Worried about Lasik? Let’s look at some reasons not to be. If you’ve lived a life through the lenses of glasses and contacts, you know how much effort goes into maintaining good eyesight. Single-use contacts can be expensive. Contacts with longer lifespans have to be regularly changed and even more regularly cleaned, as do their cases.
Glasses have to be handled carefully, unless you want to risk scratches and smudges taking over the lenses. And either option requires regular prescription adjustments and fresh supply orders, both of which can ring up the dollar signs.
Worried About Lasik? Reasons Not to Be
It’s little wonder more people want to try LASIK. But with the increase in the procedure’s popularity comes an increase in questions. More than anything, people seem to want to know if it’s safe.
The complication rate is minimal.
The short answer is yes, LASIK is safe, particularly when practiced with care by a respected Orange County eye surgeon. That’s not to say it’s as simple as an eye exam. It is a surgical procedure that requires a trained surgeon and is followed by a period of healing time. Once past the initial healing period, however, complications are incredibly rare.
The process was approved almost 25 years ago.
LASIK might not be as common as contacts or glasses, but the procedure is nothing new. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved LASIK in 1998. After nearly a quarter of a century, the process is more widely available than ever before. An estimated 10 million Americans have received the LASIK with roughly 800,000 sitting through the surgery each year.
It is the most widely-studied elective procedure to date.
There are many elective surgeries available today. But few are as thoroughly researched as LASIK eye surgery. LASIK has even been the main topic of recent major symposiums among eye care professionals. These symposiums went over the latest research and expanded on the procedure’s viability for different groups.
LASIK is painless.
LASIK is performed with the help of local anesthesia, rendering the operation painless.Some patients find the recovery period uncomfortable but these feelings often clear up within weeks or months. Very rare patients report discomfort following the procedure such as unusually dry eyes, reduced night vision, or loss of vision. These patients make up less than 1% of all LASIK recipients. However, with more than 99% of recipients recovering with no issues.
LASIK Requires little preparation.
Unlike most surgical procedures, LASIK requires very little preparation on the patient’s part once they have been cleared by their eye care team. The Mayo Clinic recommends knowing the full cost of the procedure up-front, which may require talking to your insurance to determine how much – if any – of the cost your policy will cover.
Patients are also required to skip all eye makeup on the day of the surgery. This includes creams, lotions, and serums the patient may generally use on the skin around their eyes. These products all produce a contamination risk, so fewer products mean a reduced risk level during the procedure.
Finally, patients must arrange a ride to and from the procedure. It takes time for the local anesthetic to wear off and this will certainly affect a person’s ability to drive. Many patients also experience blurred or dimmed vision after the procedure, further reason it is not safe for a LASIK patient to drive themselves home. Public transportation is of course an option but the safest choice is to have a friend or family member drive after the procedure is complete and keep the patient company until their vision clears a little.
Start Out on Lasik Today
LASIK has yet to reach the popularity level of glasses or contacts, but it is on the rise. Most recipients heal to find themselves with 20/20 vision and a more relaxed budget. So if you’re considering LASIK in Mission Viejo, contact Advanced Eye Medical today.