Over the last decade, laser eye surgery has offered many Americans a chance
to walk away from their glasses and contact lenses. Is it right for you?
Laser eye surgery can correct common vision problems such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism (where an irregular shape of the cornea [the front surface of the eye] makes it difficult for the eye to focus).
Americans commonly choose one of two types of laser eye surgery to correct
their vision:
- Photo-refractive keratectomy (PRK) involves burning away small amounts of tissue on the surface of the eye in order to change the shape of the cornea (the front surface of the eye). This change in shape helps you to see better.
- Laser assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) involves making a small incision (cut) through the surface of the cornea so that the surgeons can reach tissues below it. These tissues are removed as needed, and the cornea heals readily afterwards.
While surgery to the eye sounds painful and may make you feel squeamish, it is in fact a fairly painless operation, and does not require a trip to the hospital. It is performed in special clinics by trained specialists, and the eyes heal quickly afterwards, although you may experience some initial blurry vision (particularly after the PRK procedure). The risk of infection is low.
While many people find that laser eye surgery corrects their vision to their satisfaction, sometimes it's necessary to return for a follow-up procedure to further correct your vision. This is more common after the PRK surgery than after LASIK. And it's possible that you may still need to wear glasses or contacts. This is more likely if your eyes didn't respond well to the surgery (i.e., they reverted to their original condition). It may also be the result of inevitable factors such as vision changes due to aging.
If you're interested in laser eye surgery, talk to your ophthalmologist (eye doctor). Based on your individual case, they can recommend whether or not your vision problems could be corrected by laser eye surgery. As with any operation, there are always risks involved (the risk of serious complications is higher with LASIK surgery, as it involves cutting into the cornea), so make sure you ask your doctor any questions you have. And keep in mind that your health benefit plan may not cover this procedure, so there may be financial considerations as well.
