LASIK is a recent laser eye surgery technique which FDA approved for use in 1998. As of now, there are no long term studies about its effects. For this reason and because making decisions regarding one’s eye sight is very important, you must do comprehensive research to be able to judge if the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are manageable risks for your treatment. If you do the research, you’ll be able to select a skilled and experienced eye surgeon. Many experts acknowledge the fact that the success LASIK heavily depends on the surgeon and not on the machine. You’ll also willingly participate in undergoing the tests because you know these are crucial tests to determine if you are a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery.
What are the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery? The best benefit is easy to enough to identify. Your eye sight will immediately improve. So if you suffer from any of the following conditions, moderate to high degrees of myopia (nearsightedness), low to moderate degrees of hyperopia (farsightedness) and astigmatism associated with myopia, and have thick corneas, you’ll qualify for the operation.
Two other significant benefits you should consider in weighing the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery are its fast recovery time and immediate results of improved eye sight. LASIK patients normally get better eye acuity of 75% to 85% within 24 hours. This compares favorably against the two older surgical techniques, radial keratotomy (RK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), where healing & improved vision takes weeks or months to occur. Also, LASIK operations generally take under a minute to perform on one eye, you walk out of the clinic within hours.
Now that the pros have been highlighted, what are the cons found in the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery?
If the patients’ eye condition is incorrectly diagnosed, the patient might develop permanent debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, halos, or double vision after the operation.
If you don’t have dry eye syndrome, you may develop one. You’d be uncomfortable, and permanent. Left untreated, it will be unhealthy for your corneas.
If you are farsighted, as you age, the benefits of LASIK will diminish with age, you’ll need glasses or contacts in the later years. Many patients experience significant improvement with their vision after LASEK. But remember to have realistic expectations; your age, eye condition and health are serious considerations. You may still need to wear eyeglasses or contacts after the operation. Educate yourself. If you do, you’ll competently manage the pros and cons of LASIK surgery. You’ll enjoy keener eye sight afterwards.
Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, sunglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.
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