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Lasik Eye Surgery: Exploring The Pros And Cons

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If you are tired of relying on eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision problems, Lasik eye surgery may allow you to eliminate the need for these corrective lenses. This is because Lasik surgery works to reshape your cornea and therefore correct vision problems including near sightedness, far sightedness, and astigmatisms.

While Lasik will prove extremely beneficial for many people, this treatment option will not be right for everyone. This is because like all treatment options, Lasik has both pros and cons which must be considered. By taking the time to carefully consider both the advantages and disadvantages discussed below, you can make a truly informed decision regarding whether or not Lasik eye surgery is right for you.

The Pros

  • Quick Results - Patients will typically experience an improvement in their vision immediately after the procedure is completed. Their vision will continue to improve in the hours and days following the procedure as their cornea heals. Typically, a patient will be able to eliminate all need for corrective lenses.
  • Permanent Results - The results associated with Lasik eye surgery will typically last a lifetime. However, it is important to note that Lasik eye surgery cannot prevent vision loss due to other medical conditions, such as glaucoma.
  • Save Money - Most people who wear glasses or contact lenses will need to replace these corrective lenses on a regular basis. In fact, people who choose contact lenses over eyeglasses may need to buy new lenses as often as every month. By choosing to undergo Lasik eye surgery, you will be able to eliminate this expense all together.

The Cons

  • Nighttime Glare - In the months immediately following your surgery, you may experience problems with nighttime glare and may also experience a sensitivity to bright lights. While these issues will typically resolve themselves once the cornea is completely healed, they can temporarily get in the way of you performing certain tasks, such as driving at night.
  • Chronic Dry Eyes - Another common side effect of Lasik eye surgery is the development of chronic dry eyes in the days and weeks following the procedure. For most people, this condition will go away on its own, however, others will find that this condition is permanent. In most cases, this condition can be effectively treated using over-the-counter eye drops.
  • Hemorrhages - During Lasik eye surgery, a suction cup is placed over the eye in order to hold it still while the surgeon works on your cornea. This suction cup can leave behind small hemorrhages on the surface of the eye that resemble bright red bruises. While these bruises will go away on their own, this process can take several weeks to occur.

To learn more about Lasik eye surgery and discover whether or not you are a good candidate for this treatment option, be sure to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible.


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