4 Things You Should Know Before Having LASIK

LASIK is a great option for so many people who otherwise have to rely on contacts or glasses. It’s also become more popular in recent years as the technology has become more widely available.

If you’re considering LASIK for yourself, great! You could be in for an amazing experience and the best vision of your life. But before you make any decisions, keep reading for 4 things you should know before having LASIK!

1. LASIK is a Low-Risk Procedure

Every surgery, even minor ones, has some degree of risk. But the risks with LASIK are minimal.

The most recent technology allows surgeons who perform LASIK to be extremely precise. That means they are able to avoid damaging any part of your eye that isn’t part of the procedure.

While complications do happen on rare occasions, you can’t go blind because you had LASIK. That’s just a silly urban legend and you should ignore it.

The procedure has been around for over 25 years and in that time it’s only become more safe and effective. Even the earliest LASIK patients have a high rate of long-term satisfaction with their results.

If you have safety concerns, know that they may not be as big an issue as you think. Do be sure to talk to your LASIK surgeon, as there are still some risks. You should also know that LASIK may not be safe for everyone.

2. Not Everyone Can Get LASIK

While most people with refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism make good LASIK candidates, it’s not right for everyone. Around 85% of people who seek out LASIK end up qualifying.

The rest are screened out either because the surgery wouldn’t be effective for them or because it would be dangerous.

Generally speaking, if you’re over 21 and in good health, you should qualify for LASIK. But there are some things that can make LASIK unsafe, like if your cornea isn’t thick enough or you have dry eye syndrome. But even if you don’t qualify for LASIK, there are still options.

3. There are Surgical Alternatives to LASIK

If you don’t qualify for LASIK, you may still be able to have vision correction surgery. While LASIK is the most popular option, there are alternatives that are safer for certain people.

For example, PRK is great for people who want LASIK but don’t qualify because their corneas are too thin. PRK is almost exactly like LASIK, but it doesn’t need a corneal flap, meaning your cornea doesn’t need to be a certain thickness.

There are plenty of other procedures, too, including SMILE, Visian ICL, RLE… the list goes on. If you don’t qualify for LASIK, talk to your surgeon about what other options they have available.

4. Clearer Vision is Likely, but not Guaranteed

The majority of LASIK patients come out of LASIK with 20/20 vision or better. But not everyone achieves clearer or the perfect vision they’ve always wanted.

Some people do need a follow-up procedure for touch-ups. But you can maximize your chances for success by choosing a reputable practice and a skilled surgeon.

Think that LASIK could be right for you? There’s only one way to find out: a LASIK consultation. Schedule yours at Berg Feinfield Vision Correction in Beverly Hills, CA, today!

Who hasn’t dreamed about waking up with clearer vision for the rest of their life? LASIK can help make that dream a reality!