Are you considering LASIK eye surgery? While LASIK is generally a safe procedure with a high success rate, finding an experienced, skilled surgeon you trust and who answers all your questions is key.
Keep reading to learn the top ten questions to ask your LASIK surgeon!
1. Am I a Good Candidate for LASIK?
The first question you will want to ask your LASIK surgeon is whether you are a good candidate for LASIK. While many people with refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, are good candidates, LASIK is not suitable for everyone.
In general, to be considered a good candidate for LASIK, you should meet the following criteria:
- You are at least eighteen years of age
- You have an eye prescription within a certain limit
- You have had a stable eye prescription for at least a year
- You have no untreated eye conditions like dry eye
- You have corneas of suitable thickness
- You are in overall good health
2. How Experienced Are You in Performing LASIK Surgery?
Experience counts when it comes to LASIK surgery. An experienced eye surgeon you can trust will likely have performed thousands of LASIK surgeries throughout their career.
Your eye surgeon’s education and professional certification are also important. You should look for a LASIK surgeon who has received specialized LASIK training beyond their ophthalmology education and one who is board-certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.
3. What Type of LASIK Technology Do You Use?
Though LASIK has been an FDA-approved treatment for refractive error for over fifteen years, LASIK technology is constantly advancing and improving. The highly precise lasers used in LASIK surgery today represent years of LASIK innovation.
While you may need help understanding the exact details of the technologies used by your LASIK surgeon, your LASIK surgeon should be up-to-date on the latest LASIK techniques and use the most advanced lasers when performing LASIK.
Want to learn if you may be a good candidate for LASIK?
4. What is The Success Rate of LASIK For Patients With The Same Refractive Error?
LASIK has a very high success rate for most refractive errors, with over ninety-five percent of patients happy with their results. Even so, your eye surgeon should be able to give you some idea of their LASIK success rate with patients whose refractive errors are similar to yours.
While people may have the same refractive error, everyone’s eyes are different. The best LASIK providers use eye mapping technology to give their patients the most accurate LASIK treatment possible.
5. What Outcome Can I Expect From LASIK?
The surest way to feel satisfied with the outcome of your LASIK surgery is to set realistic expectations. Based on their past experience and your individual eye prescription, your LASIK surgeon should be able to give you an honest assessment of your probable treatment outcome.
6. What Happens During LASIK Surgery?
You will feel more confident and relaxed on the day of your LASIK surgery when your eye surgeon has fully explained what will happen during the procedure. LASIK is a quick procedure that takes just minutes per eye to complete.
During LASIK surgery, your eye surgeon will use a laser to create a flap on the surface of your cornea. They will then use a laser to reshape your cornea and correct your refractive error.
The final step in LASIK is replacing the corneal flap, which will reattach naturally without the need for stitches.
7. What Happens During Recovery From LASIK?
It is good to know what to anticipate as you recover from LASIK so that you can plan. Typically, the recovery time from LASIK is very short, and most LASIK patients find that they can resume most of their usual activities as soon as a few days after the procedure.
Many LASIK patients also find that their vision is noticeably improved within days, if not hours, after surgery. They are able to quickly get back to living their lives with greater visual freedom.
8. Does LASIK Cause Any Side Effects?
You should ask your eye surgeon about any potential side effects that can be caused by LASIK. While LASIK is a very safe procedure, you may experience some temporary side effects.
The most common side effect reported by LASIK patients is dry eyes. Your eyes may feel drier than usual following LASIK, but it is usually temporary and can be effectively treated with over-the-counter moisturizing eye drops.
9. How Long Does LASIK Last?
It’s important to ask your LASIK surgeon how long you can expect your LASIK results to last. For most people, LASIK can permanently correct their refractive errors without additional or follow-up treatment.
The one eye condition that can affect the results of LASIK is presbyopia, or age-related farsightedness. Presbyopia is caused by physical changes to the natural lens of your eye and can make it difficult to see at a near distance, even if you have had LASIK.
10. Are There Alternatives to LASIK?
If your eye surgeon has determined that you are not a good candidate for LASIK, your first question will likely be about alternatives to LASIK. You may not be a good candidate for LASIK if you have a high eye prescription or thin corneas.
If your eye doctor determines that LASIK is not for you, there are alternative treatments that can offer similar results. Depending on your individual needs, your eye surgeon may suggest refractive lens exchange (RLE) or photo keratectomy (PRK), both of which can be suitable alternatives to LASIK.
Deciding whether or not to have LASIK can be overwhelming, but when you ask the right questions and feel fully informed, you can feel confident about the outcome of your LASIK surgery.
Are you ready to learn if you might be a candidate for LASIK? Schedule a LASIK consultation at Northeastern Eye Institute in Scranton, Clarks Summit, Dallas, Forty Fort, Hamlin, Honesdale, Hazelton, Peckville, Montrose, Mountaintop, Pocono Summit, Tuckhannock, Wilkes-Barre, PA, today!