Is LASIK Safe?

More than 14 million Americans have had LASIK vision correction since the mid-1990s. While LASIK is usually considered a safe medical procedure, it is important to remember that it is still surgery...and the decision to have LASIK should not be taken lightly.

You can increase your chances for an excellent visual outcome (20/20 vision or better) through LASIK by choosing your LASIK center and doctor carefully. Here are some tips to help you make the best decision:

• Demand a thorough preoperative exam to ensure your eye health, corneal thickness and medical condition meet the standards for the procedure.
• Make sure the board certified surgeon has specific LASIK training and experience performing successful LASIK procedures. Don’t be afraid to ask the doctors questions about their success rates.
• Fully understand what type of LASIK technology will be used during the procedure. Most reputable doctors today offer advanced, blade-free LASIK technology on-site in a controlled environment to ensure patient safety and the best possible vision outcomes.
• Don’t base your decision only on cost. If the cost of a certain doctor’s LASIK sounds too good to be true, it probably is. You don’t want to take risks with your vision just to save a buck.
• First impressions count. If you don’t feel comfortable with any aspect of the LASIK center you are researching, even if that center was recommended by a friend or family member, keep looking.

Dr. O'Day at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery performs advanced blade-free LASIK in Charleston. He offers a free LASIK Consultation to help potential patients learn about their unique eye characteristics and determine whether LASIK is a viable option for clear vision. Most importantly, he uses the Consultation to help patients learn everything about LASIK and encourages them to ask questions about the procedure, the potential risks and his experience.

No medical procedure can ever be called 100% safe. However, by doing your diligent research and choosing an experienced LASIK doctor in Charleston, you will increase your odds for a successful outcome.

Call 843-856-5275 or charlestoncornea.com today to schedule your free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery. 

Celebrate the Summer Solstice

The summer solstice is Saturday, June 21, 2014 at 6:51am EDT. Hopefully you have plans to enjoy the longest day of the year with family and friends. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, some countries celebrate Midsummer’s Day which occurs near the solstice. Legend has it that the dew on Midsummer’s Day morning has special healing powers to make old people look younger, and Midsummer’s Eve is a time for wishes and magic.

Whether or not you believe in such folklore, this year’s summer solstice may be the perfect time to find out if your wish for better vision could come true. At Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery we have helped thousands of people reduce or eliminate their need for glasses and contacts through LASIK vision correction in Charleston. Many of our patients feel as though our LASIK technology truly is “magic” because after just a few short minutes of laser treatment they are already starting to see better. Of course, every patient heals at a different rate, but after a good night’s sleep most LASIK patients are able to see without glasses the next morning.

It’s important to note that even successful LASIK patients may require reading glasses later in life from a condition called presbyopia. This affects most people after age 40 and is caused as the eye lenses become less flexible as we age making it difficult to focus on up-close objects. So, the sooner you have LASIK as an adult, the longer you may be able to enjoy a lens-free life.

If you wish you could say goodbye to glasses or contacts, find out if LASIK might be right for you. Schedule a free LASIK Consultation at Charleston Cornea & Refractive Surgery by calling 843-856-5275 or visiting charlestoncornea.com to schedule your appointment online. You can also take our free online LASIK Self-Evaluation anytime, day or night, to find out if you might be in the ballpark for this procedure.