LASIK - stands for Laser in-Situ Keratomileusis

The Ideal Candidate

In general, the ideal candidate for LASIK is over 18 years of age and has healthy corneas. Candidates must not have had a significant increase in their prescription in the last 12 months. People with certain medical conditions or women who are pregnant may not be good candidates for LASIK

Realistic Expectations

The decision to have LASIK is an important one that ultimately, only you can make. It is important that you have realistic expectations and that your decision is based on facts, not hopes or misconceptions. The goal of LASIK is to reduce your dependence on corrective lenses. LASIK does not always create 20/20 or even 20/40 vision. It cannot correct a condition known as presbyopia, or aging of the eye which normally occurs around age 40 and which requires the use of reading glasses. In fact, people over 40 who have their distance vision improved may find they need reading glasses after the procedure.

What Are The Outcomes of LASIK?

Long term data as well as our recent findings reveal very positive results. LASIK has proven very effective in correcting a broad range of myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia. It has been reported that 92% of patients were corrected to 20/40 or better, and 88% were 20/20 for mild myopia. For moderate and high myopia, 92% were still correctable to 20/40 or better, of which 39% were correctable to 20/20. Results with excimer laser have been consistent with these reports.

The procedure is designed to reduce nearsightedness, astigmatism and farsightedness but it cannot stop the aging process and almost all participants will, in all likelihood, need reading glasses as they age.

What Are The Risks?

As with any surgical procedure, complications may occur. These are very rare. However, they may include:

1. Improper Correction: The desired correction may not be achieved, or astigmatism may be induced.

2. Decrease in Best Corrected Visual Acuity: This is the best vision you can achieve with glasses or contact lenses.

3. Glare: In the first few months you may experience problems with glare at night.

4. Halos: You may experience halos or hazy rings around bright lights at night.

6. Corneal Scaring: This is extremely rare. A corneal scar may block your vision.

7. Dislocated Corneal Cap: This may have to be sutured or even replaced resulting in a slower recovery of best corrected vision. This is extremely rare.

8. Epithelial Ingrowth: During the healing process some surface cells may migrate under the hinged flap. Often times this requires no attention; however, in some instances they must be removed.

What Are The Benefits Of LASIK?

1. Reduction of large amounts of nearsightedness and astigmatism and farsightedness. Immediate restoration of uncorrected vision.

2. Minimal (usually less than 24 hours) visual recovery time.

3. Permancy of correction. Once the refractive error has been corrected the result is stable.

4. Ability to engage in outdoor activities in which corrective lenses may be cumbersome or restrictive.

5. Elimination of the time, expense and effort involved in maintaining and updating contact lenses.

It's not for everyone, but when it works, it's great. Talk it over with your eyecare professional. Good luck.

FramesDirect.com Better Vision Team View over 10,000 frames online: Eyeglasses, Sunglasses and Frames Online