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LASIK Up-to-date Newsletter
LASIK: Realistic post-operative expectations
When you are considering any surgical procedure, it is normal to feel
anxious about the outcome. Whether you have already decided to have
vision correction surgery, or if you are still deciding, your post procedure
recovery is very important. The most important factor for a good recovery
from any corrective procedure is to be well informed. Accurate and thorough
information is your best guide to a complete and uneventful recovery.
The Lasik procedure improves vision to reduce dependence on lenses,
either glasses or contacts. Do not expect that the procedure will provide
you with 20/20 vision, although this does occur. Most importantly your
vision will not worsen. You should expect that your immediate post operative
vision will be significantly improved, and you will not depend on glasses
for routine activities. Research studies indicate that more than 90%
of patients had 20/40 vision or better. In fact, more than half of these
people did actually have 20/20 vision within six months of the procedure.
In some cases, vision continues to improve for six months. Your results
may vary depending upon your specific condition. For instance, if you
are an average nearsighted individual (myopic), you can expect that
you vision will improve to 20/40 or better. This is generally considered
good enough to drive without glasses. However, if your myopia is considered
pretty severe, you may recover to 20/40 vision within six months of
the procedure. These differences are not very significant. The differences
in your original condition are often what determine the outcome. So,
it may take you a little longer to recover to your best post operative
potential, if you are slightly more nearsighted than most nearsighted
individuals. A complete and frank discussion with your doctor will help
you to determine what to expect for your specific eye condition.
If you are farsighted (hyperopic), you should anticipate similar results
to those of the nearsighted individuals. Again, the more complicated
your specific condition the longer the total improvement may take. There
are some indications that far sighted individuals may have slightly
more complications. Of course, this is depends upon the original condition.
Ask your doctor if there is any reason your case will present complications.
If you make the decision to have a laser procedure, there are some
other things you need to know. Lasik does not correct natural changes
that occur with ageing (presbyopia). If you never wore glasses until
you were 40 years old, or older, and use them primarily for reading,
Lasik will not help you. If you are less than 40 years old, age related
changes will still occur, and you may need to use reading glasses after
40, even if you have surgery now.
In some cases, individuals who have had Lasik procedures experience
a gradual decline in the improvement they achieved after the surgery.
This is not something that happens soon after surgery, but with time.
It appears to be more common in people who were far sighted. However,
it is a very small percentage of people. If this should happen to you,
talk to your doctor. In most cases, the reversal can be corrected.
Naturally, it is important that in the immediate post operative period,
you should carefully follow your doctor’s recommendations. Keep
all follow up appointments, and report any problems that you may have.
Always fill prescriptions, and use any medication your doctor orders.
All of these things contribute to the best possible outcome for you.
Overall, the results of Lasik are very successful, and patients are
generally very satisfied. The procedure is very effective at improving
vision, with little recovery time or discomfort.
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