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This article was co-authored by Mark Cannon, OD. Dr. Mark Cannon is an Optometrist and Chief of Optometry at Cannon Eyecare, a family-owned optometry practice in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Cannon specializes in ocular disease, dry eye, glaucoma, eye infection, contact lens fitting, and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Indiana University. He received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he earned the Dean's Scholar award and participated in years of ophthalmic research. Dr. Cannon worked as an optometrist for four years before founding Cannon Eyecare, which offers full-scope medical optometry services. Dr. Cannon is a member of the American Optometric Association, King County Optometric Society, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington.
There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.
This article has been viewed 34,165 times.
LASIK eye surgery can improve vision and potentially eliminate certain individuals’ need for glasses or contacts. It is a single, irreversible procedure that uses a laser to reshape the cornea, the exposed transparent tissue of the eye. By finding out whether you qualify for the surgery and learning what preparations you will need to make if you elect to receive this procedure, you can determine whether LASIK is right for you.[1]
Steps
Method 1
Method 1 of 3:
Determining Whether You Are a Candidate
Check whether LASIK can correct your vision. The procedure can correct nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism. Successful surgery can eliminate the need to wear contact lenses or glasses in patients with mild to moderate nearsightedness or astigmatism.- LASIK does not help people who need reading glasses or who have high levels of nearsightedness. Your eye care professional can diagnose your refractive error during a routine exam or you can check your glasses prescription. Ask if your eyes are within the range of error that LASIK effectively treats.[2]
- Generally, LASIK is best for someone with a myopic prescription of about -3.00 to -7.00, with mild to moderate astigmatism. If you wear a weaker prescription, the cost-to-benefit ratio isn't great, and if you need a stronger prescription, you may still have to wear glasses after the procedure.[3]
- LASIK isn't generally recommended for people with a hyperopic (+) glasses prescription.[4]
Ask whether LASIK is appropriate for your life situation. Since the procedure is elective, you should consider whether you will be able to enjoy the benefits of the surgery fully. People under 18 years old cannot get the procedure, and it is typically advised that you wait until adulthood when your eyesight stabilizes. Discuss your situation with your eye care provider.- Women who plan to get pregnant, are pregnant, or are nursing should wait for LASIK.
- You should not receive LASIK if you will be playing contact sports during the recovery period.
- Many government and health care informational sites will list the issues that may make you a poor candidate for the procedure including age, health issues, and professional reasons.[5]
- Your doctor will also ask about the health of your eyes before a LASIK procedure. If you have ocular surface disease, which includes problems such as dry eyes, blepharitis, meibomian glad disorder, or tear film problems, you're more likely to have complications and a poor outcome from refractive surgery.[6] Other issues, like ocular disease or corneal dystrophies, may exclude you from having LASIK at all.[7]
Read about the risks of LASIK carefully. The procedure is common and the complication rate is considered low. Nevertheless, there are risks. As you determine whether the surgery is right for you, consider these possible complications.[8]- Dry eyes. This may persist for months after the procedure.[9]
- Bleeding or infection. The risks of these are generally pretty low, but every surgery does have risks.[10]
- Under corrections. If not enough tissue is removed, you will not get clear vision as a result of the surgery.
- Overcorrections. It's also possible that the laser will remove too much tissue from your eye. Over corrections may be more difficult to fix than under corrections.
- Loss of vision. In some cases, surgical complications can cause a loss of vision.
- Astigmatism. Because LASIK surgery changes the shape of the cornea, new astigmatism can result from the surgery.
Consider the alternatives. LASIK is a commonly advertised surgery that is convenient for many patients. Be aware that there are alternative eye correction surgeries, too. Many of these procedures are suitable for different eye problems. Some of these alternatives are less invasive than LASIK eye surgery.[11]- Some options, like PRK and LASEK, are alternative laser surgeries that may be suitable for some patients that do not qualify for LASIK.
- Visian™ Implantable Collamer Lens (ICL) and Verisyse™ Phakic Intraocular Lens (P-IOL) offer alternatives to cornea reshaping.
Determine whether you can afford LASIK. Most insurance plans do not cover elective surgery. In most cases, LASIK eye surgery will be considered an elective procedure. Check with your insurer, but anticipate that you will need to pay for the procedure on your own. Though prices vary due to several factors, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 USD per eye.[12]Advertisement
Method 2
Method 2 of 3:
Consulting With Your Doctor
Find an eye doctor. If you need a new eye doctor, contact your insurance company for a list of covered providers in your area. Alternately, ask your general practitioner for a recommendation. You can also ask your family, friends, or coworkers if they recommend their eye care provider. Finally, you can visit the website of a professional organization of eye doctors such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (http://www.aao.org/) or the American Optometric Association (http://www.aoa.org/?sso=y).
Do research in advance of a consultation. You will need to be able to discuss your needs and concerns with your doctor in clear and accurate terms. Read the information about LASIK or related eye surgery that is provided by reliable sources such as the Mayo Clinic or research institutes.[13]- Avoid using any sites that are actively advertising for LASIK eye surgery when you conduct your research. Since they are advertising the procedure, they are not neutral sites.
Schedule an initial consultation. You will need to have a doctor examine your eyes to confirm that you are a good candidate for the procedure. A regular eye care provider will be able to give advice for your particular needs, and she may be able to recommend an experienced surgeon to perform the procedure.[14]- Pay careful attention to what your doctor tells you. Your initial research will help you discuss the risks, benefits, and alternatives to LASIK surgery intelligently and effectively with the eye doctor. It will not replace the doctor’s expertise.
Confirm your surgeon’s qualifications. Check that your surgeon is certified. Before committing to the procedure, also ask the doctor who will perform the surgery questions that establish their knowledge of the procedure: how many LASIK surgeries have you performed? is my refractive error within the advised range? am I in the best life-stage to get this procedure?[15]- Beware if a doctor provides vague figures about how many procedures have been performed at a medical center. Make sure your doctor tells you the number of LASIK surgeries they have performed personally.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:
Planning for Pre- and Post-Surgery Responsibilities
Follow the surgery preparation instructions. You should anticipate being instructed to stop wearing contacts for a period of several weeks before the procedure. You will also be told to avoid wearing eye makeup for a period leading up to the procedure. Make sure that you will be able to follow these instructions before scheduling the procedure.
Arrange transportation. Since your vision will be blurry after the procedure, you will not be able to drive yourself home. Make sure that a friend or family member will be available to take you home after the procedure is complete and while you recover.[16]
Anticipate limited visibility. You will experience some blurry vision and/or vision fluctuations after LASIK eye surgery. Most patients report improved vision within a day of the procedure, but it may take longer. It can take two or three months for your vision to fully stabilize after surgery, though most patients can resume driving and return to work within a few days.[17] Before you schedule the procedure, you should make sure that this recovery period will not interfere with other aspects of your life.- At the end of the procedure, a shield or protective wrap will be placed over your eye. This eye protection will keep the corneal cut from being disturbed during the healing process. Anticipate wearing this for the remainder of the day after your surgery, and possibly at night.
Plan on follow-up appointments. You will need to visit your doctor for a post-surgical check-up within 24-48 hours of the surgery. You may want to plan a few days off from work following the initial surgery. Healing from LASIK usually happens rapidly and you should notice improved vision with a few days of the surgery.[18]- The doctor will monitor your progress periodically for six months after surgery. Complications can develop after the procedure and vision can worsen gradually over time, so most doctors will follow a patient’s progress for one year.
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Expert Q&A
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- QuestionWhat can disqualify you from LASIK?
Mark Cannon, ODDr. Mark Cannon is an Optometrist and Chief of Optometry at Cannon Eyecare, a family-owned optometry practice in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Cannon specializes in ocular disease, dry eye, glaucoma, eye infection, contact lens fitting, and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Indiana University. He received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he earned the Dean's Scholar award and participated in years of ophthalmic research. Dr. Cannon worked as an optometrist for four years before founding Cannon Eyecare, which offers full-scope medical optometry services. Dr. Cannon is a member of the American Optometric Association, King County Optometric Society, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington.
Board Certified OptometristLASIK isn't usually right for people with a low prescription or a hyperopic (+) prescription. Your doctor might decide to postpone your LASIK surgery if your prescription has changed by .75 diopters in the last 2 years. Additionally, LASIK may not be right for you if you have an eye disease or eye problems, like dry eyes. - QuestionHow do you know if you qualify for LASIK?Mark Cannon, ODDr. Mark Cannon is an Optometrist and Chief of Optometry at Cannon Eyecare, a family-owned optometry practice in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Cannon specializes in ocular disease, dry eye, glaucoma, eye infection, contact lens fitting, and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Indiana University. He received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he earned the Dean's Scholar award and participated in years of ophthalmic research. Dr. Cannon worked as an optometrist for four years before founding Cannon Eyecare, which offers full-scope medical optometry services. Dr. Cannon is a member of the American Optometric Association, King County Optometric Society, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington.
Board Certified OptometristThere are a number of criteria a patient must meet to be a good candidate for LASIK, including having an appropriate prescription—typically a myopic/near-sighted Rx at a level of about a -3.00 to -7.00, with mild to moderate astigmatism. You must also have healthy eyes and a stable Rx, and ideally be between the ages 25 and 40. - QuestionWhat are the risks and benefits of laser eye surgery?Mark Cannon, ODDr. Mark Cannon is an Optometrist and Chief of Optometry at Cannon Eyecare, a family-owned optometry practice in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Cannon specializes in ocular disease, dry eye, glaucoma, eye infection, contact lens fitting, and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Indiana University. He received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he earned the Dean's Scholar award and participated in years of ophthalmic research. Dr. Cannon worked as an optometrist for four years before founding Cannon Eyecare, which offers full-scope medical optometry services. Dr. Cannon is a member of the American Optometric Association, King County Optometric Society, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington.
Board Certified OptometristThe benefits are improved distance vision and lower dependence on glasses or contact lenses. The risks are generally pretty low with modern surgical techniques, but they can include dryness, glare when driving at night, bleeding, infection, loss of vision, and corneal issues like keratokonus and corneal ecstasia.
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Tips
- Your surgeon may wish to postpone LASIK if your glasses prescription has changed by more than 0.75 diopters over the course of 2 years.[19]Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0062-basics-lasik-eye-surgery#lasikbasics
- ↑ https://nei.nih.gov/health/errors/errors
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/ucm061366.htm
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=2052
- ↑ https://www.vsp.com/lasik-eye-surgery-cost.html
- ↑ https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik
- ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/march/lasik
- ↑ https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=1&contentid=2052
- ↑ https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2019/march/lasik
- ↑ http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/SurgeryandLifeSupport/LASIK/ucm061270.htm
- ↑ https://www.uclahealth.org/lrc/postoperative-instructions
- ↑ Mark Cannon, OD. Board Certified Optometrist. Expert Interview. 14 August 2020.
About this article
Mark Cannon, OD
Board Certified Optometrist
This article was co-authored by Mark Cannon, OD. Dr. Mark Cannon is an Optometrist and Chief of Optometry at Cannon Eyecare, a family-owned optometry practice in Seattle, Washington. With over 10 years of experience, Dr. Cannon specializes in ocular disease, dry eye, glaucoma, eye infection, contact lens fitting, and pediatrics. Dr. Cannon holds a BS in Biology and Psychology from Indiana University. He received his Doctorate in Optometry from Indiana University School of Optometry, where he earned the Dean's Scholar award and participated in years of ophthalmic research. Dr. Cannon worked as an optometrist for four years before founding Cannon Eyecare, which offers full-scope medical optometry services. Dr. Cannon is a member of the American Optometric Association, King County Optometric Society, and the Optometric Physicians of Washington. This article has been viewed 34,165 times.
Co-authors: 30
Updated: April 28, 2022
Views: 34,165
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 34,165 times.
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