Is LASIK Safe? We’ve got the Answers to Your Questions Here!

“Is laser eye surgery safe?”

“What are the risks with this kind of procedure?”

“Does LASIK have any side effects?”

These are just some of the most common questions we get about LASIK. It can sometimes be difficult to filter through information about laser vision correction procedures, from whether it hurts to how safe it is, which is why we’ve compiled this blog post.

LASIK is widely considered to be one of the safest surgeries in modern medicine

If you’ve been considering the procedure, you’re in good company: In an article published by EyeWorld, an estimated 21 million people worldwide have had laser vision correction since 1991.

Today, laser eye surgery is widely considered to be one of the safest procedures in modern medicine. And with almost 30 years of technological advancement, it’s easy to see why.

According to retrospective analysis using data from clinical studies between 2008 and 2015, patients have been experiencing better visual outcomes now than ever before. And with a 98% satisfaction rate, the numbers speak for themselves.

First, find out if you’re a good candidate for LASIK

One of the main reasons people choose to get LASIK is because of the procedure’s numerous lifestyle benefits, like being able to get rid of glasses and contacts. It can also improve the quality of life for people in certain professions like pilots, emergency response teams, photographers, and surgeons.

If you’ve decided that laser vision correction is right for you, there are various factors that can make you a viable candidate, some of which are out of your control, like the thickness of your corneas. The best way to be sure? Book a free, no-obligation consultation to find out more.

Our team of eye care professionals will perform diagnostic testing to measure several components, such as the state of your eyes, the range of your prescription and more, to determine if you are a good candidate for laser vision correction.

Experience matters

All About Vision recommends several items you should consider before choosing a surgeon that fits your needs.

• First, be sure to give them a background check: Has your surgeon studied in medicine and ophthalmology? Did they attend a well-recognized medical school for their education? What sort of fellowships have they done?
• Has the surgeon performed a high number of refractive surgeries before? If so, it means that they know the ins and outs of the procedure, which can inspire confidence in patients. Larger laser vision correction centres can accommodate more patients, meaning the surgeons on staff gain more experience by performing more procedures.
• Are they board certified? What other credentials or certifications do they have?

As a point of reference: Collectively, LASIK MD surgeons have performed over 1 million vision correction procedures across Canada (with 500,000 in Quebec)—that’s experience you can count on.

LASIK is safe and quick (and is not painful)

Here are some interesting facts about LASIK:

• LASIK is widely considered to be one of the safest elective procedures in modern medicine
• The LASIK surgery itself is actually pretty quick—in most cases, the procedure takes less than 10 minutes to complete (for both eyes)
• The recovery period following LASIK is short, so you’ll be back to your normal day-to-day routine in as little as 24 hours after your procedure
• Most patients say they feel nothing more than a minor sensation during laser vision correction, if anything at all. Plus, you’ll be given numbing eye drops prior to your surgery to ensure that the entire experience is as painless as possible

Does LASIK have any side effects?

LASIK is a medical procedure, and like any medical procedure, it comes with some risks. Less than 1% of patients experience complications and the vast majority are rare, minor, and treatable. They are also discussed during a patient’s consultation and a complete list of potential complications is outlined in detail in our LASIK Information Booklet, which is provided to each and every patient.

Some of the more common side effects that people experience temporarily are light sensitivity, glare, halos, and dry eyes.

Getting LASIK is safer than contact lenses

Maybe you’ve been putting off getting LASIK because you’re happy with the freedom that contact lenses can provide. But did you know that by choosing LASIK, you’re actually opting for a safer option than with contact lenses? It turns out that the potential for infection is high with daily contact lens wear: one person in every 100 contracts a potentially serious eye infection due to improper cleaning and wearing habits.

What are your options if you are not eligible for LASIK?

If, during your free consultation, you learned that you aren’t eligible for laser vision correction but were hoping to get rid of your glasses, ask us about these other options

• Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) is recommended to patients whose corneas may be too thin. Unlike LASIK, there is no flap created in a PRK procedure. Instead, the corneal surface is partially removed with a small device that closely resembles a small circular brush. The laser then reshapes the cornea in the same way as with LASIK.
• A refractive lens exchange (like PresbyVision™) is a procedure in which the eye’s natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. It’s typically performed on patients whose natural lenses have insufficient power to permit a clear vision without visual aids.
• Corneal Collagen Cross-Linking (CXL) is usually offered to patients who have an eye condition called keratoconus, which occurs when a normally round-shaped cornea thins and bulges into a cone-like shape. Usually this condition begins to appear in a person’s teens or 20s– however, laser eye surgery usually does not correct it. CXL can help prevent the condition from worsening.
• Implantable contact lenses are designed to provide premium visual outcomes, particularly in patients with high myopia. This procedure involves the insertion of a special type of lens behind the iris to help improve blurry vision.

Ready to learn more and see if you’re a candidate? Book your free, no-obligation consultation today!