ou've probably seen media reports about how
refractive surgeries such as LASIK
can enable you to "throw away your glasses and contact lenses
forever." It's an exciting idea, and everyone who needs vision correction has no
doubt wondered if laser eye surgery
is right for him or her. But before you decide, there are a few things
to consider about LASIK
and other types of refractive surgery.
What is LASIK?
LASIK is a type of refractive surgery that reshapes your cornea
by surgically removing tissue. The surgical reshaping allows light rays to focus
properly on your retina – the same function that glasses or contacts perform
now. LASIK is the most common type of refractive surgery, but other laser eye
surgeries – such as PRK and LASEK – accomplish
basically the same thing, in slightly different ways.
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It makes sense to try contact lenses before making an irreversible
change with LASIK. |
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Am I a good candidate for surgery?
Refractive surgery isn't for everyone. Whether it's right for you depends on
your prescription, your age, and specific medical conditions. For example,
refractive surgery shouldn't be performed on anyone under 21 years of age, on pregnant women,
or on people whose immune systems are compromised by certain diseases and
conditions. And perhaps
most important, whether it’s right for you depends on your expectations of visual
acuity. Your eye doctor can advise you on whether LASIK
eye surgery is right for you.
Can I really get rid of my glasses and contacts?
It depends. While surgery will almost certainly reduce your dependence on
glasses or contact lenses, it may not eliminate the need for them. Almost all refractive
procedures yield at least 20/40 vision, which is the common requirement for a driver's license. But
you may not be happy with 20/40 vision. Like many people, you might prefer the sharpness
and acuity of 20/20 vision, to which you’ve become accustomed with your glasses or
contact lenses. Depending on your prescription, a 20/20 outcome from your
procedure may be likely, but not guaranteed.
Even after LASIK, you'll eventually need reading glasses.
If your LASIK surgery does
produce 20/20 vision, it won't eliminate presbyopia. That is, sometime after age 40 your eye's natural aging process
will make it difficult for you to see up-close without vision correction. At
that point you'll probably need reading glasses. A great alternative to the
combination of LASIK and reading glasses is GP bifocal contact lenses.
How expensive is surgery?
LASIK costs vary by type of procedure, by geographic region, and by doctor. The
advent of new technologies has also been driving up the cost of LASIK. The 2007
average is about $4,000 for both eyes. Of course, as an elective procedure, it's not covered by most
insurance policies.
What about the long-term implications?
Since LASIK involves removing tissue from your eye's cornea, it is not
reversible. As your refractive needs change, you might need additional procedures.
Some people experience side effects, such as trouble with night vision, light sensitivity,
and glare. And as we age, almost everyone will still need reading glasses.
What's the bottom line?
Many eye doctors and consumers find contact lens wear to be a better alternative than
refractive surgery. After all, it accomplishes what most people really want – to get rid of their glasses! Contact lenses are relatively
inexpensive, non-surgical, convenient, and healthy. Most importantly, it makes sense to
try something that's reversible – like contact lens wear – before committing to a
surgical procedure that will permanently change your eyes, with no turning back.
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