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Busting Common Long-Standing Myths Surrounding LASIK

There are so many misconceptions around LASIK surgery that you may have heard one or two already. LASIK can seem especially daunting when all you know are these myths. Some of these myths include how much time the surgery takes, how painful it is, and the like. Read on to learn the truth behind such myths.

Myth: LASIK recovery time is long

They say that even with the best laser eye doctor, recovery from surgery could take weeks or months. In some particularly exaggerated cases, years have even come into play. The truth is, most patients recover** within 1-2 days** following the procedure. In fact, most patients can return to work within two days. Everyone heals at their own pace, but the truth is clearly much shorter than the prolonged time frame the myth claims.

Myth: LASIK is extremely painful

Just because the word “laser” is involved doesn’t automatically mean there will be pain. In fact, laser eye surgery is typically described to be painless. Most patients have reported feeling no pain at all while undergoing the procedure. There are only some cases wherein patients said they felt, at most, mild discomfort. That was due to a slight pressure or vibrating sensation.

The myth is actually worse, since it causes a lot of unnecessary anxiety and fear in patients. It’s gotten around because people forget that anesthetic drops are used to numb the eyes. Sometimes, patients are given a mild sedative as well.

That said, there are some side effects that manifest after the procedure. It’s because eyes may have a foreign body sensation. Don’t worry, though; these go away after a short nap.

Myth: LASIK means wearing eyeglasses will no longer be necessary

While LASIK surgery can help reduce dependency on glasses and contact lenses, it will not guarantee that you will never need glasses and/or contact lenses again. Presbyopia is still a concern for people who have undergone LASIK eye surgery, and it may cause them to need low-grade reading glasses. Presbyopia occurs naturally with age; it is not a side effect of LASIK.

Nearly all patients are able to go day-to-day just using their eyes, true, but it is best to remember that LASIK was designed to reduce dependency on aids like glasses. It does not claim to eliminate it all together.

Myth: LASIK takes a long time

The entire LASIK procedure, including prep time, only takes about 60-90 minutes. The laser correction itself only takes 10-15 minutes.

Myth: Lasers can cut through the eye

This couldn’t be further from the truth. The lasers that doctors use during the LASIK surgery are essentially a cool beam of light. These lasers are incapable of cutting through your body during the LASIK procedure. More than just that, these lasers do not burn or cut your body at all. Instead, they remove extremely thin layers off the surface of your eye with little to no heating or change to the rest of your eye.

Conclusion

LASIK surgery is incredibly safe and FDA-approved. Given its popularity, there are several myths surrounding it, all of which are false. Some of them include LASIK taking a long time when in truth, it’s an hour and a half at most, and LASIK being painful, when it’s actually painless.

Looking to get LASIK? Schedule an appointment with Valley Laser Eye Centre today!

We are a vision correction centre in Abbotsford, BC that uses state-of-the-art technology.

This blog post does not replace medical advice and should not be implemented prior to consulting a fully certified medical professional.

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