LASIK is one of the most popular laser vision correction procedures in the United States. Millions of patients have undergone LASIK and walked away with sharp, clear vision and reduced reliance on glasses or contacts.

It’s quick, safe, minimally invasive, and has the potential to give you even better vision than you could ever achieve with visual aids. Despite its very high satisfaction rate of 96%, it’s natural to have questions about any procedure.

Keep reading to learn more about the top 7 common questions about LASIK, and find out whether the procedure could be your key to clearer vision.

1. Does LASIK Hurt?

You won’t need general anesthesia for LASIK because the procedure is minimally invasive and takes only a short amount of time. In addition, your LASIK surgeon needs you awake so they can communicate with you.

That leads to reasonable concerns about how much LASIK might hurt. However, your eye doctor will administer numbing eye drops that prevent discomfort during the procedure, making it virtually painless.

Your LASIK surgeon may also offer you mild sedation to help you relax.

2. How Difficult Is LASIK Recovery?

You will be able to go home right after you complete LASIK. The recovery tends to be quick, with some patients noticing visual improvements immediately and others experiencing gradual improvement.

Most patients only experience mild side effects, like sore, dry, or gritty eyes, that go away within a day or two. You should be able to manage any pain with over-the-counter pain medicine like Advil or Tylenol.

Your eye doctor will tell you how to care for your eyes as they heal. You can do things like listen to podcasts or music to occupy your time while your vision improves.

You will need to avoid strenuous activities for a few weeks to let your eyes heal. You can return to activities like driving and work as soon as your LASIK surgeon says it’s safe, typically after just one day.

3. Will I Need Glasses After LASIK?

Most patients do not need glasses or contacts after LASIK. About 90% of LASIK patients have vision between 20/20 and 20/40 without visual aids.

You may still need glasses for certain tasks, such as reading or computer work. LASIK can give you crystal-clear vision for decades, but it does not prevent vision changes from other eye conditions such as cataracts or glaucoma.

If you develop an eye condition that impacts your vision, you may need glasses or contacts again to see clearly.

4. Is LASIK Permanent?

LASIK is a procedure that reshapes the cornea and improves visual acuity. The changes made during LASIK are permanent.

The cornea won’t revert back to its original shape, so the results from LASIK will not diminish or change.

However, LASIK only corrects vision issues caused by the shape of the cornea. You may experience other vision changes related to conditions affecting different parts of the eye.

5. Will Insurance Pay for LASIK?

LASIK is considered an elective procedure, so most insurance plans do not cover it. However, you can use FSA funds for LASIK.

Focal Point Vision offers financing options to help make LASIK more affordable, including CareCredit and special discounts for law enforcement officers and military personnel. CareCredit is a patient financing program that offers 24-month interest-free rates to allow you to fit LASIK easily into your budget.

6. Can Anybody Get LASIK?

Although LASIK is a very popular vision correction procedure, not everyone is a good candidate. LASIK can correct prescriptions ranging from:

up to +6.00 diopters of farsightedness
up to 6 diopters of astigmatism
up to -12.00 diopters of nearsightedness

If your prescription is outside the range of LASIK, you may be a better candidate for procedures like EVO ICL. Good LASIK candidates:

Are 18 or older
Have had stable vision for a year or more
Do not have eye conditions like glaucoma or cataracts
Are not pregnant or breastfeeding
Do not have thin corneas
Do not have severe dry eye syndrome
Do not have autoimmune conditions like Sjogren’s syndrome, lupus, and rheumatoid arthritis
Have realistic expectations about the results of the procedure.

Your eye doctor at Focal Point Vision will conduct a thorough LASIK consultation with you to determine your candidacy for the procedure. During this consultation, they can answer your questions about the procedure and how it can improve your vision and lifestyle.

7. How Does LASIK Work?

To begin LASIK, your surgeon will administer numbing eye drops so you don’t feel discomfort during the procedure. Once your eyes are prepared, your eye doctor will use a femtosecond laser to create a small flap on the surface of your eye.

They will then open the flap to access your cornea, which they will reshape using an excimer laser. Reshaping the cornea allows light to hit the retina at the optimal spot for clear vision, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Once your cornea has been reshaped, your LASIK surgeon closes the flap on the surface of your eye and repeats the process on your other eye. The entire procedure typically takes only 30 minutes, with some patients noticing visual improvements immediately.

However, you may experience some blurriness in the first few days as your eyes heal. After that, vision improvements will develop gradually.

You can expect to reach peak visual clarity several months after LASIK, but your vision will still be clearer shortly after your procedure. Then, you can enjoy your new high-definition vision and reduce your need for glasses or contacts.

Imagine how much better it will be to watch your favorite sport, take in the view at the end of a hike, or have a fun night out with friends while enjoying crisp, clear vision. LASIK has made that reality possible for millions of patients.

Do you want to learn more about LASIK and find out whether it could be right for you? Schedule an appointment at Focal Point Vision in San Antonio, TX, today!

Top 7 Common Questions About LASIK