Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery is a modern fix for an ages-old problem: poor vision. Approximately 1.3 million patients undergo laser eye surgery each year in the U.S. If you’re wondering whether laser eye surgery is your best solution, read on for important facts you should know before making a decision.

Also known as LASIK, laser eye surgery is a procedure that involves the sculpting and reshaping of a patient’s cornea using an FDA-approved laser. The surgery is relatively painless, and recovery time is short. Patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, may benefit from laser eye surgery.

The costs for this procedure vary widely depending on the doctor, the technology used, and even the geographic location. Some doctors offer LASIK for as little as $500 per eye. Others charge as much as $1,000 to $2,500 per eye. There is no industry standard when it comes to pricing, but patients are advised that they get what they pay for. Experts point out that very few patients qualify for very low-cost laser eye surgery because their eyes require more in-depth correction or follow-up treatments.

There are certain risks associated with laser eye surgery. Some patients incur partial vision loss that cannot be corrected. Others develop visual symptoms, such as glare, that reduces the quality of their night vision. Dry eyes may result from the surgery, or worsen if the patient had the condition prior to LASIK. It’s been noted that the benefits of laser eye surgery diminish as the patient ages, but because this procedure has only been approved since 1998, no long-term data is yet available.

Certain conditions will prevent patients from being good candidates for this procedure. If you suffer from glaucoma, keratoconus, or other eye diseases or injuries, you should not consider laser eye surgery until a physician gives the go-ahead.

Certain non-medical issues should also be considered before your laser treatment surgery: Are you willing to pay for a quality procedure? Does your job permit refractive surgery? Do you know and acknowledge the risks of laser eye surgery? Do you participate in contact sports? Are you affected by diminished wound healing capacity due to HIV, diabetes, or another disease? If so, you should consult with their eye doctor to see if laser eye surgery is appropriate for you.

If you elect to have laser eye surgery, you should first go and see your eye doctor for a baseline evaluation. This will reveal whether or not you’re a good candidate for the procedure. Contact lens wearers should switch to glasses two weeks before their exam – three weeks for toric or gas-permeable lenses, and four weeks for hard lenses. Be honest with your doctor during the exam. They need to know about any injury or disease you have had which affected your eyes. They can also offer recommendations for good eye surgeons who have experience and use FDA-approved lasers.

If you’re given the green light, refrain from wearing any lotions, perfumes, or cosmetics for a couple of days prior to surgery. The procedure itself takes about half an hour. You will have numbing drops placed in your eyes as you recline in a chair. A lid speculum will be used to hold your eyes open, and a suction ring will be applied to your cornea. Some patients report this as the most uncomfortable part of the procedure.

The surgeon will create a flap on the outside of your cornea. This flap will be folded back, and you will be asked to stare into a light source for about one minute. Then the surgeon will turn on the laser and begin the resculpting process. There is sometimes a slight burning smell at this point, but no pain. When the procedure is finished, you will be fitted with an eye patch for protection. Post-operative patients can expect blurred vision, light sensitivity, and itchy or watery eyes for up to a week. Be sure to visit your eye doctor within one to two days following surgery and at regular intervals over the next six months.

The decision to have laser eye surgery is one best made between you and your doctor. Now that you have the facts about the procedure, you can rest assured that the decision will be an informed one.

Are you interested in other cosmetic laser treatments as well? Read more about how laser dentistry can improve your smile.