Surgery allows about 70 percent of nearsighted people to achieve 20/20 vision without corrective lenses. And more than 90 percent achieve at least 20/40 vision, the vision usually required to pass an eye exam for a driver's license. More recent studies show that these percentages are edging up, a sign of improved technology and surgical skill.
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| Lasik Eye Surgery Risks |
Functional vision - the ability to do most daily activities without corrective lenses - returns in 7 to 10 days after PRK and 1 to 2 days after LASIK. Studies show that by 2 months after surgery, the visual acuity of people who've had PRK is about the same as it is for people who've had LASIK.
When the numbing drops wear off after LASIK, you may feel a sandy sensation in your eyes for a day or so. Yet LASIK is the less painful of the two surgeries because the exposed nerve endings of your cornea are covered by the corneal flap. With PRK the pain can be much more intense, lasting for several days and sometimes requiring powerful painkillers.
After LASIK surgery about 2 percent of recipients don't see as clearly as they did before the procedure. That number drops to 1 percent with PRK surgery. Between 5 percent and 15 percent of recipients eventually need a second surgery to further sharpen or enhance their vision. Other possible problems that may arise after refractive surgery include:
- Increased sensitivity to light
- More problems with glare
- Clouded vision, which typically disappears over time but may continue in some people
- Decreased vision at night, with halos around lights
- Intolerance to contact lenses
Who's a candidate for refractive surgery?
Typical candidates for LASIK or PRK are healthy adults ages 18 to 55 whose vision hasn't changed in the past year and who have mild to moderate nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. You may not qualify if you have dry eyes, cataracts, or other eye problems, or if you're pregnant - your vision can change during pregnancy.
Your nearsightedness should be no more than -14.00 diopters (-12.00 for PRK). This can be with or without astigmatism between -.50 and -5.00 diopters (-.75 and -4.00 for PRK). And your farsightedness should be no more than +6.00 diopters.
The surgeon will also want you to have realistic expectations about the procedure, which means knowing the risks and understanding that the surgery may not free you from the need for corrective lenses. Eligibility exams usually require a minimum of 2 hours.
Selecting the right surgeon
You'll want an experienced ophthalmologist doing the surgery - someone with special training in the procedure, plenty of experience and a high rate of success. Start by asking your primary care doctor for recommendations.
Once you identify a possible surgeon, ask the following questions. You have only one pair of eyes, so you want to be careful to whom you entrust them.
- How long have you been doing this kind of surgery? (Look for someone with years of experience, not months.)
- About how many of these surgeries have you performed, and how many do you do in an average week or month? (You may want someone who does some of these surgeries every week and who has performed the surgery hundreds of times.)
- What percentage of the people you've treated achieve 20/20 vision without corrective lenses? What percentage achieve 20/40 vision? (Look for someone whose numbers are at or above the national average of 70 percent for 20/20 vision and 90 percent for 20/40 vision or better.)
- What percentage of your clients return for an additional surgery? (The average is 5 percent to 15 percent.)
- What are the risks and possible complications? (If the doctor guarantees the surgery will eliminate your need for glasses or contacts, or that the risks are almost nonexistent, look for another surgeon. There are no guarantees. And the risks are real, with damage that's sometimes irreversible.)
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| Lasik Eye Surgery Risks |
What lies ahead
For those who are weary of corrective lenses that often can't correct to 20/20 vision, the dwindling risks of surgery and the growing rate of success makes the procedure all the more attractive. And as surgical technology continues to improve, along with the skill of the surgeons, the risks will likely continue to diminish. Some researchers are anticipating that in the next decade or so, more detailed computer mapping of the eyes will allow surgeons to make vision correction even more predictable and accurate. To find out more, you can check out Lasik Eye Surgery Risks.