How Safe Is LASIK?
Dr. Young H. Choi M.D. is the doctor you need for any of your eye surgery needs. Whether it you're dealing with cataracts or another medical condition, our office can help you. One of our specialties is laser vision correction, commonly referred to as LASIK surgery. If you're a good candidate for this procedure, you'll no longer have to wear eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Many of our patients have some concerns about LASIK surgery, which is no surprise considering the importance of your eyes. Fortunately, Dr. Young H. Choi M.D. has the skills and equipment needed to perform the surgery safely and effectively. There are many reasons to opt for LASIK surgery if you're deemed a good candidate for it and few major safety issues to worry about.
What Is LASIK?
First, you may want to know what LASIK surgery is. This procedure is one of the most popular elective surgeries. It affects the cornea, which is where many vision issues originate from. Whether you're nearsighted or farsighted, reshaping the cornea can help improve your vision. This surgery can also help people with an astigmatism. For most patients, it's a permanent vision solution.
In LASIK surgery a laser is used to fix a misshaped cornea. We make a small incision in the outer coating of the eye and then adjust the shape of the cornea in each eye. Once you're recovered, everything will look clearer and more crisp.
Is LASIK safe?
LASIK works for a high percentage of patients who undergo the procedure. Risks of complications are low for patients that have been deemed a good candidate for the surgery. For some people with chronic conditions or extremely dry eyes, this might not be the best option.
If you are a good candidate, there's a low risk of complications and a high chance that laser vision correction will improve your quality of life. There are some things to look for when you're choosing a LASIK surgery provider. You want to ensure that a surgeon is using the latest technology and has the experience needed to safely perform the procedure. You also want a medical professional that performs a comprehensive exam before the operation to make sure that you're a good candidate. Our practice checks all of those boxes.
The complication rate for this procedure is extremely low, making it one of the safer surgical procedures that you can opt for. We'll look for any factors that can potentially cause complications beforehand and take them into account. The most common complications include dry eyes, infection, vision issues like glare, double vision, blurry vision, and halos. Certain health conditions can increase these risks. Occasionally a follow-up laser vision correction is required if there's an under-correction or overcorrection.
If you're not a good candidate for LASIK, we offer other ways to improve your vision at our practice. For example, an option like the SMILE procedure could be a more effective surgery for you. Visit our office or contact us at (205) 236-4446 if you have any questions about LASIK or our other services.