LASIK is a popular procedure designed to help people who are dependent on corrective eyewear. LASIK eye surgery is a great way to improve your vision & can often eliminate the need for contacts & glasses. Before you sign up for this procedure, it’s important to fully prepare yourself for everything that this surgery will entail. While LASIK is often viewed as a cosmetic procedure, it’s important to consider the potential benefits, risks & outcomes in order to determine if it’s right for you.
The possibility of either an overtreatment or undertreatment is one of the biggest concerns for many LASIK candidates. Overtreatment involves the overcorrection of vision, while undertreatment is the undercorrection of vision. In either case, you may require addition surgery in order to obtain the desired results.
What is LASIK Overtreatment?
LASIK overtreatment occurs when nearsighted vision is corrected too much, & may actually result in far-sighted vision after the procedure. And so… So far so good. While this is an undesirable outcome in many cases, some patients actually select to have their vision overcorrected. Why would some one want overtreatment? In some cases, this approach is taken when vision is expected to regress. Eventually, the patient’s eyes will adjust to perfect or near-perfect vision. In other situations, the patient will have one eye overcorrected & the other eye undercorrected in order to reduce or eliminate the need for reading glasses.
What is LASIK Undertreatment?
Undertreatment is another potential outcome of LASIK eye surgery that often requires further surgical correction. Undertreatment is far more common than overtreatment & is generally much easier to correct. Because each persons’s eyes are unique, the surgeon will need to apply a different amount & intensity of laser energy in each case. The exact calculations a doctor uses are generally based closely on past experience with other patients, but not all individual persons will respond the same. Because of this, undertreatment is always a possibility with LASIK.
Preparing for Any Outcome
While LASIK carries some potential risks, it’s one of the safest surgical procedures performed today. By understanding the potential outcomes, carefully checking that you’re a good candidate & selecting a skilled surgeon, you can reduce risks & improve your results. Your first step should always be to consult your eye doctor & ask for a referral to an experienced LASIK surgeon. Next, it’s important to undergo an assessment in order to determine if this procedure is right for your needs, your health & your eyes.
Finally, you must have realistic expectations. Patients who anticipate absolute perfection immediately after surgery are setting themselves up for disappointment or dissatisfaction. While some people achieve astonishing results immediately, other patients must wait one to three months for their eyes to adjust & settle. After this time period, your surgeon may decide upon additional surgery to correct any overtreatment or undertreatment.
Is LASIK Right for You?
After reviewing the potential risks & benefits, you & your surgeon must decide if the LASIK procedure is right for you… Overtreatment & undertreatment can happen, but understanding the surgery & selecting a great surgeon can lead to much better results. Other factors such as LASIK cost & your own expectations may also play an important role in your decision. Spend some time discussing any possible concerns with laser eye surgery you may have with your eye doctor in order to make the best choice.
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