LASIK eye surgery has helped patients over the course of several decades see things without the aid of glasses or contact lenses. The procedure is relatively painless and has become more common with time. Despite all of its benefits, there are some disadvantages that you should consider before you undergo this procedure.
Eligible Candidates
LASIK eye surgery is not an option for every person who wishes to correct their vision. Generally, it is highly advised that people under the age of 18 wait until their eyesight stabilizes after their growing period. Pregnant women should not undergo this surgery as well since the eye has a tendency to change shape during pregnancy.
The Aftermath
Potential side-effects are possible right after the LASIK procedure. Some patients develop dry eyes and become sensitive to light after the surgery. Some develop temporary visual problems such as glare or halos around objects, particularly at night. This can make night driving difficult and potentially dangerous. Your eye surgeon may prescribe medication in the form of eye drops to help alleviate most of these symptoms.
Irreversible Damage
There are a few extreme but rare cases where negative results are permanent. The changes made to the cornea of the eye using LASIK eye surgery cannot be reversed or altered. Additional surgeries may correct some small errors, but in the event that a rather large mistake was made, the damage will be irreversible. There are also situations where the surgery may not produce desirable results and the outcome prevents the patient from using glasses or contact lenses, thus leaving them without an available form of vision correction.
Retreatment
Supplementary surgeries to correct minor mistakes are common. Each operation, of course, adds medical costs and recovery time. In addition, the initial surgery doesn't always produce the desired result in one try, especially for those with extremely poor vision to begin with. In this case, further treatments may be needed to enhance the patient's vision.
Costs
A patient of LASIK eye surgery can expect to pay several thousands of dollars for the procedure. Despite the fact that it is a medical procedure and that it has great benefits, most insurance companies do not cover the costs related to LASIK under their belief that this type of eye surgery is elective and not necessary since there are other forms of vision correction. Most patients have to pay for the surgery out of their own pockets because of this.
Tags: LASIK surgery, contact lenses, glasses contact, glasses contact lenses, surgeries correct