LASIK is a highly successful procedure to correct vision. Today, the LASIK success rate is incredibly promising. A reported 99% of patients achieve better than 20/40 vision and more than 90% achieve 20/20 or better. These are statistics worth celebrating, and all prospective patients should feel confident in their decision.
LASIK has technology to thank for these high success rates. In the past decade, modern technological advancements have helped this surgery take huge strides.
In this guide, we’ll examine the individual improvements that have made beauty trend LASIK the trusted solution it is today.
Femtosecond Laser
One of the biggest improvements in the world of LASIK is the introduction of the femtosecond laser. In the mid-1990s, it was common for surgeons to use a surgical blade during the treatment. This blade was used to create the initial flap in the cornea.
Today, the vast majority of surgeons opt for a femtosecond laser instead. This laser is highly precise, and it separates tissues in the eye by creating a layer of bubbles and then making an incision to create the flap. This way, even if the surgery is disrupted, the air bubbles dissolve and there’s no removal of any tissue.
Contoura Vision
You can think of Contoura Vision as an advanced version of LASIK. While LASIK makes it possible to achieve the “high-definition” vision results that you would have achieved with glasses with your own eyesight, Contoura Vision goes a step beyond.
With Contoura Vision, instead of simply correcting your specs power, it also corrects your corneal irregularities and visual axis. While this might sound really complex, it’s basically just a way to supercharge your vision. It’s one of the greatest improvements in the LASIK process, and it will only become more common in the next few years.
SMILE Tech
Another tech advancement in the LASIK world is known as SMILE tech. This stands for Small Incision Lenticule Extraction, and you might have also heard it referred to as “keyhole” laser eye surgery. Similar to Contoura Vision, it’s also seen as the next generation of laser eye surgery.
It’s a much less invasion method of improving vision, and it has some impressive results. Better yet, the surgery can be very fast. It can be completed in under 15 minutes, helping patients feel more at ease during what can sometimes be a very intimidating experience.
Reduced Side Effects
Because of these differences above, there has been a reduction in the number of side effects. Because of the improved accuracy of the femtosecond laser, there is much less appearance of one of the biggest side effects: dry eye.
In the past, dry eye could take up to 6 weeks to improve. In some patients, it could last as long as 6 months. Thanks to the better laser, it’s much less likely to create this issue. While night vision problems are still a side effect, this is a big step in the right direction towards a side effect free solution.
Decreased Costs
The rise in technological improvements has meant a lot of big changes in the world of LASIK. Aside from reduced side effects, there has always been a decrease in the cost of surgery. In addition, many vision insurance plans offer discounts or other options for making LASIK more affordable.
As technology continues to make LASIK easier and more realistic for the average patient, costs will only continue to lower. This is good news for anyone with problem vision who dreams of a better solution. LASIK treatment might be more affordable than you think.
The Future of LASIK
Though LASIK has already come such a far way in the past few years, it’s not slowing down any time soon. As it becomes more and more commonplace as an effective way to treat vision issues, it’s only going to become more technologically advanced.
All of these improvements above show just how powerful LASIK already is, and it’s only going to become more innovative in the years to come. From reduced side effects to stronger lasers, what strides will LASIK take in 2020 and beyond? Only time will tell, but we’re already excited for these new possibilities. Talk to a medical professional about whether LASIK is the right fit for your vision today. You have nothing to lose and so much to gain.
