The Myths and Facts of LASIK Surgery

Myth: Everyone who has LASIK will achieve 20/15.
Fact: 93% of patients with low to moderate myopia (7 diopters of refractive error or less) achieve 20/40 vision or better uncorrected after a single treatment.

A great many achieve 20/20 or better, and the number is improving as techniques are refined and technology advances. Your ultimate outcome depends upon many factors, including your initial refractive error.

Myth: Everyone who has refractive surgery can throw away their glasses forever.
Fact: Surgeons aim for results of 20/40 or better so that you can perform most daily activities without your glasses. However, there is a possibility that after surgery, you may need to wear reading glasses or corrective lenses for night driving.

Myth: LASIK gives everyone perfect vision.
Fact: Most patients who have LASIK will have better vision without glasses after the procedure, but LASIK in any doctor's hands does not guarantee perfect vision.

Myopia & Myopic Astigmatism

LASIK improves the uncorrected vision - how a patient sees without corrective lenses - in most patients who have the procedure, but it does not guarantee perfect vision. The large majority of patients who have LASIK will be able to see well without corrective lenses.