LASIK Eye Surgery: Who Needs Glasses?

If you are tired of glasses or the pains of wearing contacts everyday, LASIK eye surgery is worth consideration. You may ask, “What does LASIK mean?” Laser in-situ keratomileusis. This may sound like gibberish, but it stands for the medical operation that can help fix eyesight troubles. Using a laser, doctors cut through the tissue in the cornea and reshape this portion of the eye. Studies show that this operation can dramatically reduce the need for vision assistance such as glasses or contacts. The three main reasons that people need glasses or contacts are nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism, which are all referred to as refractive errors in the medical field.


LASIK eye surgery, which can help alleviate these problems, is one of the newest and most popular forms of refractive surgery.


To qualify for LASIK eye surgery and be able to benefit from the operation, an individual must, among other characteristics, have a thick cornea – one with enough depth that the surgeon can make a proper corneal flap. A visit to your ophthalmologist may help you determine if you can undergo this type of surgery. Because the operation requires that the patient stare at one point of light for a long time, the patient remains awake throughout the procedure. If you are considering this, don’t worry; the doctor does give you numbing drops. However, some people may feel uncomfortable remaining awake or struggle to stare at one point for an entire minute.


The cost of LASIK eye surgery varies among surgeons and regions of the country. While many advertisements may declare that this operation can be done for a fairly cheap price per eye, the cost of most LASIK eye surgeries borders just below $2,000. Obviously, this cost continues to vary with each individual due to factors such as the number of visits made pre- and post-operation, the extent of vision troubles before the surgery, and the surgeon. Because this particular surgery is not covered by most insurance plans, be sure to do a great deal of research before agreeing to the operation. Do NOT simply agree to the cheapest option – many financial companies can help with payment plans to alleviate what can add up to hefty costs. And there’s even more great news – LASIK eye surgery can qualify for a tax-write off.


The majority of patients who decide to have LASIK eye surgery are happy with the benefits of laser eye correction. Many achieve 20/40 vision, and quite a few LASIK patients even achieve the ideal 20/20 vision. While these benefits sound perfect, the first step toward better eyesight is meeting with your doctor to determine if this surgery is right for you. If so, LASIK eye surgery can get you on the way toward erasing the future appointments with the eye doctor from your calendar!