Laser Eye Surgery

Description:
Laser eye surgery is now the most popular elective surgery in the United States. Ninety percent of laser eye surgery performed is the new LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) eye surgery, in which a flap is cut in the cornea to correct it. This surgery corrects the focusing problems which are at the root of many eye disorders, including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

LASIK eye surgery costs approximately $5,000 and is rarely covered by health insurance. The surgeon cuts a flap in each cornea and then reshapes the membrane with an excimer laser, which unlike other lasers is a cold (non-thermal) laser. Most patients report outstanding results from laser eye surgery. Visual recovery is rapid, with some people reporting that objects in the surgery room are clearer right away. Only a small number of people still need corrective glasses or contact lenses following surgery. During the recovery phase, the eyes may feel gritty.

Laser eye surgery like LASIK was initially only used to cure nearsightedness. However, in the last couple of years doctors have been treating farsightedness with it as well. Some doctors are skeptical about the effectiveness of laser eye surgery on people with extreme cases of either disorder, since too much of the cornea would have to be sculpted.

Approximately 5 percent of people who underwent the surgery reported vision problems afterward. Many doctors see this as a problem since most of the patients are young and otherwise healthy.