Questions about the Lasik Procedure

Many people that wear glasses or contact lenses have listened to the claims
of how Lasik can give them perfect vision. They have also heard great Lasik
success stories, as well as stories from people that were not sure they
had given the decision enough thought. This guide lists the most common
questions asked by people who are considering Lasik vision correction, and
answers given by reputable physicians.

The first and most important question asked about Lasik is, not surprisingly,
"Is Lasik safe?"  The answer is that it is normally quite a safe procedure,
with success rates above 95 percent for good, experienced Lasik surgeons,
and 90 percent average over all physicians that perform the Lasik procedure.
This statistic about Lasik success assumes that the patient is a good
candidate for Lasik surgery.  The requirements have some specific details
and should be gone over with the physician that will perform the Lasik
procedure.

It is a very good idea to ask the Lasik physician which patients he has
declined to perform the Lasik procedure on, to make sure that the particular
physician has and operates with good standards. Any Lasik practitioner that
tries to imply that everyone that comes in to his office is a good candidate
for Lasik vision correction should be viewed with some skepticism. 
In any case, it is wise to interview several different physicians that
perform the Lasik procedure before deciding on one.

A second frequently asked question about Lasik is "What are the possible
complications from Lasik surgery?"  Common side effects are starbursts or
halos when looking at a light, sensitivity to light and difficulty with
glare and night vision, and some sensation that a foreign body is in the
eye.  Most of these effects will pass within a few days after the Lasik
procedure.  Between 1 and 3 percent of patients will have a lasting side
effect such as halos or some vision fluctuation.

It is a very good idea to discuss your particular situation with the Lasik
physician to determine if you might be prone to any complications. 
There are also variants of the standard Lasik procedure, one of which uses
additional waveforms to map out an individual eye, or techniques that only
use lasers rather than a scalpel and a laser.

One question we all hesitate to ask is "Will the Lasik procedure be painful?"
Since our eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies, it is
comforting to know that having Lasik vision correction is usually nearly
painless.  There is often some mild discomfort after the procedure, but
this is effectively controlled with medication.

"Will I have 20/20 vision once the Lasik correction is done?" 
Though many patients do get nearly perfect vision, not all patients have
their vision totally corrected.  You can definitely expect to have improved
vision and minimized dependency on any glasses or contacts.

"What is the cost and how do I pay?" 
A typical Lasik surgeon charges between $500 and $2500 per eye, depending
on the patient and the surgeon.  However, a Lasik physician should be
selected on experience level and track record, not on the lowest price. 
Insurance rarely covers the cost of Lasik, but many Lasik centers have
a type of financing program offered to their clients.

Use the Internet to find several lasik surgeons in your area and make
a point to interview several on your list. Consider Lasik as one way to
significantly improve the quality of your life.