How Safe Is LASIK Eye Surgery?

If you’re considering laser vision correction surgery, it’s normal to wonder how safe is LASIK. Nowadays, it’s never been easier to treat common vision problems than with LASIK eye surgery. By reshaping the cornea, it’s possible to fix how the eye refracts light, thereby correcting issues such as hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia, (nearsightedness), and astigmatism (blurry vision at near and far distances).

LASIK eye surgery is an incredibly common procedure. In fact, WebMD reports that an average of 700,000 LASIK procedures are completed in the United States every year. But despite how commonplace it is, many people have questions over how safe LASIK is. Part of our job is addressing those questions and easing any concerns you may have.

Below, we discuss how safe is LASIK is in order to help you feel completely confident and comfortable with the procedure.

How Safe is LASIK: A Proven Track Record

As with any surgery, it’s normal to feel nervous or anxious ahead of your procedure. But LASIK eye surgery has long been regarded as one of the safest elective medical procedures since it was approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the 1990s.

Most patients are happy with their vision following LASIK. Research by the FDA found that 95% of patients are satisfied with the visual results of their LASIK eye surgery. Even more, they found that side effects like dry eye, trouble driving at night, and visual symptoms like glares and haloes are uncommon. Fewer than 1% of patients suffered from these side effects to the point where it interfered with their daily routine.

Infections are also very uncommon following LASIK eye surgery. The American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) predicts that only 0.09% of patients experience an infection after LASIK.

In comparison, research shows that wearing contact lenses carries a much higher risk of infection than a vision correction procedure. One study from 2017, for example, found that there’s a much lower risk of infection with LASIK than with wearing contacts over time. Additionally, statistics from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show that 1 out of every 500 (0.2%) contact lens wearers suffers an infection, a number that’s much higher than with LASIK patients.

Why Choose LASIK Eye Surgery

The fact that LASIK is so safe and has such a high satisfaction rate are reasons alone to take the step towards clear vision. But the benefits don’t stop there. Other advantages of LASIK eye surgery include: 

• Makes life easier.
  LASIK eye surgery can reduce or even eliminate your dependency on glasses and contact lenses. With one less thing on your mind, it simplifies your daily routine and makes it easier to accomplish all of your tasks and goals.
   
• Saves you money.
  Although LASIK may seem like a big investment, it can actually save you money in the long run. It can mitigate costs associated with prescription glasses and sunglasses, contact lens refills, and lens solutions. Try out our savings calculator to see how much LASIK can save you across your lifetime.
   
• The process is quick.
  LASIK eye surgery is very fast, and most patients report only feeling minimal discomfort, if at all. Even more, it also has a fast recovery time. Most patients are back to their normal routines within 24 hours, meaning there’s no reason to put your life on pause to achieve clear vision.
   
• The results are long-lasting. 
  For the majority of patients, the visual results of LASIK eye surgery last their entire life. But vision can change with age, a retreatment is possible. Please note that the need for retreatment is very rare and occurs decades later, if at all. For example, one study found that only 10 percent of former LASIK patients required an enhancement.
   

LASIK Experts is the leading choice in laser vision correction in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Lawrenceville, New Jersey, areas. Our surgeons have performed thousands of vision correction procedures throughout the years, and our experience speaks for itself. We use the latest in laser eye surgery technology to deliver exceptional results and personalized service.

We provide free consultations to help you decide if LASIK or another vision correction procedure is a good fit for you. During the appointment, we’ll review how safe is LASIK and what to expect during your procedure and recovery.

Book your free, pre-operative consultation now and take the first steps towards clear vision.