Lasik eye surgery pros and cons

Lasik eye surgery is a very popular method of surgical correction of vision. It uses laser technology to solve the problems regarding the eye sight. Many people consider the possibility of undergoing lasik eye surgery and they want to be fully informed about it, which, of course, includes the pros and cons of this procedure.

About lasik eye surgery

Lasik stands for laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis. The procedure is generally done in three steps. The first one is to make a thin flap, the size of a contact lens, on the cornea. The flap is lifted up so the underlying layers can be accessed. The second step is to remodel the tissues with the use of the laser beam, and in the third step the flap is repositioned and left to heal on its own.

The surgery is usually very short. An experienced surgeon can finish it in 15 minutes and the patient usually stays in the hospital only for a couple of hours.

Lasik eye surgery is recommended for people who have myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. Of course, not everyone who has one of these conditions needs eye surgery. In many cases the problem can be solved with glasses or contact lenses.

Lasik eye surgery pros

The most important advantage of this procedure is its effectiveness and the fact that good vision is gained very quickly and permanently. In most cases the procedure lasts only a few minutes and the results are obtained usually after only one session. In addition, the gap or the cut made in the cornea is smaller than on other eye surgeries.

Lasik eye surgery is one of the best options for people who do not want to wear glasses or contact lenses, who are allergic to contact lenses, and similar. Also, compared to other types of eye surgery, the recovery period is short.

Lasik surgery cons

One of the major downsides of lasik eye surgery is that it is expensive and it is rarely covered by health insurance plans.

There are certain complications and side effects that are associated with this type of eye surgery. Those may include dryness and irritation of eyes, over-correction, under-correction, infections, scarring of the cornea, blurred vision, astigmatism, floaters, red patches on the eye, sensitivity to light and more.

In case of under-correction, further surgical interventions will be required, while over-correction can be solved with glasses or contact lenses.

In addition, there are certain conditions one has to fulfill in order to be eligible for lasik eye surgery. This surgery is not recommended for pregnant women, people under the age of 18, people who have autoimmune disorders, diabetes, cataract, glaucoma and other eye conditions and diseases.