Pros and cons of having LASIK surgery

As the years have progressed so has technology in all areas. One area in particular is vision. At one stage the only option was to wear glasses, and then came the contact lenses and now we have Lasik. Glasses and contact lenses do inconvenience some, but the idea of actually having 20/20 vision is now a reality for most.

The Laser Eye Procedure

Originally the laser treatment meant the surgeon had to remove the corneas outside layer completely then sculpt it and then allow it to grow back naturally. This procedure is known as photorefractive keratectomy. Nowadays the procedure is known as laser in situ keratomileusis and for short Lasik. Now the surgeon simply peels back the corneas surface so they can operate beneath it and then replace it to its original position.

Potential side effects

The Lasik procedure is still thought of as somewhat expensive considering it still comes with possible side effects and some rather severe complications. Any surgical procedure no matter how small can have potential side effects and nothing is one hundred percent guaranteed to work. In a small number of cases there have been people who have had the Lasik surgery and not only not had their vision improved but in fact made it worse. Other side effects may include dryness, itchiness, swelling, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light.

Patients Undergoing a Lasik operation

Having the Lasik procedure you are in fact allowing the surgeon to permanently change the physiology and optics of your eye. The procedure of course comes with amazing benefits but you do need to think it through and, of course, do your research prior to agreeing to any non urgent medical procedure. A study was conducted by the Review of Optometry which is a journal and they discovered that one in every six patients who have Lasik have some form of a complication following the procedure. These complications ranged from mild to severe such as dry eyes to irregular astigmatism. There have also been reports of some patients who have ended up with multiple vision which means they could see double or sometimes even triple vision. For the people who have not had any side effects nor complications following the procedure will undoubtedly say the procedure was the best choice they have ever made and well worth the money. It is advisable that you, as said previously do your research on the clinic you are thinking about going to. Research the criteria for the procedure. Research that particular surgeon and their reputation. Research all the possible side effects.