LASIK Surgeons
Is LASIK Surgery Right for Me?
If you are tired of dealing with glasses or contact lenses, you should consider LASIK. Your ophthalmologist can tell you if you are a candidate for LASIK, as far as your vision correction need, eye health, corneal thickness, and similar considerations are concerned.
There are also lifestyle considerations, including your career. For most patients, LASIK means an improved lifestyle and opens up career options. But there are some exceptions. Contact sports increase your risk of complications. And there are some professions for which LASIK is not appropriate or poses risks.
Do I Have Other Options if I am Not a Candidate for LASIK?
Yes, there are several alternatives to LASIK that can reduce, and in some cases eliminate, your dependence on corrective lenses. Examples include:
Will I Still Need Reading Glasses After LASIK?
That will depend on the type of procedure you choose. LASIK reshapes your cornea. Presbyopia, which creates the need for reading glasses, is a problem with the lens of your eye, not the cornea. So, LASIK does not directly treat presbyopia.
However, there are a couple of LASIK options for presbyopia. Some patients choose monovision LASIK, which corrects one eye for distance and the other eye for reading. There is also a procedure called presbyLASIK, or multifocal LASIK, that creates multiple zones in your cornea, kind of like turning your corneas into bi or trifocals.
You can also choose to have the lenses of your eyes replaced with advanced multifocal intraoculuar lenses, eliminating your need for reading glasses while getting rid of and preventing the development of cataracts.
Is LASIK Vision Correction Permanent?
Yes, the results of LASIK are permanent in that they do not wear off or go away. However, they do not prevent the natural changes in vision that can come with age and health conditions.
Just as your prescription changes over time, your vision may change gradually after LASIK requiring a touch-up procedure. LASIK does not prevent the development of presbyopia with age, and you may need reading glasses in the future.
Hormonal changes, in both women and men, can also cause vision changes, as can the development of other health issues such as diabetes.
What if I’m not Happy with the Results of LASIK?
A small percentage of patients experience overcorrection or under correction. Both of these can be corrected with a LASIK refinement procedure (or touch up) after your eyes have had time to fully heal from the original procedure.
Working with the right LASIK surgeon and knowing what to expect before you undergo LASIK are two ways to increase your likelihood of satisfaction with LASIK results.
If you’re thinking about LASIK, take the time to find an expert LASIK surgeon/ophthalmologist near you.