By Miranda Miller
More than 8% of Americans suffer from visual impairments, ranging from poor vision to complete blindness. While most opt for prescription glasses or contacts to improve their sight, Lasik surgery may be a viable option for many. Lasik is a minimally invasive surgery where an ophthalmologist, or an eye surgeon, uses precise lasers to reshape the cornea. The surgery is highly effective in improving vision, and more than 98.5% of patients are satisfied with their outcome. However, while assessing if this surgery is right for you, it’s important to weigh the advantages and disadvantages.
Pros
The most obvious benefit of Lasik is that it provides permanent and significant improvements to vision. More than 99% of patients achieve above 20/40 vision, with 90% reaching perfect 20/20 vision. While Lasik costs from 1,000 to 3,000 dollars per eye, it pays for itself by removing the cost of glasses, contacts, vision tests, and more. Additionally, it’s an extremely safe and mostly painless procedure with quick recovery times. The entire procedure takes around 10 minutes per eye, and most patients can return to work the following day. If you are older than 18 years of age, with nearsightedness, astigmatism, or farsightedness, and no other eye diseases such as glaucoma, the benefits of Lasik may appeal to you.
Cons
While Lasik poses many attractive advantages, some of the side effects should be taken into account. For the first few months after the procedure, night vision may be affected by glares and sensitivity to bright light. While these side effects mostly stop in around 3 months, a small number of patients report continuous symptoms. Another common side effect is dry eyes, and while this usually resolves itself, around 40% report dryness 6 months after the procedure. Another limitation of Lasik is that, although it can fix most types of nearsightedness, it does not prevent farsightedness with age, and many patients may still require reading glasses as they grow older. Additionally, while the cost is worth it for many patients, the procedure is not covered by insurance, and it may be too expensive for some.
Lasik is a highly successful procedure that can completely change the lives of its patients, but it doesn’t come without risks. While assessing if Lasik is a realistic solution for your eyesight, it is important to consider the cost, the benefits, and the disadvantages to reach the best and most informed decision.
Sources-
Visual Impairments
https://hpi.georgetown.edu/visual/#:~:text=Almost%2020%20million%20Americans%20%E2%80%94%208,people%20age%2065%20and%20older.
Everything you Need to Know About Lasik Eye Surgery
https://www.uchealth.org/today/questions-about-lasik-eye-surgery/#:~:text=LASIK%20is%20minimally%20invasive.,or%20bandages%20after%20the%20surgery.
LASIK Success Rates: How Safe Is Eye Surgery In 2024?
Lasik and Dry Eyes: Here’s What You Need to Know
https://moskowitz-eye.com/blog/lasik-and-dry-eyes#:~:text=95%25%20of%20patients%20experience%20dry%20eyes%20immediately%20after%20LASIK%20surgery,for%20more%20than%20six%20months.
Assessed and Endorsed by the MedReport Medical Review Board