Is Laser Eye Surgery Right For You?

Laser Eye Surgery offers the promise of clear vision without the need to wear glasses, so it's no wonder that hundreds of thousands of Americans are taking the plunge. But is Laser Eye Surgery right for you? A review of the pros and cons might help you decide.

Laser Eye Surgery - The Pros:

• It can reduce or eliminate the need to wear glasses for many people.
   
• The procedure is relatively quick and painless.
   
• Most people can go back to work almost immediately after the surgery.
   
• Laser Eye Surgery is inexpensive when compared to buying new eyeglasses each year for the rest of your life.

Now, the Cons:

• Laser Eye Surgery simply isn't an option for some people. The only way to find out if you're a good candidate is to visit your eye doctor.
   
• Up front, it can be expensive at $500 and up per eye. This is especially true if it turns out that you still need glasses after the surgery.
   
• In some cases, the surgery doesn't work as well as planned, meaning the patient may still need glasses or contacts for reading or for seeing in general. In rare cases, the patient's eyesight is even worse after the surgery than it was before.
   
• Some patients require one or more follow-up surgeries before their eyesight is acceptable.

While there are risks associated with Laser Eye Surgery (as there are with any surgery), there are a few things you can do to minimize those risks and give yourself the best chance for improved eyesight:

• Listen to your doctor's recommendations concerning whether you should opt for laser surgery. If he tells you that you're a poor candidate, it's best to forget about having the procedure done. Laser Eye Surgery is one area where "taking a chance" can really cost you in the end.
   
• Get a second opinion. When it comes to having surgery done on your eyes, it's definitely worth a few extra dollars to get the opinion and perspective of another physician.
   
• Choose a doctor and surgery center that has lots of experience in successful Laser Eye Surgeries.
   
• Ask for recommendations and follow up with them. If a doctor and surgery center has lots of satisfied patients, your chances of having good results yourself will be better.
   
• Do an Internet search for your doctor's name and the name of the surgery center. If there have been complaints lodged against them, chances are they'll show up.

Conclusion

Your eyesight is perhaps your most important sense, so it makes sense to protect it as much as possible. As with any surgery, Laser Eye Surgery carries inherent risks. But you can minimize those risks by "doing your homework" and carefully considering your eye doctor's advice and recommendations.