Despite your desire for perfect eyesight, the thought of laser eye surgery, also called laser vision correction or Laser In-Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK), can still be frightening.
If you’ve been considering LASIK surgery but hesitate due to concerns with possible complications, costs, recovery time, or finding the right provider, you may be surprised to learn such fears are extremely common.Here are the top five fears about LASIK discussed in detail to help ease your mind and offer some valuable insight into the procedure.
Fear #1: Choosing the right provider
Finding the right provider is one of the most common fears. It’s important to feel safe and comfortable in the hands of the eye care professional who will take care of your ocular health and perform your surgery. Look for eye care providers that offer comprehensive eye care specializing in all areas of eye health, including vision correction, cornea specialists, cataract surgery, glaucoma and aesthetics or oculoplastics surgery.
Most eye care providers offer a complimentary LASIK consultation. During this consult a thorough examination will be completed to understand the health of your eyes along with your prescription for correction. The doctor will then recommend treatment options available to help correct your vision that best meet your expectations. After this exam, the doctor or a patient counselor will meet with you to help answer your questions, discuss price and address any concerns you may have.
Look for eye care providers that encourage you to ask questions and clearly communicate their concern and attentiveness for your comfort and satisfaction.
Fear #2: Less than satisfactory results after LASIK
The surgeons skill combined with advanced laser technology both play an essential role in the outcome of your procedure. Millions of people have safely and successfully chosen it as a suitable option for correcting their vision. However, not everyone is a candidate for LASIK. Alternative solutions may provide you with better results. Several factors need to be considered such as age, overall health and specifically health of your eyes. A thorough examination of your vision and expectations will identify if LASIK is the right option for you. Alternatives such as PRK, the Implantable Contact Lens (ICL), or Refractive Lens Exchange may be recommended by your doctor.
At Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center we have the confidence in our surgeons and our patients visual results. Our intention is to help you maintain the best possible vision throughout your life by offering qualified LASIK patients the Vision for Life program. Vision for Life is our commitment to you that we stand behind your vision results for life. More details on the program can be found on goodeyes.com.
Fear #3: Complications and side effects
As with any surgical procedure, there are certain risks and possible complications with LASIK. The surgeon experience along with a commitment of providing state-of-the-art technology, helps to minimize these risks. Most complications can be treated and the risk of vision loss is very low.
Halos and night glare are possible side effects. However, advanced technology such as the Wavelight Allegretto Wave Eye-Q laser is engineered to maintain the natural curvature of your cornea, which is important for preventing these unwanted side effects.
Dry eye is a common, treatable eye disease. Over four million people living in the United States over the age of 50 suffer from this disease. It is also a common side effect of LASIK. Should you be experiencing symptoms of dry eye, it is important to discuss this with an eye doctor. The doctors of Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center utilize all the latest diagnostic methods and treatments for dry eye including Intense Pulsed Light (IPL), the most recent treatmentoption.
Overall, LASIK has been deemed a safe procedure leaving patients with high satisfaction of their results. Your eye care provider can address any concerns you may have regarding the safety and expected results of the procedure.
Fear #4: Prolonged recovery time
A long recovery time isn’t normally associated with LASIK surgery, and most patients find they heal very quickly. Hazy and blurry vision is common on the first day after surgery, but you should notice an improvement in your vision within days. Your eye care provider will discuss recovery time with you beforehand and will work to ensure you heal rapidly and painlessly.
Fear #5: CostofLASIK
It can be difficult to get an exact idea of how much LASIK surgery will cost, since factors like geography, insurance benefits, technology, and surgical experience all affect the price. Although you may see low prices advertised, the majority of patients can expect to pay anywhere from $1600 to $3500 per eye depending on which procedure will provide you with the best visual outcome.
With affordability in mind, the Barnet Dulaney Perkins Eye Center offers a variety of ways to make LASIK affordable for your budget. In some cases your treatment may be covered in part by your health insurance or vision care plan. Financing options are also available or many employers offer flexible spending accounts to help offset medical expenses such as LASIK.
The decision to explore LASIK as a solution to your eyesight needs is often complicated. Even with the personal motivation to find a solution that can permanently improve your vision, fears and legitimate concerns can prevent you from seriously considering LASIK as a potential option for vision correction.
Hopefully we’ve offered additional insight into the highly regarded and common LASIK procedure. We encourage you to reach out to schedule a consultation to find out how if LASIK is the best choice for your vision needs.