Pros and Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery

If life without prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses sounds appealing, you may want to consider LASIK eye surgery. LASIK is the most commonly used laser vision correction procedure with more than 20 million procedures performed since it was approved by the FDA over 20 years ago. It can correct common vision problems, including nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.¹ Best of all, most patients achieve 20/20 vision or better after undergoing LASIK surgery.²

Think LASIK might be for you? We'll dive into how it works and cover the pros and cons of LASIK eye surgery to help you decide if LASIK is right for you.

How LASIK Eye Surgery Works

The surgery involves using a special cutting laser to reshape the cornea so light entering the eye can properly focus on the retina; resulting in clearer vision. An ophthalmologist performs the procedure while you're awake.³ Numbing and lubricating drops are applied to the eyes before the procedure so that it doesn't hurt.⁴

LASIK eye surgery can be performed on both eyes during the same appointment. It's an outpatient procedure that takes approximately 10 minutes per eye.

What LASIK Eye Surgery Treats

LASIK eye surgery treats vision problems that are caused by refractive errors. A refractive error is when your eye doesn't refract—or bend—light properly, preventing it from hitting the retina so you can see clearly.³

Vision problems that can be corrected by LASIK include:

• Nearsightedness (myopia)
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)
• Astigmatism

Good Candidates for LASIK

While very effective, LASIK isn't for everyone. The ophthalmologist will examine your eyes and discuss your medical history to determine if you're a good candidate for the procedure. The best candidates for LASIK are people over 21, who haven't had a big change in their eye prescription in the last year and have generally good eye health.³

LASIK is not recommended for people who:³

• Are pregnant
• Have uncontrolled diabetes or an autoimmune disorder
• Have an unstable refractive error
• Have advanced glaucoma
• Have a cornea injury or disease

The best way to determine if you're a candidate for LASIK is to book an eye exam and consultation with a board-certified ophthalmologist.

How Much Is LASIK Eye Surgery

The average cost of LASIK eye surgery in 2021 was $2,246 per eye⁵, but the cost can range from around $1,000 to $4,000 per eye⁶ due to factors such as location, the provider's experience and reputation, and the technology used.⁶

Sticker shock aside, LASIK is actually very cost-effective in the long term. For some perspective, research shows LASIK costs about the same as what you'd pay for eye exams and glasses or contacts for eight to 10 years.⁶

LASIK eye surgery is elective and therefore not usually covered by insurance. You can pay for laser correction with FSA or HSA if you have one.⁷ Research shows that most people finance LASIK through commercial banks or with a CareCredit credit card.⁶

Pros of LASIK Eye Surgery:

• Better vision. The main benefit of LASIK eye surgery is improved vision and more than 90 percent of patients achieve 20/20 vision or better.²
• No more glasses or contacts. Most people who undergo LASIK no longer need glasses or contact lenses.⁶
• Safe and effective. Thanks to advances in technology, laser vision correction is now one of the safest surgical procedures.⁶
• Enjoy an improved quality of life. Having clearer, sharper vision can make everyday activities easier — from focusing at work, to reading, playing sports, and enjoying many leisurely activities.
• Quick procedure and recovery. For most, the entire appointment takes less than two hours from start to finish. Recovery is typically easy with minimal restrictions and side effects so you can resume your normal activities the day after the procedure.⁶
• Save you money in the long run. The cost of LASIK is roughly equal to what you'd pay for approximately eight to 10 years' worth of eyeglasses or contact lenses and related eye exams.⁶

Cons of LASIK Eye Surgery

• Expensive in the short-term. While LASIK will save you money long-term, the upfront cost is high.
• Side effects. Some side effects after LASIK, such as dry eyes and vision changes, are normal and usually resolve within the first month or so. In some rare instances, however, they may take longer or be permanent.³
• Small risk of complications. There's always some level of risk involved with any medical procedure and LASIK is no exception. Complications, such as infection, worse vision than before LASIK, and eye injury or blindness are possible, but extremely rare. Less than 1 percent of patients experience these complications.⁸
• Not everyone is a candidate. Having certain medical conditions and poor eye health, or being pregnant can affect your eligibility for LASIK.³ An ophthalmologist can examine your eyes and medical history to determine if you're a candidate for the procedure.
• You may need to have vision correction surgery again. It's just a myth that LASIK doesn't last. The corrections that LASIK makes to your eye(s) are permanent, but the rest of your eyes and your overall health will continue to change as you age. For this reason, your vision may change over time, requiring another LASIK surgery or other vision correction procedure, or glasses or contacts.⁹

CareCredit Financing for LASIK Eye Surgery

If you'd like to be less dependent on glasses or contact lenses, you may want to consider taking the first step to determine if you're a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Schedule an appointment for an eye exam and a pre-operative consultation with a qualified eye doctor, who can review your eye health and answer any questions.

Remember that the CareCredit credit card provides a convenient option for financing not just your LASIK consultation and procedure, but other vision care too.^* Use the Acceptance Locator or download the CareCredit Mobile App to find a vision provider near you who accepts your CareCredit credit card.

Author Bio

Adrienne Santos-Longhurst is a writer who has been covering health and lifestyle for almost two decades. She's written extensively on physical and mental health conditions and treatments, as well as fitness, beauty, and relationships. She's best known for her empathetic and informative pieces for Healthline, Insider, Medical News Today, and more.