Tired of wearing glasses or contact lenses? Considering Lasik eye surgery? Lasik, a procedure for vision correction, is surgery to a very delicate part of the eye that cannot be reversed. And while hundreds of thousands of people have had Lasik, many very successfully, it’s not for everyone.
The Federal Trade Commission and the American Academy of Ophthalmology advise you to get a clear picture of what you can expect before you sign up for the procedure.
Are you a good candidate for Lasik? Before you can weigh the risks and rewards, know that:
Even if you have the surgery, you may not get the perfect vision you’re hoping for. That’s because “Lasik 20/20" does not always mean perfect vision. And if you have Lasik to correct your distance vision, you’ll likely still need reading glasses around age 45. You also may need to return for additional surgery, called “retreatments,” to fine-tune your vision. Lasik surgery provides lasting results for many patients, but the benefits for some may diminish over time.
If you decide to proceed, ask your surgeon the following questions:
For more information about Lasik, see Basik Lasik: Tips on Lasik Eye Surgery.
The FTC works to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop and avoid them. To file a complaint or get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. Watch a video, How to File a Complaint, at ftc.gov/video to learn more. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.