Laser eye surgery is becoming more and more popular, and many different types of people are taking advantage of this new surgery. People who have lost their glasses for that last time. People who have had problems with their contacts. Athletes and those in high-risk jobs who need to see but may not be able to wear glasses or contacts. People who want to simply want to improve their appearance, but do not want the hassle of ordering many different pairs of glasses, or have to worry about contacts. As laser eye surgery becomes more readily available, the demographics become more and more diverse.

Whatever your reasons you have no doubt heard about the popularity of cosmetic laser eye surgery. But you may still have questions. Is it a safe procedure? What are the risks? How much will it help your vision?

If these questions are keeping you on the fence when it comes to scheduling the surgery, getting these answers will help you finally decide if cosmetic laser eye surgery is for you.

WHAT IS LASER EYE SURGERY?

There are two common "brands" of laser eye surgery, LASIK and PRK. Both of these laser eye surgeries reshape the cornea with the laser, though they differ in the application. This helps clear up the vision, severely reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contacts.

The PRK procedure removes the upper layer of the cornea by etching it off with the laser. The LASIK surgery cuts a flap in the eye to remove the top layer of the cornea. The end result is the same-the cornea is reshaped and changing the way the eye interprets information. Most of the post-operative symptoms are the same, however, there are some minor differences.

IS IT SAFE?

While both laser eye surgery procedures are considered low risk and can be done quickly, there are always possible complications when having any surgery performed. Your eyes are very delicate and there is no question about just how much you depend on your eyes. It is important to understand all of the potential risks - including loss of vision - that are possible.

As with all surgeries there is a potential risk of infection. It is generally advised to have each eye operated on separately instead of at the same time to reduce the chance of infection in both eyes. Most infections can be cleared with medication, especially if treated right away.

Another possible complication with laser eye surgery is an under- or overcorrection of your vision. Under-corrected vision (when the surgery reduces but doesn't eliminate your need for glasses or contacts) can possibly be fixed with further surgery, but overcorrected vision is irreparable. Even with laser eye surgery, it is still possible that you can continue to need corrective lenses, though your eyesight should improve somewhat.

Just like every other surgery, each individual will respond differently to a surgery, and results cannot be guaranteed. Make sure you speak with your doctor before your surgery, and contact your doctor immediately with any questions or concerns after surgery.