What is holding you back from laser eye surgery?

Published on 1st October 2010

Consider the advantages of laser eye surgery

If you currently use eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision then you might want to consider the advantages of LASIK eye surgery. Many people are good candidates but there is some reason that they are worried about getting laser eye surgery. If you know a little bit more about it, chances are you will choose it and it may be one of the best decisions of your life.

Laser surgery needn't be expensive

Something that can hold many people back is the cost. It depends on where you are located but there is a fairly wide range in terms of the cost of the procedure. It's not necessarily a good idea to get the cheapest procedure possible as you want to make sure you have a qualified ophthalmologist doing this for you. Even so, you can often find something that will fit your budget. You may also want to ask about options for financing if you have difficulty paying for it all at once.

Laser procedures are relatively safe

Many people are also concerned because anything that has to do with their eyes gives them a healthy dose of fear. It is important to be very careful with your eyes, but laser vision correction is extremely safe. If you are worried that you will end up being blind following a procedure, you can rest assured that this has never happened before. As with any surgical procedure, there are complications but because this is a fairly quick process and the technology is very advanced, complications are very uncommon. Serious complications are even less likely.

The process should not be painful

The prospect of having a painful procedure is also something that is likely keeping many people from getting laser eye treatment when it would really benefit them. While it is true that the outside of the eye must be cut and a flap is pulled back, this actually sounds much worse than it is. All you'll feel is a slight bit of pressure when this part of the procedure is done. After that, a few short pulses from the laser and your cornea will be reshaped and your vision will be vastly improved. Talk to an ophthalmologist about whether or not you will be a good candidate for laser eye surgery.

All eye surgical procedures carry a level of risk including not obtaining the desired outcome, through to varying levels of visual loss. Your eye surgeon will discuss the risks and benefits, including ones specific to your circumstances, at the time of your pre-operative consultation.