The idea of improving your vision without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses is appealing, and LASIK eye surgery may seem like the perfect solution, but it does come with risks.
The idea of improving your vision without the hassle of glasses or contact lenses is appealing, and LASIK eye surgery may seem like the perfect solution.
But experts say complications can and do occur, and patients should be aware of the risks before undergoing surgery, and there are growing concerns that surgeons are withholding how often complications occur and overestimating outcomes.
“While most people who have LASIK surgery are happy with the results, there are still many who are dissatisfied or wish they had never had the surgery,” said Kevin Brassler of Washington Consumers Checkbook, adding that LASIK surgery is not necessarily a permanent fix.
Brassler said many of his LASIK patients experience dry eyes, double vision and poor night vision, and the biggest risk is: Consumer CheckbookThe problem is that it weakens the eye, making it more susceptible to injury from impact.
“Most people who get this disease will eventually need glasses as their vision deteriorates or will have to have a second surgery to correct their vision,” he said.
The 2022 draft guidance states: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) estimates that about 85% of patients experience dry eyes by one week after surgery. Six months after surgery, about 41% report “visual symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts, or double images,” and about 4% report symptoms that are “very” or “extremely” bothersome.
“If you still want to have LASIK surgery, choose your surgeon carefully and ask lots of questions,” Brassler says. “If the doctor doesn’t have time to answer your questions, that’s a big red flag. It also makes sense to compare costs.”
While some surgeons clearly disclose possible complications, the FDA is concerned that “patients may not receive the information in a format that allows them to make an informed decision about whether to undergo LASIK surgery,” and has recommended more standardized language.
One reason for the FDA’s push is that the laser eye surgery industry also has a tendency to exaggerate success rates.
Brassler told WTOP that undercover investigators found the cost of the procedure in the Washington, D.C. area ranged from $3,800 to $6,000.
WTOP’s Thomas Robertson contributed to this report.
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