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What is LASIK's history?
Is LASIK for me?
How much does it cost?
What can I expect my vision to be like after
LASIK?
Does the procedure hurt?
Will having LASIK inconvenience me?
Is LASIK still considered investigational?
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Is LASIK investigational?
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Why do I sometimes hear LASIK referred
to as a practice of medicine procedure? |
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Is LASIK an off-label use of the excimer
laser? |
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If LASIK is an off-label use on some lasers,
why do ophthalmologists opt to do this procedure? |
What
is LASIK's history?
Is
LASIK for me?
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Who can LASIK benefit? |
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LASIK can benefit a great number of people
with myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Candidates should
have a strong desire to be less dependent on corrective
lenses, have established realistic expectations, and understand
the risks associated with the surgery. For more information,
please see our Eligibility
section.
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Who can't have LASIK? |
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There are a number of factors that doctors
must evaluate before they can determine who is an eligible
candidate for LASIK. Some doctors deem certain pre-existing
conditions contraindications to the procedure and will
not perform surgery if you possess them. Sometimes, factors
exist that preclude a patient from being an ideal candidate
for LASIK surgery. In many cases, a surgeon may still
be able to safely perform the procedure, given that the
patient and physician have adequately discussed the risks
and benefits and set realistic expectations for results.
For more information, please see our Eligibility
section.
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If I'm not eligible
for LASIK, are there other options available to me? |
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LASIK is only one type of refractive surgery
available to patients. Although you may not be eligible
for LASIK, you may be eligible for a different procedure.
You would need to discuss your options with your ophthalmologist.
For more information on these options, please see our
Refractive
Surgeries section.
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I am happy with my
contact lenses. Should I pursue having LASIK? |
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Most surgeons agree that if you are comfortable
wearing contact lenses and are not bothered by being dependent
on them, you should carefully evaluate the risks and benefits
of LASIK. For more information, please see our Eligibility
section.
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How
much does it cost?
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How much does LASIK cost? |
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The price practices charge will vary, depending
upon the conditions specific to the patient and the country.
For more information, please see our Cost section.
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Does insurance cover
this surgery? |
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Although LASIK is not a cosmetic procedure,
it is considered an elective surgery. Such surgeries are
covered in many European and Asian countries. However,
most United States, Canadian and Latin American insurance
policies will not cover the procedure, nor will Medicare
usually cover it. If you reside in the U.S., you should
check with your insurance company to see if your policy
offers partial or full coverage. In many cases, the cost
of the procedure can be covered by medical flex plans
or medical cafeteria plans that allow pretax dollars to
be set aside for medical expenses. You should check with
your employer to see if your company offers this type
of benefit. It is possible that the cost of LASIK may
be deducted from your U.S. federal income taxes. You should
check with your accountant to see if you can take LASIK
as a deductible health expense. Many ophthalmologists
in the US also offer financing plans to their patients.
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What
can I expect my vision to be like after LASIK?
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What results can I
expect from LASIK? |
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LASIK improves the uncorrected vision -
one's vision without wearing corrective lenses - in most
patients who have the procedure. Over 90% of patients
with low to moderate myopia will achieve 20/40 vision,
which is considered the minimum allowed by most states
and provinces to drive without having to wear contacts
or glasses. Over half of all patients can expect to achieve
20/20 vision or better. However, there are no guarantees
that you will have perfect vision, and patients with high
myopia (more than -7D) and high hyperopia (more than +4D)
should have a different set of expectations. People who
are most satisfied with the results of laser correction
possess realistic expectations of what their vision will
be like after surgery. For more information, please see
our Expectations section.
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Will my vision be as
crisp after LASIK? |
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Patients need to understand that 20/20
vision after LASIK might be different from 20/20 with
corrective lenses. Some people describe the images they
see post-operatively as not being as "crisp"
as those seen through glasses. To learn more about crisp
vision, please see our Expectations section.
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How long will it take
before I can see well, and how long will it take before
I have my best vision? |
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Fast visual recovery characterizes this
operation. Most patients achieve good vision the day of
surgery and find that their eyes feel fairly normal within
a day. However, vision can continue to improve, and best
vision can still take two to three months to occur. If
necessary, adjustments to the surgery called enhancements
can be done. Patients who undergo hyperopic LASIK often
need to wait longer to able to see clearly. Typically,
they are unable to see with intense clarity for one or
two weeks, with best vision coming in several months post-operatively.
For more information on this subject, please see our Expectations
section.
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Will I need to wear
glasses or bifocals once my eyes have healed? |
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Most patients who have LASIK do not need
to wear glasses for their daily activities. However, patients
may need to wear reading glasses if they are over the
age of 40. This is caused by the normal aging of the eye
known as presbyopia. This condition occurs with or without
LASIK. Some patients may need a minimal prescription for
some activities. Those patients who currently have bifocals
will still need reading glasses after the surgery unless
they opt for a treatment plan called monovision, wherein
one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near
vision. For more information, please see our Expectations
section.
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After LASIK, how will
my vision be at night or in low light? |
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Most patients do not notice a change; however
some patients will notice glare, halos or starburst around
objects in dim or low-light conditions. For the vast majority,
these symptoms are temporary. However, others will continue
to experience them for several months or longer. Although
these symptoms do not necessarily interfere with visual
acuity as it is measured by an eye chart, for some patients,
the experience can interfere with their activities. For
a more complete explanation of glare and halos, please
see our Risks & Complications section. |
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Will my eyes be dry after LASIK?
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Some patients who seek LASIK have underlying
dry eye syndrome that has not been diagnosed. There appears
to be a correlation between pre-operative dry eye syndrome
and developing more pronounced dry eye symptoms post-operatively.
Therefore, many doctors test for dry eye prior to making
a decision regarding eligibility. For more information,
please see our Risks & Complications section.
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Are the results achieved
from LASIK permanent? |
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LASIK is a surgical procedure that permanently
removes corneal tissue to reshape the eye in order to
improve refraction. The physical results are permanent.
However, you should be aware that since the eyes can still
change with time, and LASIK does not affect a number of
visual conditions associated with age. For example, LASIK
does not prevent presbyopia or affect this condition once
it does occur.
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If I have LASIK and my
vision changes later in life, can it be redone? |
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Depending on the cause, retreatment may
be a viable solution to vision changes later in life,
and other treatment options exist. You would need to see
your ophthalmologist to determine the cause of the change
and to determine which option is best for you.
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Does
the procedure hurt?
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Does the LASIK procedure
hurt? |
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Patients are given a topical anesthetic
(eye drops) to numb the eye, so they experience no pain
during the procedure. When the surgeon applies the vacuum
ring, the patient experiences a sensation of pressure
just before his or her vision fades for a few seconds.
The microkeratome - the instrument the surgeon uses to
create the flap - and the laser do not cause any pain
or discomfort. For several hours after the procedure,
many patients describe a mild burning sensation, such
as after opening the eyes while swimming in chlorinated
water. Therefore, taking a nap for the first 2 to 3 hours
after LASIK is encouraged. After the first few hours,
this uncomfortable feeling usually subsides.
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What kind of anesthetic
is used for LASIK? |
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The procedure is done with topical anesthetic
(eye drops) to numb the eye. Patients may be given a small
amount of oral sedative to help them relax.
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How safe is the LASIK
procedure? |
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According to several large studies, there
is approximately a 2% intra-operative and 3-5% post-operative
complication rate. Most of these complications do not
result in loss of 2 or more lines of best corrected visual
acuity or interfere with vision long term. The rate of
severe complications should be substantially less than
1%. It is important for patients to understand that LASIK
is surgery, and a small incidence of complications is
to be expected. For more information on this subject,
please see our Risks & Complications section.
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Will
having LASIK inconvenience me?
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Can I have both eyes
done with LASIK at the same time? |
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You can have bilateral simultaneous LASIK
(both eyes done at the same time). In fact, the practice
is common. However, in some circumstances, surgeons or
patients will determine that it is best to wait between
eyes in order to evaluate the results. Hyperopic LASIK
patients do not experience the extremely fast visual recovery
that myopic patients do. Therefore, some surgeons prefer
to operate on their eyes separately. Patients should discuss
their options with their ophthalmologist.
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If I have one eye
done at a time, what will my vision be like in between
the first and second surgeries? |
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There are a number of different options
to help patients deal with their vision between procedures.
Some patients who do not have bilateral surgery will begin
wearing a contact lens in the eye that has not undergone
surgery. This practice gives them an opportunity to use
their two eyes simultaneously. However, the contact lens
will need to be removed at least three days prior to the
second surgery. Others function by using the operated
eye immediately without use of a contact lens in the opposite
eye. This solution may work for nearsighted patients with
a moderate refractive error (less than six diopters).
A patient with a refractive error above six diopters who
does not wear a contact lens may be unable to use both
eyes together due to the large difference in refractive
error between the eyes. Removing one lens from a pair
of glasses is usually not useful. Doing so could cause
double vision and eye strain.
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How long will I
be out of work after having LASIK? |
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It depends on your occupation. Certain
jobs that require intense clarity of vision (dentistry
and surgery, for example) may be difficult to perform
for one or two days. Most patients can return to work
the next day, assuming their vision is adequate for their
job. However, some people may feel fatigued for a day
or so following surgery.
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Can I play sports
after LASIK surgery? |
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You can resume most normal activities immediately
after surgery. However, for at least two weeks you will
need to avoid activities that would cause perspiration
to run into the eyes. You should wear safety glasses while
playing contact sports whether or not you have had surgery.
But if you do not routinely wear safety glasses, your
surgeon may recommend wearing them for at least one month
after LASIK. You will also need to avoid such activities
as contact sports and swimming for several weeks. It is
important to talk specifically with your doctor about
limitations on activities after LASIK.
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Can I drive immediately
after having LASIK? |
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Patients may experience some discomfort
and/or blurred vision for a few hours after surgery. And
most patients receive a sedative prior to surgery. Therefore,
you cannot drive home after undergoing the procedure,
and you should plan not to drive for at least twenty-four
hours.
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Will my eyes look
different after LASIK? |
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No. Your eyes will look exactly the same.
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Is
LASIK still considered investigational?
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Is LASIK investigational? |
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No. LASIK has been performed outside of
the United States for approximately ten years and in U.S.
clinical trials with excellent results since 1995. It
is now the most commonly performed refractive procedure
in the United States. Long-term studies indicate that
LASIK is safe and effective. Please see our Bibliography
for a complete listing of all studies cited. The US FDA
provides a complete listing of the approval status of
excimer lasers in the US on their LASIK website.
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Why do I sometimes hear LASIK referred
to as a practice of medicine procedure? |
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The FDA approves drugs and devices, not
specific surgeries. However, the FDA evaluates the safety
and efficacy of a device within the context of studies
that have been done on a particular procedure, like PRK
or LASIK. US FDA approved excimer lasers in the U.S. earned
approval based on PRK and/or LASIK data. On those lasers
that have earned approval based on PRK data alone, LASIK
is permitted as a practice of medicine.
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Is LASIK an off-label use of the excimer
laser? |
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Except on four commercial lasers and three
practices' proprietary systems, LASIK is performed off-label
in the United States. LASIK for treatment of hyperopia
has been approved for two commercial laser systems and
is off-label on all other U.S. lasers. The use of devices
during a procedure deemed a practice-of-medicine is called
an "off label" use of these devices. Because
the approved lasers and microkeratomes have proven safe
and effective in other procedures, ophthalmologists can
use them off-label if they feel it is in their patients'
best interest to do so.
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If LASIK is an off-label use on some
lasers, why do ophthalmologists opt to do this procedure?
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LASIK has significant advantages over other
methods for many patients. The safety and accuracy of
LASIK equals or exceeds that of PRK. Because of the wide
range of correction and the rapid visual recovery associated
with LASIK, many surgeons offer this procedure as a treatment
option.
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