What Makes LASIK A Safe Procedure?in Boston, MA

LASIK is one of the most popular refractive procedures available today, helping millions achieve clear vision and reduce dependence on glasses and contact lenses. There’s a good chance you may know someone who’s already had LASIK!

If you are considering LASIK but feel held back, you might be wondering whether LASIK would be a safe procedure for you.

For those who qualify for the procedure, the answer is yes!

No surgical procedure is without risk, including LASIK. As elective procedures go, LASIK is one of the safest there is. There are many reasons this procedure is considered safe, but keep in mind that LASIK isn’t for everyone.

Part of what keeps the rate of LASIK complications low is screening out people that do not qualify for the procedure. Keep reading to learn more about what makes LASIK a safe procedure!

A Proven Track Record

Many people think of LASIK as a “newer” procedure, but in reality, LASIK has been FDA approved for over 20 years!

That’s why it should be no surprise at all that the procedure has a 96% satisfaction rate among those who have had LASIK. For any kind of medical procedure, elective or otherwise, that is incredibly high.

LASIK has demonstrated that it corrects refractive errors in patients with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by permanently reshaping the cornea.

Having refractive errors means the cornea is irregularly shaped, leading to distorted vision. Reshaping the cornea corrects refractive errors, leading to clear vision and of course, no longer needing to wear glasses or contacts for most patients.

This translates to many patients ending up with 20/20 vision or better after having LASIK. In other words, you could see clearly every second of every day from the moment you wake up.

Advanced Technology

LASIK technology is ever-evolving, helping to continually advance surgical capabilities and safety standards. The procedure may have been FDA approved over 20 years ago, but the technology used is continuously improved for a state-of-the-art surgical experience.

When LASIK was first FDA approved, it involved the use of hand-held blades to reshape the cornea. Now, LASIK can be bladeless and more precise with the use of laser technologies.

That means patients end up with better results and have a shorter recovery period. Only highly trained and experienced surgeons can perform LASIK, minimizing safety risks.

You should still make sure you choose a reliable, experienced surgeon for your procedure. Doing your research will ensure that you choose a surgeon that’s using the latest technology.

An experienced LASIK surgeon that has been performing the procedure for a long time is likely to provide you with optimal outcomes.

How to Reduce Risks and Complications with LASIK

LASIK is a safe procedure, and many of the associated risks of LASIK are avoidable. However, no medical procedure is entirely without the risk of complications.

In most cases, complications that occur following LASIK happen during recovery. If you’re going to have LASIK, it’s important to make sure you listen to all of the instructions provided by your ophthalmologist.

In particular, the flap that’s created during LASIK is delicate during the recovery period. You’ll need to take it easy and avoid any kind of contact sports as well as activities that may make your eye pressure spike, like bending over.

Your eyes are also more susceptible to infection when you’re healing after LASIK. When your eye doctor tells you to stay away from bodies of water, this is something you need to listen to!

Do not get any water in your eyes, including water when you’re taking a shower. Even tap water is the perfect place for bacteria to breed and since your eyes are more sensitive than normal while they are recovering, you could easily end up with an infection. This could lead to serious complications if you’re still healing after having LASIK.

It is also very important to follow any eye drop schedule provided by your eye surgeon following your LASIK procedure; these help to reduce eye inflammation and prevent dry eye symptoms, which promotes a smooth recovery.

What Makes a Good LASIK Candidate?

Most people are good candidates for LASIK. Roughly 85% of all patients who get screened for LASIK get approved.

Having a LASIK consultation is the only way to determine if you’re a good candidate for the procedure. There are many factors that go into LASIK candidacy, the main qualifications are:

• Being at least 18 years old, although most LASIK surgeons recommend patients be in their mid to late twenties for the best results
• Having a stable prescription for at least a year
• Being healthy and not having any autoimmune conditions like Sjogren’s Syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis that makes recovery from a surgical procedure harder.
• Having a prescription that is not too strong (up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness, +6 diopters of farsightedness, and 6 diopters of astigmatism)
• Having thick enough corneas and big enough pupils

If you meet these requirements, chances are, LASIK is right for you. But the only way to find out for sure is to have a LASIK consultation.

How LASIK Consultations Keep You Safe

A LASIK consultation is a simple way to see if you qualify for LASIK without having to commit to the procedure. Here at The Nielsen Eye Center, we provide Free VIP LASIK Consultations!

This is the time to find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the procedure, how it works, scheduling, and even financing. You must have a LASIK consultation before you can have LASIK. This is what makes LASIK safe.

A good way to judge the quality of a surgeon or eye care practice is to ask what percentage of patients they screen out as not being right for LASIK. It should be around 15%.

You can and should ask plenty of questions during your consultation to make sure your safety is a top priority. But as long as you’re in the hands of a good, experienced surgeon, LASIK is a perfectly safe procedure with minimal risk.

Now that you know LASIK is a safe way to attain the clear vision you’ve always dreamed of, it’s time to find out if it’s right for you. Schedule your VIP LASIK consultation at The Nielsen Eye Center in Boston, MA now! If not now, then when will you say yes to visual freedom?

Our Patient Advocates are standing by and waiting to answer any questions you may have! Give us a call at 617-471-5665 to learn more about LASIK!