Did you know that over three-quarters of the US population uses some form of vision correction? That is quite a few pairs of eyeglasses and contact lenses!
If you’re part of this majority and you’re tired of hiding your face behind glasses or popping in your contact lenses every morning, why not consider LASIK?
Chances are, you’ve heard a lot of mixed information about LASIK, including a lot of myths. No, LASIK can not cause blindness, and no, the laser will not burn your eyes!
If you’re looking for some LASIK eye surgery facts, you’ve come to the right place! We’re here to dispel some of those rumors and give you the information you need with these 5 facts about LASIK eye surgery!
1. Not Everyone Qualifies for LASIK
Before you get too concerned with the nitty-gritty details, you might want to visit your eye doctor and find out whether or not you qualify for LASIK eye surgery.
You may not qualify for LASIK if you have medical problems with your eyes. For example, LASIK surgeons may not want to operate if you have thin corneas or eye viruses. You may also be disqualified for general health problems, such as unregulated diabetes or an autoimmune disease.
Don’t be surprised when your eye doctor asks about your overall medical history when you express interest in LASIK!
2. Not All Eye Doctors Can Perform LASIK Surgery
Only board-certified LASIK surgeons (also known as refractive surgeons) can perform LASIK. To become a certified LASIK surgeon, your ophthalmologist will have to have completed additional surgical training.
Even if your regular eye doctor is not qualified, it isn’t hard to find a refractive surgeon who can perform LASIK surgery near you.
3. LASIK Is Low-To-No Pain
It makes a lot of people squeamish to imagine LASIK surgery. For those who don’t know how LASIK works, your surgeon creates a small flap in the cornea. She then moves this aside so that a laser can remove the tissue that is making it difficult for you to see clearly.
It sounds intense, but it’s not that bad. In fact, your eyes will be numb for the entire 15-minute process, so you won’t feel any of those steps. The most discomfort some people experience during surgery comes from the contraption that props their eyes open. Afterward, you might feel a bit uncomfortable for up to five hours, but some eyedrops should do the trick.
4. LASIK Can’t Combat Aging
I’ve often heard people asking, “Does LASIK last forever?” or “Do you need reading glasses after LASIK?”
The truth is, you probably won’t need high strength prescription glasses after LASIK, but your eyes do change as you get older. Several years after having the procedure, it is not uncommon for LASIK patients to require reading glasses or light prescriptions for things like driving at night.
5. Vision Improvement From LASIK Is Rapid
It won’t be quite as quick as putting on a new, updated pair of prescription glasses, but many patients find that after their corneal flaps are put back in place, their vision is surprisingly clear.
Your vision will continue to improve throughout the day, and you may even be ready to drive within twenty-four hours of surgery. However, you should still be careful with your eyes for at least a week. Improved vision doesn’t mean you’ve healed completely!
Know Your LASIK Eye Surgery Facts
Don’t get caught up in all the myths and tall tales about LASIK, not even the good ones. If you want to get LASIK, make sure you know all of the LASIK eye surgery facts!
For more tips and tricks to help you improve your health and wellness, check out the rest of our blog! Our writers are researching new topics and sharing their findings every day to help you live a better life!
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