Common Questions About LASIK

People often ask what they can expect from LASIK, how the procedure will go, how their vision will improve and more.

To help out those considering LASIK, here's a quick FAQ about the process that should help clarify what you've been wondering about when it comes to LASIK and PRK.

Is It Painful to get LASIK Surgery?

Many patients ask about the pain involved with something as delicate as their eyes when it comes to laser vision correction surgery. The procedure itself is not painful, since anesthetic drops are used in the eyes. Afterwards, some mild pain or discomfort may occur for a few days following the surgery. Pain medication may be prescribed depending on the specific surgery.

If your LASIK surgeon advises photorefractive keratectomy or PRK surgery instead of LASIK  there is more post-operative discomfort and it may take a few days for you to recover clear vision so you usually cannot return to work the next day as is typically the case with LASIK surgery.

What Risks are Involved?

If you're wondering what can go wrong, you should ask your doctor directly to get specific answers for your own risks. However, LASIK and similar procedures like PRK are widely recognized as safe. The procedure uses a non-thermal beam of light controlled by precise computer inputs, with the surgery the computer can shut off the laser at any moment if it looks like something is wrong. Around 3 to 5 percent of people may experience side effects like dry eyes or more nighttime glare as a result. Less than 1 percent of people may lose some vision.

Will I Get 20/20 Vision?

Reports indicate that about 9 out 10 LASIK patients recover with eyesight between 20/20 and 20/40 vision. However, individual perceptions of vision can vary, so 20/20 vision can feel different to different people. Generally, age-related vision issues will continue such as presbyopia, which means you may need reading glasses in the coming years as you reach the age of 40.

How Long Does LASIK Take?

LASIK is a very quick procedure compared to most surgeries. From start to finish, LASIK or PRK will often only takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes to finish. Given the advance of Wavefront-guided (also known as “Custom Cornea”), LASIK and PRK, laser vision correction has become an even faster procedure thanks to the carefully programmed lasers used during the process.

When Can I Go Back to Work?

You can typically go back to work the next day after your LASIK procedure. Some laser vision correction surgeries that go deeper into the cornea may take a bit longer to heal, in which case patients are advised to not return to work for several days.

A true expert LASIK surgeon, like the ones featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ can provide the best guidance concerning about post-operative care, what you should do after your LASIK or PRK procedure and how much time you should take before resuming work or other activities.

What’s Next? 

If you are Interested in learning more about LASIK or another laser vision correction procedure, you have come to the right place.

Find a highly qualified LASIK surgeon through our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory.  Once you find a surgeon closest to you, please contact them directly by calling them or filling out their contract form from their website from the links we provide. 

All LASIK and cataract surgeons featured at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ are screened to ensure you can find a surgeon who has proven expertise and one with professional accomplishments that have been recognized by their peers. To learn how we screen surgeons, please visit our discussion entitled “How are surgeons screened at Trusted LASIK Surgeons™”?

Most of the LASIK surgeons at featured in our Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ Directory are also expert cataract surgeons and many perform other refractive procedures, like the Kamra Inlay, which can help with reading problems, lens implant procedures, and corneal transplants.  Whatever your vision needs, Trusted LASIK Surgeons™ is here to help you find the best vision correction experts you can find.