For those with myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism, LASIK, which is also known as laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a common method of corrective surgery. The transparent front portion of the eye, known as the cornea, is reshaped with a laser during LASIK surgery. The technique successfully enhances eyesight and lessens the need for glasses or contact lenses. Does LASIK eye surgery, however, work for everyone? It is still a valid question.
Who is a good candidate for LASIK?
LASIK surgery is not appropriate for everyone. Applicants for LASIK must be at least 18 years old, have had stable glasses or contact lenses for at least two years, and have healthy eyes free of any underlying diseases. LASIK is not advised for those with severe dry eye syndrome, certain medical disorders, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
A thorough eye exam is required before having LASIK to assess the general health of the eyes and establish whether the procedure is the best course of action. Measurements of the cornea, pupil size, and refraction will all be part of the test. Also, the surgeon will look for any underlying eye diseases that could impact how the procedure turns out.
Effectiveness of LASIK
With over 95% of patients getting 20/40 vision or better and 85% achieving 20/20 vision or better, LASIK surgery has a high success rate. The severity of the refractive problem, the patient’s age, and the surgeon’s experience are some variables that affect LASIK’s effectiveness.
LASIK has been demonstrated to significantly improve vision in people with mild to moderate myopia. Even after surgery, patients with extreme myopia may still need glasses or contact lenses. Similarly, those with astigmatism or hyperopia would need further treatment or augmentation procedures to get the desired results.
The efficacy of LASIK might be impacted by age. Because their corneas are more laser-responsive when they are younger, individuals get better results. Nonetheless, LASIK may still benefit older people. However, the outcomes might not be as favourable as for younger ones.
Lastly, the surgeon’s experience and degree of expertise can also impact LASIK’s success. More experienced surgeons are more likely to have effective LASIK treatments than those just starting.
Risks and complications
LASIK has various risks and possible problems, much like any surgical surgery. Dry eyes, halos, glare, and difficulty seeing at night are some of the most frequent adverse effects. After the procedure, these side effects often go away within a few weeks or months.
Rarely, LASIK can lead to more severe side effects, including infection, problems with the corneal flap, and vision loss. The likelihood of these issues is modest, though, and most LASIK patients don’t have any lasting issues.
Alternatives to LASIK
Several surgical and non-surgical treatments are available for those who are not ideal LASIK candidates. Like LASIK, photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) reshapes the cornea by removing its outermost layer rather than making a flap in the cornea. Those with thin corneas, irregular astigmatism, or those who have undergone prior eye surgery are frequently advised to have this operation.
Another option for LASIK is implantable contact lenses (ICL). ICLs are put into the eye to treat refractive defects and are frequently advised for persons with severe myopia or hyperopia who are poor candidates for LASIK or PRK.
Why is Lasik a good option over other surgery?
Several surgical and non-surgical treatments are available for poor candidates for LASIK. LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) are similar procedures, but during PRK, the surgeon removes the top layer of the cornea rather than making a flap in the cornea.
The first thing to note is that LASIK is a laser-based, minimally invasive surgery. The procedure is brief, usually only taking 15-20 minutes per eye, and is associated with little discomfort and a speedy recovery. Compared to other types of corrective eye surgery, such as radial keratotomy or photorefractive keratectomy, LASIK is a much less invasive option because of this (PRK).
Second, LASIK provides extremely accurate outcomes. To reshape the cornea during the treatment, computer-guided lasers are used. This enables exceptionally precise correction of vision issues such as astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. Alternative surgical procedures might need to be more accurate and predictable, which could result in less dependable results.
A high degree of patient satisfaction is another benefit of LASIK. Most LASIK surgery patients have better vision and can minimize or do without needing glasses or contact lenses. With almost 95% of patients getting 20/40 vision or better and 85% achieving 20/20 vision or better, LASIK has one of the best success rates of any surgical surgery.
The risk of problems with LASIK is quite minimal. LASIK has a relatively low frequency of major problems, like eye infection or vision loss, despite no surgical operation being fully risk-free. Most patients who get LASIK report mild side effects, such as transient halos or dry eyes, which usually go away on their own a few weeks or months after the procedure.
Conclusion
LASIK has several benefits over other types of corrective eye surgery, including being minimally invasive, having great accuracy, having a high success rate, and having a low risk of complications. Because of these benefits, LASIK is frequently regarded as the best choice for vision correction.
