See Through Common LASIK Misconceptions
How to determine what’s true and false about LASIK.
Deciding whether to have LASIK takes time and research. There are multiple factors to consider such as price, risks involved, and which surgeon to choose. Unfortunately, there are many misconceptions about LASIK, which can make it difficult to truly understand if LASIK can help you. We’ve teamed up with our LASIK experts to identify the most common LASIK myths and help you navigate fact from fiction.
The Most Common LASIK Myths
LASIK Doesn’t Last – FALSE
One of the most common misconceptions about LASIK is that it wears off over time. This stems from a misunderstanding of what exactly LASIK does and does not do. LASIK changes the shape of your cornea and permanently fixes your refractive error. Learn more about why this LASIK myth is, in fact, false.
LASIK Is For Anyone Who Wears Glasses or Contacts – FALSE
While LASIK can get rid of a person’s need for glasses and contacts, LASIK is NOT a suitable solution for everyone. We take pride in our thorough and comprehensive screening process to identify patients that will have the best outcomes from LASIK. Generally speaking, those who are over 55 years of age, have dry eyes, or are severely farsighted are NOT qualified for LASIK. Learn more about LASIK qualifications (and disqualifications).
My Eye Doctor Wears Glasses, So That Must Mean He/She Does Not Agree with LASIK – FALSE
There are a number of reasons why a practicing optometrist wears glasses. Eye doctors must go through the same screening process that all patients go through to determine if LASIK is a suitable solution. If a person is over the age of 55, has dry eyes or thin corneas, or is severely farsighted, they will not be a good candidate for LASIK.
My Contact Lenses Are Safer Than LASIK – FALSE
Studies show that you are 180 times more likely to have a serious infection while wearing contacts than after having LASIK. Contact lenses come with their own sets of risks and limitations. Those who wear contact lenses must adhere to strict hygiene standards when dealing with their contact lenses. When these hygiene standards are ignored, the contact lens user can get eye infections which can lead to severe complications, even corneal transplants and blindness.
I Can Have LASIK As a Teenager – FALSE
On average, our eyes and prescription will change until the age of 18. For those that want LASIK, it’s important to have a stable prescription for an entire year before you can be considered for the procedure. For this reason, LASIK is not typically done on a teenager.
LASIK Won’t Work if I Have Astigmatism – FALSE
LASIK can correct astigmatism. During your consultation, your LASIK surgeon will evaluate your degree of astigmatism and inform you how/if it can be corrected with LASIK.
LASIK Won’t Fix All of My Vision Problems – TRUE
LASIK does NOT address other vision problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, floaters, presbyopia, macular degeneration. If you suffer from one of these ocular diseases, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with your eye care provider.
LASIK Is Painful and Has A Long Recover Time – FALSE
Most patients report experiencing no pain and return to work the next day! At Wilmington Eye, we use the most advanced form of LASIK, called iLASIK. The iLASIK procedure is completed entirely with lasers. This advanced form of LASIK allows for more precise results, quicker recovery times, and a pain-free procedure.
LASIK Can Cause Blindness – FALSE
LASIK as a procedure cannot cause blindness. While complications exist, such as dry eye, glares, halos, light sensitivity, they are extremely rare and often subside over time. In fact, less than 1% of patients experience these side effects. Speak to your LASIK surgeon to understand the risks associated with LASIK.
LASIK Is So New That It Can’t Be Trusted – FALSE
LASIK has been FDA-approved since 1999 and our very own Dr. Kathleen Leone is one of the longest practicing LASIK providers in North Carolina. Since its inception and FDA-approval, multiple studies have been conducted on the effects of LASIK. Most recently, a study in 2016 noted that 99.5% of patients saw 20/40 or better following LASIK.
What to Do When Confronted with a Potential LASIK Myth
When considering LASIK, it’s important to speak with an experienced LASIK surgeon. Our 4 board-certified refractive surgeons have more than 70 years of combined experience and will help you understand LASIK qualifications, the risks associated with the procedure, and what sort of outcome you can expect.
When confronted with a potential LASIK myth, we encourage you to speak with one of our experts. Send us an email at comments@marketing.com and we’ll help you determine what’s true and false about LASIK.