Getting the Best Results from Lasik Eye Surgery
Lasik surgery is a dream come true for many people. It can
restore their vision to 20/20 or better. Now let's get
realistic. How effective is lasik eye surgery? Can it really
repair everyone's eyes to perfect 20/20 vision or better? Can
you really throw your glasses and contact lenses away, never to
have to worry about them again? The answers to these questions
may surprise you. The truth is that not everyone gets 20/20
vision when the surgery is complete. The sad thing is that no
matter how much research you do, getting exact statistics is
impossible. A statistical chart on www.corneatexas.com shows
that they have a 96% success rate. According to www.aapecs.com
only about 55% of people have 20/20 vision after surgery;
however 92% have 20/40 vision. 20/40 is the minimum vision
requirement in the United States to get a drivers license.
You can see that statistics can be easily manipulated to mean
anything you want them to mean. You can not base your decision
on having surgery simply based on the statistics that your
doctor gives you. Remember that he is in business. You are a
sale to him. He will tell you what you want to make a sale.
Statistics should be considered, but not be the basis for your
decision.
Everyone's eye is different. The decision to go ahead with
surgery should be done after have a consultation with a
competent doctor. Don't go to someone you don't know or trust,
especially if they are going to be the one doing the surgery.
They just want your money. If you have a regular doctor that you
have been going to for years his/her opinion would be valuable.
Over the years you have learned to trust this doctor and his
consultation has a better chance of being unbiased.
Do not trust anyone who claims you can throw away your glasses
forever or that they guarantee 20/20 vision or your money back.
There are no guarantees in medicine. The truth is most people
still need glasses when they are done with surgery. You may need
a weaker prescription, but still you may need corrective lenses.
You have to accept that risk before going into surgery.
Many people go into surgery not expecting or even knowing about
any of the side effects or complications. You need to research
and understand these complications before having the surgery.
You also need to ask yourself, "What can I reasonably expect
from this surgery." You also need to know what to expect after
the surgery. Although the surgery may only take about 20
minutes, the recovery can take up to six months. No, you will
not have patches on your eyes and you won't spend six months in
pain waiting for your eyes to heal. But it will take about six
months to know if the surgery truly worked. If it did not work,
your eyes may go back to their original shape within those six
months. Also within that six month window, some of the negative
side effects may manifest themselves. The first six months is
critical. If you experience anything out of the ordinary, report
it to your doctor immediately. They key to repairing any
potential damage is timing. Don't wait if you feel pressure
behind your eyes, or extreme dry eye, or reduced vision, or
glares, or anything that is not normal. Your doctor may still be
able to fix these problems, but not if you don't tell him or
wait too long to tell him.
The honest truth is that you may still need glasses or contacts
when it's all said and done with. You need to know the risks
involved and have realistic expectations. Going in prepared will
help guide you through the entire process. "Knowledge is Power."
The saying may sound clich