How Popular is LASIK?

LASIK has been a popular vision correction procedure for more than 20 years. LASIK uses a laser to reshape your cornea — the clear, round dome at the front of your eye — to improve the way your eye focuses light rays onto your retina, resulting in better vision. 

There are many reasons why LASIK is so popular, including:

Quick and Easy Procedure – LASIK surgery takes 10 to 15 minutes for each eye. Generally, both eyes are done during the same procedure. LASIK is an outpatient procedure, allowing patients to return home to rest following their surgery.

High Success Rate – Almost all patients who have LASIK end up with 20/20 vision or better.

Quick Recovery – When your procedure is complete, you will already notice improved vision. You should rest for the remainder of the day of your surgery but can return to normal activities the following day. The full recovery time for LASIK is a few months, and your vision will continue to improve during this time. 

Improved Lifestyle – Many daily activities become easier when you don’t have to mess with glasses or contact lenses. 

Lasting Results – The improvement of vision from LASIK typically lasts for many, many years, even decades. Most LASIK patients will enjoy clear vision until they are much older. 

Rarely, some patients will experience decreased vision after LASIK and may opt for a LASIK enhancement. This usually occurs 5 to 10 years after the initial LASIK procedure.

Affordability – Unfortunately, LASIK is an elective surgery that insurance generally won’t cover. The cost per eye is between 1,500 and 2,500 dollars on average. However, when you compare the cost of glasses and/or contact lenses year after year, LASIK is a much more affordable choice.

If you’re unsure about how to afford LASIK, consider medical financing, using a tax refund, a flexible spending account or health savings account if you have one.

If you’d like to find out if LASIK is a good option for your vision needs, contact Tidewater Eye at 757-483-0400 or website to schedule a consultation with Our Doctors.