The Pros and Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery

The Pros and Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery

The pros and cons of LASIK should be considered quite carefully before electing to have the surgery. There are many pros and cons, but overall you will find that the benefits far outweigh the risks.

This surgery may be undertaken for a medical necessity: for those whose careers depend on natural vision without the aid of glasses or contact lens, or the surgery may also be completed for a cosmetic procedure if a person does not wish to wear glasses anymore.

The benefits and risks of this surgery should be carefully weighed before deciding whether or not you need this surgery. There is not a lot to be worried about, because as of 2008 over six million people worldwide have elected to have the LASIK surgery, with only 3% and 5% experiencing any risks or complications afterwards; the majority report satisfaction and overall improvement of quality of life after receiving this surgery.

Below is a list of the pros and cons of LASIK surgery:

Pro: Freedom from cumbersome eyeglasses and the hassle of wearing and caring for the contact lenses. This allows the patient to have a more active lifestyle with greater participation in sports and outdoor activities without worry about eyewear, as well as an improved cosmetic appearance in some cases. This also makes some career options that prohibit glasses and contacts, such as airline pilots, navy pilots, and military personnel, possible.

Con: The cost of the LASIK surgery is expensive and not covered by insurance. Although financing is available, this is not always guaranteed, and interest rates and other fees can make the overall cost substantially greater.

Pro: Long term cost. The long term cost in the long run is also lessened as well; the patient no longer needs to pay for the cost of maintaining contact lens (this includes eye solution, yearly exams to be fitted for contact lens, and yearly purchase of replacement contact lens) or for yearly exams to update and replace glasses. Over the long run the costs of these add up to more than the cost of the LASIK surgery itself, without the cosmetic benefit or general freedom.

Con: There a number of risks and complications associated with this surgery that, although usually treatable, nonetheless exist.

Pro: ANY surgery has risks and complications associated with it, some which are permanent or otherwise complicated to treat, and others that occur to a much higher degree. LASIK eye surgery has one of the lowest rates of complications for all eye surgeries (only 3% to 5%), and most are treated with at most one additional surgery. Most are also not permanent. One should also note that recovery time with this particular surgery is usually minimal, with successful surgeries requiring one day of downtime at most.

This list of the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery is not comprehensive, and you may have additional questions or concerns regarding it; the majority of those who do have this surgery, however, believe that out of all of the pros and cons of LASIK surgery, the benefits far outweigh any potential negatives, and that their overall quality of life has improved significantly for the better.

By Becki Andrus

The Pros and Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery