Lasik surgery: How safe and how effective?

Most people have excellent results and but often incur dry eye which is the most common long term side effect. The percentage of those not having a good result are supposedly about 3-4% and those people often have severe vision problems including blindness and night blindness, leading to severe depression and loss of quality of life. Such is the case of one very close relative. Lasik, Photorefractive Keratotomy (PRK) and other such procedures have been preformed internationally for only about10 years, therefore long-term effects are unknown. The surgery does not prevent presbyopia, a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects with age. Unfortunately, most people in their 40s will need reading glasses with or without this surgery.

LASIK or Refractive Vision Correction surgery is laser surgery that can correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. I am not sure what you mean when you say "does your eye grow with age", but, no one should have this surgery until they are absolutely sure their vision has stabilized, usually in your early to mid twenties, give or take several years. If you have the surgery prior to total vision stabilization, you will have to have the surgery repeated. LASIK is surgery and has many of the inherent risks of any surgery. Prior to committing to this surgery, you must do your homework and be willing incur the long term risks and side effects associated with this surgery. LASIK is considered cosmetic surgery, is not covered by health insurance and can be quite expensive. Lasik is irreversible.

Anyone contemplating LASIK surgery must research the procedure thoroughly and ask lots of questions of your surgeon. You must check out your ophthalmic surgeon thoroughly, ensure that you are a good candidate. Truthfully, if your only problem is astigmatism, I would avoid Lasik surgery.

Listed below under "What’s your source? is additional information regarding these procedures and the dangers connected to them.