Even though LASIK surgery is a widely popular procedure that has been done all over the world, there are still many myths that surrounds LASK surgery. So let us take a look at some of the more popular myths and debunk them! Hopefully, this will help you in deciding whether or not you should go for a LASIK surgery.
MYTH: LASIK is permanent and the side effects last forever.
The result of a LASIK surgery is permanent, that is, your cornea is reshaped permanently through LASIK eye surgery. However, your vision quality will most likely still experience changes as you grow older. Despite how you already had a LASIK surgery, your corrected vision might be impacted by your own aging process. As you grow older, your eyes will also experience changes due to this natural aging process. With this, comes the gradual decline of vision quality as well. This is what people usually misunderstand about LASIK’s results as not permanent. It is not the result of the surgery itself that changed. It is because your eyes go through an aging process too, so the corrected vision will still be affected later on.
Meanwhile, for side effects, many patients experience improvements as they continue to heal. This shows that in most cases, the side effects of LASIK surgery are temporary. As long as you are being careful and responsible in your recovery, the chances of corneal flap dislodgement and infections are quite small. Over the years, research has shown that LASIK has high success rates with treatable and manageable side effects.
MYTH: Everyone is suitable for LASIK
It is true that many people are suitable for LASIK, this is because they meet the requirements for LASIK surgery. However, this doesn’t mean that everyone is suitable for LASIK. For example, pregnant women and breastfeeding moms are not suitable for LASIK, or for any other type of eye refractive surgery. If you are not healthy in general, you are not an eligible candidate for eye refractive surgery.
Another determining reason could be a lifestyle. Lifestyle is an important factor when it comes to LASIK consideration. For example, for people that adopt active lifestyles such as professional athletes, martial artists, or military personnel, LASIK is usually not recommended. This is because the risk of flap-related complications from LASIK surgery is usually higher for those who adopt an active lifestyle. This is why laser vision correction surgery that involves the creation of a corneal flap might not be the best option for them. Instead, opting for a surface-based procedure or a flapless procedure such as TransPRK or ReLEx SMILE might be the better choice for those with an active lifestyles.
LASIK is also not recommended for some people because of their eye conditions. First, the shape of their eyes. For example, people who have thin corneas will not be good LASIK candidates. The “flap” creation in a LASIK surgery will not be safe for patients with thin corneas. Second, the dryness of their eyes. Dry eyes tend to worsen after LASIK surgeries, even though they are usually only temporary. It won’t be advised for people with severe dry eyes to go for a LASIK surgery. You have to go to the LASIK clinic of your choice and do a suitability test in order to find out if you are a good candidate for LASIK.
MYTH: A person who has undergone LASIK cannot wear contact lens.
This is not always the case. If you have undergone LASIK surgery, you might still be able to wear contact lenses. You won’t be able to wear it right away after surgery, you will need to wait for a few months after you have recovered fully. Make sure to get your doctor’s advice on whether or not you are able to wear your contact lens after the surgery!