Myths and Facts About LASIK Eye Surgery

LASIK — minimally invasive eye surgery that can help you see well without glasses or contact lenses — has been around for more than 20 years. The freedom from having to wear glasses or contact lenses can add significantly to your quality of life.

Yet despite its long history of being performed on thousands of patients, many myths still surround this procedure. The doctors at Ventura Eye Institute aim to provide excellent care for your eyes and can help you experience better vision, including with LASIK eye surgery. Here, we discuss some of the myths and facts surrounding this procedure.

Myth: LASIK is painful

Fact: LASIK is an outpatient procedure. You receive numbing drops in your eyes before we perform the surgery, and the worst you may feel is a bit of pressure. Most people do not feel pain with LASIK surgery and only temporary discomfort as your eyes heal following surgery.

Myth: Everyone is a good candidate for LASIK

Fact: LASIK can correct a variety of vision problems, including near-sightedness, far-sightedness, and astigmatism. However, it isn’t an appropriate solution for everyone. People with severe dry eyes, certain corneal conditions, and other specific eye conditions are not good candidates for LASIK. Our doctors can let you know if you’re a good candidate.

Myth: LASIK can make you go blind

Fact: This precise surgery is performed on the surface layers of your eyes and doesn’t affect the parts of your eye that could cause blindness. More importantly, nobody has ever gone blind from LASIK.

Myth: Getting LASIK means you’ll never have to wear glasses or contacts again

Fact: Getting LASIK doesn’t mean you achieve permanent 20/20 vision. However, the vast majority of people have much better vision immediately after undergoing LASIK surgery. While most people can go several years without having to wear vision correction again, there are no guarantees. 

Most people, regardless of whether they’ve had previous vision problems, need to wear reading glasses sometime in their 40s. The same is often true for people who’ve had LASIK.

Myth: LASIK is expensive

Fact: LASIK is not inexpensive, but it’s important to compare it to other forms of vision correction. Consider the costs of new prescription eyeglasses each year or of replacement contact lenses and contact solutions — they can easily add up. The years worth of costs for glasses and contact lenses, especially if you wear both, can make LASIK an economically sound decision.

Myth: LASIK isn’t permanent

Fact: While it is possible for your vision to change, the results of LASIK tend to last. LASIK reshapes the cornea, which is what corrects the vision problems you have. Your corneas do not change shape over time. However, LASIK does not prevent the normal vision changes associated with aging.

LASIK eye surgery is an excellent solution to allow you to live a life free from glasses and contacts. The doctors at Ventura Eye Solutions are highly trained, and you can trust them with your eye care. Contact our Camarillo, California, office today by phone at 805-250-9723 or book an appointment online.