Top Questions to Ask Your LASIK Surgeon Before Treatment

If you have been struggling with vision problems that require correction with glasses or contact lenses for most of your life, the advances in LASIK treatment can be very exciting! LASIK eye surgery gives people an opportunity to ditch the glasses or contacts and experience clear vision with just a simple laser procedure. However, as with any surgical treatment, there may be questions you want to ask your LASIK surgeon prior to scheduling your appointment for laser eye surgery. Here are some of the most commonly-asked questions about LASIK, along with their answers. Be sure to get detailed information from your LASIK surgeon prior to treatment so you know exactly what to expect.

What kind of results can I expect from LASIK treatment?

Your LASIK surgeon will perform an initial exam prior to scheduling your treatment in order to assess your level of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or type of astigmatism. Using the results of the exam, he or she can tell you approximately how much improvement you can expect...or whether LASIK treatment is going to work for you at all! Not all vision care patients are ideal candidates for LASIK eye surgery. Those with vision problems caused by severe refractive errors do not respond as well to LASIK treatment as those with mild to moderate refractive errors that cause objects to appear blurry. If you are considered a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery, you will be happy to know that the American Association of Opthalmology (https://www.aao.org/about/who-we-are/overview) reports a significant increase in eyesight, between 20/20 and 20/40, in more than 90 percent of LASIK patients!

What are the potential risks associated with LASIK laser eye surgery?

As with any surgical procedure, LASIK treatment carries a number of potential risks that you must be aware of prior to undergoing the procedure. Common after-effects of LASIK treatment include temporary blurriness, light sensitivity, tearing, and mild discomfort immediately following surgery. However, some LASIK patients experience dry eye syndrome following surgery, due to decreased tear production. Additional rare side effects, such as infections or complications, are possible. Be sure to ask your LASIK surgeon to provide a detailed description of potential risks and side effects before scheduling your procedure.

I am currently taking medication for another condition. Are there any medications I should stop taking before my LASIK surgery?

If you are taking any prescribed or over-the-counter medications, be sure to share this information with your LASIK surgeon. He or she will let you know which medications, if any, you need to stop taking prior to your procedure.

LASIK laser eye surgery gives you the opportunity to see things clearly, without the aid of glasses or contacts. By discussing the procedure in detail with your LASIK surgeon, you will be able to feel confident and relaxed about your decision to undergo LASIK treatment.