States there are no known cases of of the laser procedure causing a patient to become blind.

Shopping around is crucial for patients to make sure that they are getting a fair price on their LASIK eye surgery; however they should avoid "discount" doctors. Many people who have had laser surgery at a discount doctor have expressed that they were very unsatisfied with their experiences. Laser eye surgery can cost anywhere from $1999-$6000. When it comes to eyesight sacrificing quality to save a few bucks is just not worth it!

It is important that patients who elect to have laser eye surgery have finished growing. Most doctors won't perform this type of surgery on a girl until she reaches the age of 18. Since boys take longer to finish growing, it is best to wait until they are 21.

Most insurance companies will not pay anything for LASIK eye surgery. Financing is available for this type of procedure. An eye doctor will be able to give patients more information about financing options.

If you are considering LASIK surgery it's important to do some research. Finding an suitable doctor goes a long way in your LASIK recovery and overall satisfaction.