Eliminate Your Fears of Lasik Surgery!

Thinking about eye surgery using a Lasik procedure is a big step, and many
people are a little hesitant to ask the questions that they have. 
The Lasik procedure, though widely talked about, is not discussed in detail,
and people tend to fear the unknown.  This report addresses some of the
more commonly held fears, and talks about the experience for the vast
majority of people that undergo a Lasik procedure.

A most common fear when thinking about a Lasik procedure, or really thinking
about any surgery in general, is the possibility of pain during or after
the operation. Since the Lasik surgeon works on patients that are conscious,
this is a widely held apprehension.  In every operation the Lasik surgeon
applies numbing drops into the eyes before the procedure starts, and the
patient is also given a mild sedative to relax them and make sure that they
are comfortable. Though a small pressure to the eye may be felt during the
Lasik procedure, the process itself is relatively pain free.

The surgeon does use a laser in the eye to help reshape the cornea during
the Lasik procedure.  Many folks are worried about the laser being shone
directly into the eye, or that they might look away and, due to this,
develop a serious complication with their eyes and the Lasik laser beam
effects.  In actuality, the laser is only active for ten to fifteen seconds
for each eye, and the Lasik machine has a tracking system that allows the
beam to be on only when the eye is in the correct position.

Another general fear for people contemplating a medical procedure is fear
of "the scalpel".  Any Lasik procedure uses only a very small microkeratome
blade to approach the eye, or some more recent Lasik innovations have the
laser itself created the flap and avoid using any hard surface at all. 
There is no reason to be concerned about a scalpel, for the Lasik physician
does not use one.

Many wonder about the horror stories they hear about this or any other
operation, and wonder about serious consequences like going blind. 
According the government statistics taken by the FDA, there are no reported
cases of blindness due to a Lasik operation. Actually, the risk of a serious
permanent complication due to the Lasik procedure is less than 1 percent,
and the risk of any permanent complications even if not serious
(such as light halos) is 3 percent or less.  It is extremely rare for
a patient to not have improved vision after a Lasik procedure.

If the thought of being awake and having your eyes open during the Lasik
procedure bothers you, remember that you will be given a mild sedative for
the procedure, and that your eyes will have numbing drops administered to
them.  If the thought of actually seeing the Lasik physician's hand
approaching your eye is bothersome, be comforted that the surgeon applies
drops to the eye that blacks out the vision in that eye for ten to fifteen
seconds, which is long enough for the procedure to be done for that eye.

This introduction has hopefully addressed the most common fears about the
Lasik procedure.  For anyone that might gain a better life quality with
improved vision, please visit your local Lasik clinic and discuss the
procedure in detail with the professionals there.