5 Reasons to Consider LASIK Submitted by Atlanta Vision Cataract and Laser Center on October 1, 2019
You’re not alone if you’ve been thinking about LASIK and can’t decide if it’s right for you. We know from the stories we hear at Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center that patients tend to think a lot about whether to get LASIK surgery. The longer they think, the more they start to worry about all the things that could go wrong when we use lasers to perform eye surgery.
We’re here to reassure you with a few facts that you may find surprising about the success of LASIK and how happy patients are with their results. These are the top five reasons you should consider LASIK:
Restore exceptional vision
If you’re thinking about LASIK, it’s because you want to restore your vision, but you may not know exactly what that means. Here’s the scoop: More than 90% of patients who undergo LASIK end up with 20/20 vision after their surgery and the rest improve their vision to 20/40.
As if that’s not enough, you can regain your vision in a procedure that’s over in a few minutes. Your entire surgery takes about 15 minutes, but your laser treatment only takes about one minute per eye. When it’s over, you hang out for about 15 minutes, then you can go home and get back to most normal activities.
Long-lasting results
If you’d like to do a cost-benefit analysis before deciding to undergo LASIK, you should consider how long LASIK lasts. So here’s what you need to know: LASIK eye surgery produces permanent results. The laser reshapes your cornea, and after it heals, it maintains its new shape, which is the key to your improved vision. You can’t do much better for your investment than long-lasting results and nearly perfect vision.
Though it’s very rare, a small percentage of patients may experience some minor regression. In most cases, it’s so minor, it doesn’t bother them. If needed, you can have a quick follow-up procedure called LASIK enhancement to fine-tune the shape of your cornea and restore clear vision. But LASIK can’t stop age-related changes that may naturally occur over the years and affect your vision.
Treats multiple eye conditions
If you want clear vision, your cornea must be shaped like a dome. This rounded shape bends the light as it enters your eye so it’s perfectly focused on your retina. When the cornea is misshapen, you develop the three vision problems that LASIK can repair: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
When you have a LASIK procedure, the laser very precisely reshapes your cornea, restoring it to a normal, rounded shape. You can retire your eyeglasses or contacts lenses and start to enjoy all your activities. You don’t need to worry about protective eyewear during contact sports or removing contacts before jumping in the pool.
LASIK has a long, safe history
LASIK’s safety record is one of the key reasons you should consider the procedure. This surgery has been performed for more than 20 years, with more than 19 million procedures in the United States alone. Out of those millions of people, 96% are highly satisfied with LASIK results. LASIK is also backed by more than 7,000 peer-reviewed clinical studies verifying its safety.
As with any type of surgery, there’s always a risk of side effects. But when it comes to LASIK, they’re rare, usually minor, and in most cases, only temporary. Some examples of temporary side effects include blurry vision, dry eyes, light sensitivity, halos, and eye discomfort. We talk with you about all the potential risks so you can make an informed decision.
With more than two decades in ophthalmology, we also have a long, safe history of caring for our patients. We’ve performed more than 80,000 successful LASIK procedures, helping each patient restore their unique vision problems.
If you’ve been thinking about LASIK, we’re available to answer your questions and determine if you’re a good candidate for laser surgery. To schedule an appointment, call Atlanta Vision Cataract & Laser Center or use the online booking feature.