According to the Institutes of Health, even if you wear the best corrective lenses, you are legally blind if you have at least one of the following eye conditions: considered to be blind. In other words, a person with 20/20 vision cannot see what he can see 200 feet away unless he is 20 feet away. Good eyes are limited to a field of view less than 20 degrees in diameter. It is also called tunnel vision.
On the other hand, many patients consider themselves “right-blind” if their visual acuity is worse than 20/20 without glasses. These patients are often good candidates and can see 20/20 without glasses after LASIK.
LASIK eye surgery for Who?
LASIK is a laser correction of eyes with refractive error (usually blurred vision). By reshaping the cornea, LASIK can help if you are nearsighted (myopia), farsighted (hyperopia), or astigmatic. However, you can only be a candidate for this elective surgery if your vision falls within a specific range that excludes most people who are legally blind.
Refractive error is usually corrected by lens power measured in diopters. According to the American Refractive Surgery Council, “The advanced laser vision correction profile treats hyperopia up to +6.00 diopters, astigmatism up to +6.00 diopters, and myopia up to -12.00 diopters, depending on the laser treatment chosen.
Mild or moderate vision impairment is in this range, but individuals with more severe vision impairment may not be successful with LASIK. Please consult an ophthalmologist if you suspect that.
LASIK is a life-changing procedure. It is also prevalent, with millions of people getting lasers each year. Unfortunately, with popularity comes misinformation. Here at Nielsen Eye His Center, we are dedicated to spreading the truth and debunking the myths about LASIK. Here are five LASIK myths you may have heard and why they are untrue.
No! Many believe it is because of the strange odor that sometimes appears when the excimer laser reshapes the cornea during LASIK. The excimer laser consists of a highly focused beam of light rather than heat. That strange odor is simply the result of carbon released into the air by the collagen molecules as the excimer laser breaks them down.
Myths about LASIK
Myth #1: You go blind.
In fact, at the time of this writing, there have been no reported cases of blindness from LASIK surgery itself.
However, the resulting complications, particularly infections, can lead to blindness if proper follow-up protocols are not followed. It is sporadic, but it has happened. LASIK surgery does not cause blindness, and most cases of LASIK complications can be prevented by following the aftercare procedures established by the surgeon.
Myth #2: LASIK hurts.
LASIK is painless. Of course, pain is subjective. What may translate as mild discomfort to one person may translate as pain to another. According to our patients, the most uncomfortable part of LASIK surgery is the pressure of the laser. Avoid moving the suction device to the eye when using the excimer laser. It means you do not move your eye during surgery and ruin the treatment.
However, this requires suction, which can put uncomfortable pressure on your eyes. This sensation lasts only a few seconds, which is necessary for Excimer’sExcimer’s laser eye treatment.
Myth #3: LASIK doesn’t last long.
LASIK is a permanent procedure. Your eye doctor will continue to see you annually to check your eye health. Additionally, all patients experience presbyopia and cataract formation, regardless of whether they had LASIK first. It is the driving force behind the propagation of this myth. Cataracts and presbyopia cause significant vision changes, and some people feel that LASIK should stop these changes. Since LASIK can only change the shape of the cornea, the surgery does not affect the lens and cannot stop lens-related vision problems.
