Since its approval in 1995 laser eye surgery has become a popular option for those of us seeking to restore our vision. Often this surgery can mean we no longer have to wear glasses, or use contact lenses.
Advances in the procedure have made it a routine operation with minimal risk and a short recovery time. Your vision really could be 20/20 again just a few days after undergoing the treatment.
Is Laser Eye Surgery the Correct Choice?
Laser eye surgery, also known as refractive surgery, can repair many eye problems. Both short or long-sightedness, and astigmatism can be corrected. Whilst restoration to 20/20 vision is not promised in all cases, It will reduce a your dependency on contact lenses or glasses. Having said that, in many cases it can eliminate the need to wear corrective lenses altogether. The level of improvement depends on how bad the eyesight is before surgery, with approximately seven out of ten patients enjoying restored 20/20 vision, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).
There are two main types of laser eye surgery commonly offered, these are namely; Lasik eye surgery, and Lasek eye surgery. The one that is right for you will depend on several factors.
Lasik eye surgery:
Lasik or Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis, is the type most people will be offered. The procedure is very fast, taking on average a mere 15 minutes per eye. It involves a flap being cut into the cornea of the eye with a laser or a thin blade called a microkeratome. The thought of have this done might make you feel a little uneasy but, rest assured, it is a painless procedure thanks to anaesthetic drops.
After that another laser is used to adjust the shape of the cornea. It is this reshaping that restores the quality of the patients vision. It is a painless operation, and many people will have an immediate improvement in their quality of their eyesight.
After the operation, your eye should heal within two days to a week, and you will be asked to refrain from driving for a period from one to three days.
Lasek eye surgery:
Lasek or Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis, is a similar procedure, but differs in that the thickness of flap that is cut into the cornea is thinner during this procedure. For this reason it is recommended for patients with less corneal tissue thickness.
The healing time with lasek eye surgery is longer, being four to seven days, and you will be asked to not drive for about a week. After having Lasek eye surgery you can expect to see clearly in a few weeks.
Are you suitable for laser eye surgery?
Laser eye surgery is a suitable for most people. However people under the age of 18 will be unsuitable due to the developmental changes in vision that occur before this age. Also pregnant or nursing women are unsuitable because of changes that occur to their body during these periods. However all candidates will undergo detailed screening prior to being accepted.
All candidates must have a stable eye prescription, with no major changes in vision being observed over a short period of time. The eye must also be healthy, and free from disease. People suffering from Glaucoma or any other serious eye disease won’t be suitable for laser eye surgery.
Choosing your surgeon:
It must be remembered that this is elective surgery, and like all procedures of this kind you should choose your surgeon and clinic with care. Make sure when considering where you will have laser eye surgery, that you perform due diligence before committing yourself. Ask how many procedures your chosen surgeon has undertaken, and try searching online for any reported problems. If you fit the criteria there is no reason why you shouldn’t use laser eye surgery to correct your vision.
Cost Of Laser Eye Surgery
On other factor to be considered is not a medical one – it’s the cost. Laser eye surgery is not cheap but it can be worth it to throw away your glasses and contacts and be able to participate in sports where they would be impractical. Many people say their whole outlook on life has changed as a result.
Typically, in the USA, LASIK costs between $4,000 and $5,000, and will not be covered by most health care insurance plans. If you don’t have an insurance plan, the high price of laser eye surgery can be too expensive for many people.
In the UK, at one well-known clinic, Lasek can range from something like £395 per eye, but if you want the advanced Custom Wavefront Lasek it will cost from £795 per eye.
The high cost of laser eye surgery is one of the major reasons why many ordinary people don’t opt for this type of surgery. However, if you can afford laser eye surgery then it could be life-changing as many people attest to.