Is LASIK Right for You?

LASIK has been around for a little over 10 years; does that mean it is safe? Not 100% because there is no long term scientific evidence over LASIK. The personal choice as to whether the benefits outweigh the risks are in the Eye of the beholder (pun intended!)

Whether or not you need LASIK is not the issue, for most people it is a luxury surgery to have, such as reconstructive nose surgery, or implants in your bum. But do the benefits outweigh the risks? In this article we will review the pros and cons, and if the procedure will be right for you.

LASIK is the process of cutting a slit in the corneal flap, then using a laser to reshape the cornea itself. Reshaping the cornea can result in a dramatic increase in the user's eyesight, improving the quality of life, and the ability to do, and see more things.

In user's such as myself, with horrible vision, LASIK seems too good to be true. Can you really see 20/20 after just 60 seconds under a computer guided laser? It seems like something out of Star Trek, or Star Wars, or star something. Yet, will it really improve out lives as suggested? Being only around 10 years old, it's really hard to weigh out the pros and cons of the procedure. There is not a lot of evidence for the long term complications to having your cornea reshaped with a laser. Working with what we know, here are the benefits of LASIK:

Benefits:

-Being able to see clearer

-Being able to read further away or closer to yourself

-The ability to throw away your contact lenses and/or glasses

-Improvement on your quality of life through your vision

-Easier ability to see things while driving that you might have missed before

-Less squinting to read

Now all of these are very beneficial to having a more comfortable life. Not to mention that a few of them could making driving a little more safe for the user, AND those around him/her. But what are some of the potential cons of such a procedure?

Risks:

-Irreversible loss of eyesight

-Extremely dry eyes

-A "fog" or "haze"

-Procedure errors (i.e. malfunctioning machinary)

-Misdiagnosis (i.e. doctor prescribed error for the procedure)

-Blurred vision

Now, I understand that a lot of you may feel a bit intimidated or scared by the list of cons, but when we really think about it, such problems can arise in just about any medical situation. Your doctor can misdiagnose you for just about anything, you can lose a limb when you were told that the surgery would be minimal, people can die during any type of surgery, even with a minimal chance. There will always be risks, and always be a small percentage of individuals who will fall under this category, and it will always be your choice as a consumer as to whether or not you will want to go through with it.

For some of us, that will be a deal breaker, but for others, even having the chance at better vision can help them beyond believe. Let's think about an Umpire. If we had one with horrible nearsightedness, it might be worthwhile to have the corrective procedure to help enhance his career. Then again, on the same note, in a career that has such risks as being hit in the head with a baseball, maybe the surgery would be more of a hassle then a help.

A professional boxer wouldn't want the surgery, as the blows to the face could drastically affect how the procedure will work, or maintain. A businessman who sits in front of computers, or has to attend lectors may find this surgery more suitable as it will allow him to focus easily, and read more clearly messages on a computer screen or a projector.

It is honestly, completely true when I said that it is in the "Eye of the beholder". It will depend on your individual research, and knowledge of the procedure, as to whether or not you will want to give it a shot. Then again, for some people, the price is just out of range. Although the cost of LASIK eye surgery has diminished in the up and coming years, $700 dollars per eye is still a large chunk of change out of the middle class' pocket. For most, your company's insurance may not cover reconstructive eye surgery, and you may be left paying it straight out of pocket.

With most things in life, you really need to research around to find which doctor will best suit you. From experience, to years in the field, and especially to the machinary they use, and how long they sit down and talk with you about it are all extreme factors in finding the right doctor for your surgery. Advertising is a big thing, and people want money, they will promote until they cannot promote any longer, and for some people that will be a dramatic cost to them. It may lead them into an unexperienced doctor who performs a hack surgery and leaves them with permanent damage. Research is key, find what and who is right for you.

And it is very true that you get what you pay for, if you have found a doctor to do the procedure, but cannot afford it, then look towards a payment plan. Some places are very flexible in the ability to let you pay so much every month for the surgery. Most of the time its best to get one eye done at a time, also. Then you can sit down with your doctor and see how healing has affected the one eye. If there were any infections, problems, or if the healing did not correctly take place. After the initial surgery, your doctor is then much more aware of how the second surgery will affect your other eye. Not to mention it lowers your cost, for just one eye as opposed to both.

All in all, LASIK is a risky business, it is something that some will cower away from because of money, because of problems, and because of fear itself. Others will due the surgery out of the benefits, better vision, easier ability to read, and the thought of discarding your contacts/glasses forever. Out of the LASIK patients, there is a small chance that problematic activity can arise, but if you haves the (eye)balls, then take a shot at a better life.