Lasik Eye Surgery: Is it Really Worth it?

With how advanced technology is in 2024, it’s no surprise that you can use technology to enhance and ultimately change the physical attributes of your body. With plastic surgeries such as endoscopic procedures, laser liposuction and even toe enhancements, in the world we live in today technology can improve anything. It can even fix your eyesight, yes, you’re eyesight! There is a procedure out there that can take your bad eyesight and make it 10 times better, possibly giving you 20/20 vision, it’s called Lasik.

Imagine having to deal with the struggle of wearing glasses and contacts all your life and there’s a procedure out there to fix all of that. Who wouldn’t want that right? But just like most surgeries, there are always expectations that come with it so we must ask: Is Lasik eye surgery truly worth it?

What is Lasik Eye Surgery and What it Does

Lasik eye surgery is a laser surgery most commonly used to correct a person’s vision. It’s the best-known eye correction surgery out there.

During the surgery, a specific type of laser is used to cut and change the shape of your cornea (tissue found at the front of your eye). It’s typically performed so a person has an alternative to the typical glasses and or contacts solution for bad vision.

Lasik laser surgery typically helps correct three vision problems: astigmatism, nearsightedness and farsightedness. People with normal vision have a cornea that changes the way light is seen and directs it to the back of the eye. People with nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness have a cornea that directs light incorrectly, thus blurring their vision.

Who is Eligible for Lasik?

Though it seems like the perfect eye surgery, that should be available to everyone with vision problems, sadly that is not the case. Unfortunately if you:

Are under 18 years old
Suffer from eye disease or have a family history of eye disease
Have an autoimmune disease
Take certain prescription drugs (ie: steroids)
Suffer from thin corneas
Are pregnant

You are NOT eligible for Lasik eye surgery. Many other things may disqualify you as a candidate for Lasik surgery. When considering Lasik eye surgery, it’s best to consult with your eye doctor on whether or not you are a good candidate.

The Risk and Success Factors

As stated previously, many people may not be qualified for laser eye surgery but let’s dive into what the possibilities would be for people who are candidates. Like any other surgery, many risks come with Lasik.

Some of the risks of laser eye surgery are glare, double vision, dry eyes, a temporary blur of vision after surgery, astigmatism (yes it can cause exactly what you’re trying to correct) and more.

Some of the more drastic risks that come with Lasik are regression which is the possibility of your vision slowly going back to how it was before the surgery and vision loss. Though these are very rare occurrences, always be mindful of the possibilities.

Taking the leap to get Lasik can also come with rewards. This surgery can correct one’s vision for 20/20 or better. More than seven out of 10 people who successfully undergo Lasik surgery, no longer feel the need to use contacts or glasses to help their vision.

Do Doctors Recommend Lasik and What are the After Effects?

For a doctor to recommend this eye surgery, it would truly depend on the patient. Since people and their lifestyles are different there’s no guarantee your doctor will give you the okay for Lasik. With so many factors to take into consideration to see if someone is qualified, this is definitely a decision that has to be made based on a doctor's deep evaluation of the specific person interested in the surgery.

Right after the surgery, you’ll most likely have blurred vision, some pain, dry and itchy eyes and your eyes could burn. Then in about two to three months after your eye has fully healed from the surgery, you’ll finally notice super clear vision depending on how good your eyesight was before the surgery.

With all the risk factors and possibilities that your expectations might not be met, it seems like Lasik is a hit-or-miss type of surgery so it is ultimately up to you and your doctor to decide if this laser eye surgery is worth it. Though there are always possibilities that it might not turn out the way you expect it to (as with any surgery), there is also the possibility that it might. Before committing to anything, it’s important to do your own extensive research. Once you’ve done your research, reach out to an eye doctor to discuss if Lasik can work for you.