Your LASIK is Perfect, Here Are Your New Glasses!
Advances in technology and surgical technique (but mostly technology!) have led to very successful, predictable LASIK outcomes in appropriate surgery candidates. It can truly be the right operation for the right person.
Two areas of LASIK that deserves more attention are patient counseling and clear communication.
One huge misunderstanding experienced by all LASIK candidates is that they will never need to wear eyeglasses or contacts ever again. That statement is very inaccurate.
Truth be told, most LASIK patients will need glasses later in life. Here's why:
In all fairness, some of these outcomes can be managed with more LASIK at a later time. Adults over 40 may opt for LASIK distance correction in one eye and LASIK near correction in the fellow eye - a strategy called monovision.
The important point to remember is that if you seek LASIK to eliminate eyeglasses or contacts make sure you and your surgeon share common expectations. Surprises are best reserved for wedding engagements and birthdays.
Related Topics:
Two areas of LASIK that deserves more attention are patient counseling and clear communication.
One huge misunderstanding experienced by all LASIK candidates is that they will never need to wear eyeglasses or contacts ever again. That statement is very inaccurate.
Truth be told, most LASIK patients will need glasses later in life. Here's why:
- The LASIK procedure may not fully correct the preoperative refractive error. This is common for extremely nearsighted (myopic) folks. LASIK will, however, convert them to thinner, lighter eyewear.
- Perfect LASIK throws you into the swimming pool with all emmetropes (folks needing zero correction at distance). This sounds great but there's a catch. Around age 40 emmetropes begin to experience symptoms caused by age-related loss of near focusing (presbyopia).
- The LASIK procedure may generate imperfect results. Residual (or new) amounts of refractive error may require post-op correction.
In all fairness, some of these outcomes can be managed with more LASIK at a later time. Adults over 40 may opt for LASIK distance correction in one eye and LASIK near correction in the fellow eye - a strategy called monovision.
The important point to remember is that if you seek LASIK to eliminate eyeglasses or contacts make sure you and your surgeon share common expectations. Surprises are best reserved for wedding engagements and birthdays.
Related Topics:
- Experts Advise New Warnings for LASIK
- LASIK Eye Surgery and Other Refractive Surgeries: An Updated Guide
8 Comments:
Dear Dr Lloyd,
this is a very interesting article and finally someone tells the truth.
I have an interesting research proposal in regards to the topic for you, so if you are interested, please email me.
Email is veit@think-and-grow-health.com.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Veit
Thanks for this information. My husband and I were considering this proceedure because we both thought it was to done to correct eye vision. We had always hesistated to do this. Mainly we did not feel comfortable and unsure that it would infact correct our vision forever!
While the doctor is indeed telling the truth here, I still think the benefits of LASIK far outweigh the downside of the procedure. I had LASIK about 5 years ago using the monovision technique described. I now have to wear a very light prescription only at night, especially when driving. As scary as it was to undergo elective eye surgery, I am very pleased that I had it done. I am without glasses 90% of the time still, and my eyes seem quite stable now. I would recommend it to anyone.
At age 62 I had monovision performed in March, 2008. So far, so good. The dr. did state that if I want to see further at night when driving, I can get a prescription for glasses that would help that problem. To me, I love not having to wear glasses 24/7. My face feels lighter. Now all I have to do is hide the fine lines under my eyes that my glasses use to hide.
Thank you for this information. I was nearsighted had custom LASIK done two years ago. I was told by both my regular eye doctor and the LASIK doctor that I would have to wear reading glasses someday. The procedure was well worth it to ditch the "all the time" glasses! I love my new eyes and wouldn't hesitate to have the procedure done again.
I had lasik eye surgery 3 years ago. My immediate results were unbelievable--I could see clearly without the heavy prescription glasses that I wore for years. I even needed my glasses to walk from my bed to the bathroom, which is only a few yards! This good news lasted only for about 1 year, when my vision deteriorated and I am back to wearing eyeglasses. My eye doctor said that he couldn't do any corrective surgery (enhancements) or I would be worse off than I currently am. He said there isn't enough thickness left in my eye and that if the corrective surgery didn't work, I might have to weat hard contac lenses all the time to support the sagging lens and not even be able to wear eyeglasses! Not wanting to risk being worse off, I continue to wear glasses with a weaker RX than before the surgery
and can get around without my glasses at home, if I don't need to see sharply. I am very disappointed b/c most of the people that I know have had no problems with the surgery.
I work for an ophthalmic surgeon who performs LASIK, and this article is great for pointing out the importance of realistic expectations. The marketing makes it sound like a miracle, and in many ways it can be, but there are two things to keep in mind:
1. LASIK attempts to mimic the refractive power of your best pair of glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes it's right on, sometimes a little off - there's no way to predict how an individual will respond to the treatment. Even two eyes in the same head will respond differently to the same treatment.
2. The goal of LASIK is to reduce dependency on glasses. To many, this is a huge improvement of lifestyle, even if it doesn't completely eliminate the need for glasses altogether.
The best advice is to be prepared for some imperfections as opposed to perfection, and appreciate the freedom that LASIK can give you.
I had keratoconus and corneal transplant was done on my right eye. After nearly two years the eye was stable. When I went to do up my left eye the doctor told that the problem was not as bad as the right eye. Catract surgery was performed on this eye and a lens was inserted. My opto metrist has problem to achieve balanced vision both distant and short.
I am now changing my views not to go for LASIK procedure after reading this article. Any suggestions?
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