Since its approval in 1999 by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is now one of the most performed elective surgeries. Despite this, many common myths about LASIK persist to this day.
Dr. Randa Garrana and our team at Advanced Lasik in Midtown East, New York City, and Long Beach and Duarte, California, offer LASIK, its variations, and many other refractive laser procedures. Today, we’ll do our best at breaking down these persistent myths, so you can gain a clear picture of what to really expect from the procedure.
Fact: Every surgical procedure carries some risks, given that every patient is unique. When it comes to LASIK, there’s over 25 years of clinical practice and refinement at work, resulting in a track record that reflects the safety and reliability of the typical LASIK procedure. You’re not facing a risky, fringe procedure when you choose LASIK.
Fact: In its early days, LASIK had more limitations than it does now. LASIK treats astigmatism, farsightedness, and nearsightedness — and the scope of coverage has continued to increase with each advance in the technology.
Fact: There’s no ideal target age for LASIK surgery. There are some age-related eye conditions that can interfere with LASIK eligibility, but barring these, anyone older than 18 can have LASIK surgery.
Fact: Generally, the cornea reshaping done during your LASIK procedure is permanent. However, the rest of your eye remains susceptible to the normal effects of aging.
You’ll retain the vision improvements from your LASIK surgery, but age-related changes to other structures may reduce the acuity of your vision. These changes are not, however, due to the structural repairs made by LASIK.
Fact: There’s simply not much discomfort associated with LASIK surgery. You’ll receive numbing drops to handle any potential pain during the procedure, and any post-surgical discomfort is usually well-tolerated and temporary.
Fact: LASIK surgery reshapes the cornea, the outer clear tissue of the eye that starts the refraction process on light entering the eye. The LASIK procedure doesn’t affect the transparency of the cornea, so it can’t impair your vision or make you go blind.
Complications typically include temporary issues like blurry vision or dry eyes. Even these are rare, and most can be corrected or healed.
Not everyone has a refractive issue or eye conditions suitable for treatment with standard LASIK techniques. However, there are other procedures and variations, and one of these is likely compatible with your vision needs.
Is LASIK surgery right for you? Call or click online to schedule a LASIK evaluation at Advanced Lasik today. We have one East Coast office in Midtown East, New York City, and two West Coast offices in Duarte and Long Beach, California.
