There are many ways to correct refractive errors such as eyeglasses or contact lenses. However, these methods don’t offer permanent relief. If you suffer from impaired vision because of an irregular cornea or an error in the way light enters the eye, you have a good chance of benefiting from LASIK. In fact, LASIK is the most popular corrective eye surgery in the world with more than 100 million procedures performed since it first gained FDA approval in 1998.There are two types of LASIK surgeries: conventional LASIK and wavefront-guided LASIK. Before you decide which type is right for you, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each procedure. Read on to learn more about LASIK success rates and what factors might affect your decision.
What are the success rates of LASIK?
The overall success rate of LASIK is around 95%, with most patients experiencing 20/20 vision after their procedure. Success rates are lower for people who have dry eyes, have had previous eye surgery, have a thin cornea (less than 500 microns), or have had a LASIK procedure on one eye only. The success rate for wavefront-guided LASIK is slightly lower at about 90%.
Benefits of LASIK
- Vision improvement - LASIK can correct low vision or nearsightedness (presbyopia) - Improved quality of life - LASIK can be performed on most ages with a low risk of complications
Conventional LASIK
- Straightforward procedure - Fast recovery time - Cheap - No special equipment or experience required - Wide range of candidates - Can be performed on either eye - More common type of LASIK
Wavefront-guided LASIK
- Low risk of complications - Higher success rate - Greater amount of customization - More time required to schedule the procedure - Slightly higher cost
Conventional LASIK
The conventional LASIK procedure is one of the most common types of LASIK surgeries. In this operation, a surgeon uses a laser to make a precise corneal flap and then removes a thin layer of the eye’s surface to create a new, corrected shape.The most common complications of conventional LASIK surgery include: - Loss of some vision - Corneal haze - Dry eyes - Blurry vision - Eye muscle pain The success rate for this type of LASIK is about 95%, making it one of the most reliable procedures for improving vision.However, patients with dry eyes or a thin cornea have a lower success rate of about 90%. If you have a thin cornea, you may want to consider wavefront-guided LASIK.
Wavefront-guided LASIK
Wavefront-guided LASIK is a more complex procedure than conventional LASIK. It uses a laser to measure the irregularities and distortions in the cornea and then uses that information to create a customized treatment plan. The success rate of this operation is about 90%, and it may be a good option if you have dry eyes or a thin cornea.The biggest benefit of wavefront-guided LASIK is that it allows the surgeon to correct irregular corneas that don’t respond well to conventional LASIK treatments. This can help people who are at a higher risk of experiencing complications after LASIK.
Conclusion
LASIK can correct low vision or nearsightedness (presbyopia). There are two types of LASIK surgeries: conventional LASIK and wavefront-guided LASIK. Before you decide which type is right for you, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of each procedure. Read on to learn more about LASIK success rates and what factors might affect your decision.