Deciding to get LASIK surgery is no small thing. You need to give it a lot of thought and do plenty of research before you make your decision. We decided to talk to a LASIK surgery Seattle expert to find out what the pros and cons are.
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Dr. Phil Peris is an ophthalmologist living and working in Seattle. He says that there are plenty of reasons why a patient may want LASIK surgery. “The most obvious one is that no one wants to have to deal with glasses or contact lenses every day. The idea of putting them away forever is very appealing.”
For others, it’s the idea of having 20/20 vision. It allows them to enjoy both their work and leisure in ways that they couldn’t before.
Despite all of these advantages, LASIK surgery, or any surgery, for that matter, can be pretty intimidating. The process involves cutting off small flap on the surface of the cornea in order to alter the shape of the cornea itself. Not everyone is suited for such a procedure.
LASIK surgery isn’t exactly cheap, either. The average procedure will cost north of $2,000 per eye, and it isn’t covered by insurance.
Knowing all of that, it is important to think things through before you opt for the procedure. Part of that involves knowing the pros and cons. Dr. Peris gave us some of each.
Pros
It’s quick and safe
LASIK is an outpatient procedure and can take as little as 20 minutes. It doesn’t even need the patient to be unconscious during the procedure. Recipients may receive some valium to calm their nerves and the laser is programmed to stop if the eye makes any sudden movements that may cause injury or inaccuracy.
The Results are quick
Once the procedure is done, it won’t take very long to see the results. Many patients claim to see an improvement within hours. Complete clarity, however, can be expected within 6 months in the worst of cases.
You won’t need Glasses again
To say that LASIK surgery is life-changing would be an understatement. Many patients of successful LASIK procedures talk about how happy they are to be enjoying the most basic things that they simply couldn’t enjoy before.
You get 20/20 vision
LASIK restores perfect 20/20 vision. Sure, you won’t be able to gain superhuman vision, but at least you will be able to have the same quality as you did when you wore contacts or glasses.
Cons
Not everyone is eligible for LASIK
If you’re 40 years old or older, then you might not be eligible for LASIK surgery. The reason is that older people tend to have higher risk of suffering presbyopia, where the lens of the eye is stiff. LASIK is corrective of the cornea, not the lens. You are advised to speak to your ophthalmologist before opting for LASIK surgery.
There are risks
Some of the side effects are expected, such as dry eyes, glare, halos, or starbursts. These may last anything from few days to a few months but are not permanent. In fact, most patients of LASIK surgery recover fully from side effects and go on to lead a life free of side effects. However, there is always a very low risk that some side effects might not go away. Again, this can be prevented by having a conversation with your ophthalmologist before opting for the surgery to determine the potential risks.
This post was last modified on April 20, 2022 2:10 pm