LASIK is the number one elective surgical procedure today, and more than a million Americans have had the procedure since its development. Its popularity exists because of the benefit of minimizing, or in some cases even eliminating, the need for the patient to use eyeglasses or contact lenses after the procedure. Let’s take a look at why LASIK is so popular

BETTER VISION

The most obvious reason for choosing LASIK is improved vision. While some patients have relatively mild problems with their eyesight, others live with much more significant vision problems that make functioning day-to-day almost impossible without the use of visual aids. LASIK can dramatically improve your vision, reducing the need to wear visual aids, or in some cases, completely eliminating it.

A GOOD INVESTMENT

Vision is also usually unstable, with the majority of people finding that their vision changes with each visit to their eye care provider. When this happens, the provider must prescribe a different prescription, which means expense as the patient finds themselves purchasing new eyeglasses or contacts to reflect their new visual requirements.

Although there is no guarantee that you will be completely prescription-free after LASIK, most patients find that their vision is so greatly improved that any changes to their prescription are much less visually-significant to their lives.

A SHORT, PAINLESS PROCEDURE

LASIK surgery can be performed in one short procedure. You should expect to spend around 30 minutes in the surgery suite, but the actual time it takes can be as little as 10 minutes – for both eyes! The remainder of the time will be spent preparing you and ensuring you are comfortable afterward. The entire process is carried out after anesthetic drops have been placed into your eyes, so you can rest assured you will feel absolutely no pain throughout. However, if you are particularly anxious about the process, it you may be given a sedative to help you relax.

FAST RECOVERY

LASIK eye surgery is renowned for its fast, simple recovery process. You will be able to return home the very same day as your procedure, and the flap that was created in the corneal tissue will start to heal itself without the need for sutures or bandages. Most patients can return to work within a day or two of their procedure. However, you will be expected to attend a follow-up appointment with Dr. Bainbridge within around 24 hours of your surgery so that he can ensure that your eyes are healing properly.

EXTREMELY SAFE

LASIK is an extremely safe procedure when performed by a certified and experienced eye surgeon. Laser technology means that the incisions are made with total precision and accuracy, and the process is completely sterile. The risk of significant complications in laser vision correction is very low, occurring in only around 1 in every 10,000 cases.

BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE

Eyesight problems can be a huge inconvenience. Activities like swimming and snowboarding are much more difficult if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses. In regular day to day activities, there can be the worry that your eyeglasses may fall off, or that you have left them behind when you need them. If you suffer from pollen allergies, you may find putting contact lenses in nearly impossible. In short, there are lots of ways in which the need for visual aids can interrupt your life, and it can be extremely frustrating. LASIK reduces or removes the inconvenience of eyeglasses or contact lenses and makes it much easier to get on with living life to the fullest.