What is LASIK?

LASIK stands for Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. Since the mid 1990's, LASIK surgery has been in demand and continues to grow increasingly popular. The procedure has two parts. The first part involves creating a flap over the cornea. The second part involves using a laser to make changes in the lens of the eye. The procedure is very effective in treating myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, and presbyopia. Not everyone is automatically a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery. Qualifying for the procedure involves a series of preliminary tests. There are also several conditions that will automatically exclude many people from receiving the surgery.

The first step to determine if you qualify for LASIK eye surgery is to have a free consultation with an ophthalmologist. The consultation will review whether or not you are eligible. It is also a time to discuss potential treatments that are available to you. Unfortunately, many people believe that once they have LASIK surgery that they will automatically have 20/20 vision or even better: 20/10. This is not the case in many of the patients. It is important to understand the outcomes of the surgery so that you can have a realistic expectation of what your results will be. Many people still require a light prescription lens for driving or night vision.

As with any other surgical procedure, there is also the risk of injury, complications, and side effects. One of the most serious risks of LASIK eye surgery is the potential of irreversible vision loss. The vision loss is so severe that it will not be corrected with lenses or future surgeries.

Another potential side effect is the development of conditions that can affect your vision. Some of these include seeing glows or halos. These irregularities probably did not exist before the surgery, and can make it difficult to see in certain conditions.

Dry Eye Syndrome is another debilitating effect that can occur because of the procedure. Dry Eye Syndrome results from a loss of the eye's ability to produce enough tears. The syndrome may cause blurring as well as the sensation as if there was an eyelash in the eye. It is treated with prescription eye drops.

Though complications and side effects are considered low with LASIK eye surgery, it is generally a new procedure, and therefore it is impossible to tell what the long-term effects will be. Statistics are not available to assess the results of LASIK past five years. This is something to consider and discuss with your ophthalmologist before making your final decision regarding LASIK surgery.