How Safe is LASIK Eye Surgery?
If you are considering Laser Vision Correction, one of the questions at the top of your list is probably about safety.
"Is LASIK a safe surgical procedure?" The answer is YES!
More than 19 million LASIK procedures have been performed in the U.S. The latest research reports 99 percent of patients achieve better than 20/40 vision and more than 90 percent achieve 20/20 or better. In addition, LASIK has an unprecedented 96 percent patient satisfaction rate – the highest of any elective procedure. (Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery, Vol. 42, Issue 8, August 2016, Pages 1224-1234).
"Is LASIK safe for my eyes?"
This is determined at a free consultation with one of our highly trained doctors.* At our free consultations, our doctors perform a thorough evaluation to determine if you are a candidate for of one of our custom Laser Vision Correction procedures.
Arguably our most precious sense, our vision quality is not something that we should take lightly.
By scientific and clinical standards, LASIK is among the safest elective procedures available.
We would love to see you for a free consultation and have our team of highly trained doctors evaluate your eyes to see if one of our custom Laser Vision Correction procedures might be a safe and effective option for you.
Reply, Call or Text our LASIK Care Coordinator at (479) 595-5227
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the risk of complications?
A: Complication rate from LASIK is estimated to be less than 1 percent, making it one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today
Q: Has LASIK ever caused anyone to go blind?
A: LASIK has never been the primary exclusive cause of blindness
Q: I wear contacts, is it safer to just keep wearing contacts than have LASIK?
A: Recent studies have suggested that Laser Vision Correction is safer than wearing contact lenses. Serious eye infections that can lead to blindness affect up to 1 out of every 500 contact lens users per year. Between 40%-90% of contact lens wearers do not properly follow the care instructions for their contact lenses. One third of contact lens wearers sleep in them - putting them at 6-8x the risk of developing eye infections! Sleeping in lenses is one of the riskiest and one of the most commonly reported behaviors, increasing the risk for a corneal infection - even 'over-night' lenses. Other things that put you at risk with contacts are showering or swimming! Soft contact lenses can act like a sponge, so they absorb water, including common impurities and organisms which jump onto the contact lens, and it becomes their portal of entry into the part of the eye the contact lens fits on — the cornea.
Helpful Links:
LASIK Success Rate
https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/laser-eye-surgery-lasik-success-rate/
LASIK Complication Rate: Stats You Should Know
https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/lasik-complication-rate-latest-facts/
LASIK Complications Facts: Should You Worry?
https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/lasik-complications-facts-should-you-worry/
*As with any surgery, laser vision correction involves a degree of risk. Every patient considering laser vision correction is encouraged to independently research the procedure. Our doctors give patients the information regarding those risks and answer any questions that they may have and perform a thorough evaluation to determine if the patient is a recommended candidate for Laser Vision Correction.