There are many refractive procedures offered today which improve a person's vision, basically overnight. One of these is the Lasik procedure. It got its start many years ago, but it has only become wildly popular in the last few years. This comes from the idea that, early on, people did not know whether the Lasik procedure would remain safe in the long run. There was no way to know what the long term effects on a person's eyes would be, so people were reluctant to try the procedure, even though eye doctors and Lasik surgeons stated that it was safe.

How Safe is Lasik?

The Lasik procedure is extremely safe for most people. There are a very low number of complications, and most of those are minor. Since Lasik is so safe, and because it can reduce or eliminate the need for contact lenses or glasses, it is becoming more popular with eye doctors around the country. Many of them recommend it for their patients. One of the reasons that Lasik is so safe is because a bladeless version has been developed. This means that the entire procedure can be done without any actual blade touching the eye -- everything is completed by laser only. This helps to cut down on some of the danger of over-cutting the cornea. While this was rare, it can sometimes happen.

Other Refractive Procedures

There are other options, but they are generally not as convenient, pain-free and safe as Lasik. PRK was very popular for a long period of time, but those that had it done complained about it being painful, and they also said that it took a long time for their vision to stabilize and become clear. This problem is avoided with Lasik, because the Lasik procedure gives better vision almost instantly. While vision does continue to improve some over a period of time, vision is usually relatively stable the day after surgery, which eliminates the time waiting to see whether the procedure will provide 20/20 vision.

What Happens During Lasik?

During the Lasik procedure, the eye is numbed and stabilized, and the cornea is carefully cut in order to create a flap that can be folded back. Once this is out of the way, a laser reshapes the inside of the eye, after which the corneal flap is carefully put back, and it immediately begins to reattach itself. There is no pain, and there are no stitches. After the procedure, there will be eye drops to soothe any discomfort and ensure that an infection does not start in the eye. Problems with infection are rare, but complications can arise if an individual does not use the drops properly and/or does not follow the rest of the instructions that he or she will be given after surgery.