Lasik Long-Term Results

If you have been considering Lasik, then there is a good chance you have heard glowing reports of the results from at least one person – but what are the Lasik long-term results that most people have? What will your experience be like after Lasik eye surgery, and will you be happy with the Lasik results you get?

We look at everything you can expect, from immediate post operative care to Lasik long-term results, so that you can make informed decisions.

The more you know about Lasik, and Lasik results, before you approach a clinic or surgeon, the better prepared you will be to make the right choices about your vision. So read on, and find out what you need to know about what Lasik can and cannot do for you, and how you can help to ensure the success of your procedure.

Post-Operative Care After Lasik Eye Surgery

As with any surgery, the post operative care you get immediately after Lasik will have an impact on your Lasik long-term results. It is not the only factor, but it will play a role in how well your vision adapts to the surgery, and whether you avoid any complications associated with Lasik.

After Lasik surgery, there is still a flap on your eye, where the surgeon has made an incision to access your cornea. That flap needs to heal properly before you can truly gauge your vision after Lasik eye surgery.

The most important part of Lasik after care is to ensure that your eyes stay hydrated, and to stave off any infection. Dry eyes will result in discomfort as the flap heals, and infection could undo all the good your surgery has done.

In most cases, Lasik patients will not have any stitches to repair the flap. The natural adhesion in the eye will keep the flap in place, and it will heal naturally. Your doctor will probably prescribe antibacterial eye drops to use after Lasik eye surgery, and you will probably be advised to sleep more, and to wear protection on your eyes when you sleep, so you do not accidentally rub them.

It is also important to note that if you feel excessive pain or discomfort, a visit to your doctor is a good idea – Lasik results can be compromised by post operative infection, and you want to avoid that at all costs!

Average Lasik Long-Term Results

Assuming you do not have any complications, you keep your eyes hydrated, and you avoid infection, what sort of Lasik long term results can you expect?

Very good ones, actually!

According to research, well over 90 percent of all patients who have Lasik report great results after Lasik surgery. Many do not use their glasses or contact lenses as much as they did before, and some do not have to use them at all.

It is important to note, however, that the degree of success with Lasik eye surgery is very closely tied to the type of condition you have. In fact, many Lasik surgeons will not operate on you if they are not entirely sure that Lasik is the best treatment for your particular condition and case. In these cases, you may be referred to a custom Lasik surgeon.

It is also worth taking note that while the vast majority of patients see a marked improvement in their vision, there are also a few cases where Lasik has no noticeable impact on a patient’s vision at all. They are few and far between, but they do happen, and it is worth bearing that in mind.

The History of Lasik

Lasik has actually been around a lot longer than most people think – in fact, the first Lasik surgeries were performed in Colombia, in the 1950s. Lasik long-term results for early patients were not as good as they are today though, and many of the surgeries were very much hit and miss.

It was only around 1989 that the FDA first approved Lasik surgery in the US, and since then, it has grown in popularity, and become a lot more high tech. Today, there are all laser or bladeless Lasik options, custom Lasik for more advanced or complicated cases, and many other special types of Lasik surgery.

Better lasers, more sophisticated mapping techniques, better training for surgeons and other factors have all meant that today, unlike certain times during the history of Lasik, Lasik eye surgery is considered one of the lowest risk surgical procedures out there.

Getting the Best Lasik Results

A big part of your Lasik long-term results hinges on things that happen long before a Lasik surgeon ever makes any incisions in your eyes. There are several things you can do to make sure that you get the best Lasik results. Those things include:

• Finding the best Lasik surgeon or clinic to perform your procedure. Reputation means a lot, and surgeons and clinics with good reputations are more likely to deliver the results you want.
• Making sure that your surgeon does all the necessary testing to ascertain the exact nature of your vision problems, and taking their advice and recommendations into account.
• Accepting that Lasik is not a miracle cure that works for every vision problem, and considering other treatments if they are deemed necessary.
• Making sure that you follow pre operative and post operative preparation and care procedures to the letter.
  Attending follow up appointments that your surgeon books.

Lasik results depend on a variety of factors, from the skill of the surgeon, to the method used for the surgery itself, to the things you do before and after your Lasik surgery.

Lasik long-term results also vary from person to person, and from case to case, and while some people may never need any follow up treatments or procedures, other patients may need additional procedures later on.

As long as you know that Lasik is not a magical treatment that can solve every problem, and as long as you understand that like any surgery, there is a risk (albeit a very small one) when you have Lasik eye surgery, you should find that you are very happy with the results you get.