Modern Advancements Make LASIK Safer than Ever
If you struggle with vision issues, you may wonder if LASIK is a better (safer) option than glasses or contact lenses. You wouldn’t be alone. For those who take the next step to look into LASIK, often the first question we hear is, “Is LASIK safe?” It’s a fair question. And the answer is a resounding —Yes!
At Carter Eye Center, a few basic LASIK facts we like to share that many patients find comforting include:
- LASIK has been around for 20 years
- The procedure was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 1999
- LASIK enjoys impressive records for safety and effectiveness
Is LASIK Safe?
According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, more than 19 million LASIK procedures have been performed in the U.S. with very high patient satisfaction in visual outcomes. The high rate of patient satisfaction (more than 96 percent according to recent clinical data) is due in part to the extremely low risk of complications the procedure has. Based on research and clinical experience with LASIK, the rate of complications from LASIK is estimated to be less than 1 percent, making it one of the safest elective surgical procedures available today!
Yeah, but How Safe?
From a statistical standpoint, an enormous amount of clinical data definitively answers the question of How safe is LASIK? A few of our favorite data points include:
- Recent analysis of studies comparing rates of infection between contact lens use and LASIK found that one year of using extended wear of soft contact lenses led to 3 times as many cases of eye infection than LASIK.
- LASIK has never been the primary, exclusive cause of blindness
LASIK is a safe and effective option for vision correction, but having concerns about the safety of the surgery and your eyesight is totally normal. We get it. It’s your one and only set of eyes and you will need them for a lifetime! Schedule a free, no-obligation LASIK consult and we will answer any question you may have! You owe it to yourself (and your precious peepers!) to research LASIK thoroughly so you fully understand all the risks and the many, many benefits. You may be interested in the technologies that go into making LASIK a safe procedure. LASIK Technology LASIK uses advanced computer-driven laser technology to permanently reshape the cornea with amazingly-detailed precision. During the pre-operative evaluation of your eyes, your personal anatomy and vision will be measured in exacting detail. That data is then programmed by Dr. Carter into the LASIK platform to craft a customized treatment plan to your unique eyes.
The basics:
LASIK is performed using an excimer laser – which emits a cool beam of ultraviolet light – to remove microscopic pieces of corneal tissue (the cornea is the outer structure of the eye) and reshape the surface, allowing the eye to focus clearly again.
At Carter Eye Center, we use a precision instrument called a femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap at the beginning of the procedure. It works at ultra-fast speeds and uses an extremely short pulse duration to create the flap without disrupting the surrounding corneal tissue.
Note: Some practices still use a blade to make the corneal flap by hand. Be sure to ask!
At Carter Eye Center, we have invested in the latest proven technology (Intralase, VISX Star S4 and Wavefront) for every step of your LASIK procedure, including CustomVue for a highly customized LASIK experience. When making a decision about LASIK, we want you to feel confident and excited. By countless scientific and clinical standards, LASIK is among the safest elective procedures available today. Having a thorough evaluation and a thoughtful conversation with an eye surgeon you trust is the best way to find out if LASIK is right for you. Our goal is to help you identify specific points that will give you peace of mind when choosing a LASIK provider. We hope you’ll choose Carter Eye Center.
LASIK for Dallas
Are you ready to be our next LASIK success story? If you’re tired of the hassles of glasses or contacts, call or schedule online with Carter Eye Center and discover the CarterCares advantage.
