LASIK Enhancement: When Additional Surgery Is Necessary
If you dream of being able to see clearly without the hassle and discomfort or contacts or glasses, you may be contemplating the benefits of LASIK eye surgery. Since this procedure has become so common, you likely have friends and relatives who have had LASIK and rave about the excellent results they’ve received from this advanced technology.
However, as your ophthalmologist will explain before your LASIK procedure, not all patients achieve optimal results after one session. Each patient presents a combination of unique variables that can affect the outcome. So, you may require an additional procedure to achieve the desired improvements to your vision.
The good news is the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reports 96% of all LASIK patients will achieve 20/20 vision or better. But even with these high odds of satisfaction, there is still a possibility LASIK might not improve your vision as expected. For these cases, a LASIK enhancement could improve upon your results.
What Is LASIK Enhancement?
Blurred vision is one of the most typical side effects of LASIK eye surgery. In some cases, this may persist for a few days or weeks after your procedure. However, if it doesn’t resolve on its own within three months of the operation, you may need LASIK enhancement. The second session of LASIK is painless and takes mere seconds to complete, since the corneal flap already exists. Dr. Will only needs to lift the flap and reshape rather than perform another incision.
In 2005, 4.5% of LASIK patients required LASIK enhancement. However, in 2016, that number dropped to 0.2%, revealing how dramatically the technology has advanced and eye surgeons’ skills have improved.
Who Is a Candidate for LASIK Enhancement?
Numerous factors could influence whether you are more likely to need a follow-up procedure after your initial LASIK surgery. These variables may include your age, cornea health, dry eye risk, and your prescription’s strength.
What if you’re one of the few who isn’t satisfied with your LASIK results? In that case, Dr. Will will perform an evaluation to see if your corneal thickness lends itself to a second procedure. If it does, he will then discuss the details of this surgery with you.
Contact Will Vision and Laser Center today to learn more about LASIK, LASIK enhancement, or any of our eye care treatments.
If you would like more information on LASIK enhancement in Portland, OR, and the Pacific Northwest, schedule a complimentary consultation with board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Brian Will.