Summary:
- Myth: LASIK is painful. Fact: numbing eye drops keep pain minimal during surgery; mild dryness or grittiness afterwards resolves on its own within days.
- Myth: Results wear off quickly. Fact: corrected refractive errors are permanently removed and don’t return, though new errors can develop over decades regardless of LASIK.
- Myth: LASIK can cause blindness. Fact: it’s a low-risk, safe procedure with high success rates when candidates pass a comprehensive pre-surgery evaluation.
- Myth: Everyone is a LASIK candidate. Fact: exclusions include existing eye disease (cataract/glaucoma), pregnancy, thin or irregular corneas, and very high prescriptions (ICL may be an alternative).
- Myth: Flap surgery makes LASIK less safe. Fact: IntraLase Bladeless Technology (femtosecond laser) makes flap complications rare.
- Myth: LASIK causes extreme dry eye. Fact: Dry eye is more common than with SMILE or epi-LASIK initially, but eyes typically return to pre-surgery state within 1 to 3 months.
- Myth: Contact sports are unsafe after LASIK due to flap dislodgement. Fact: After 1 month, flap dislodgement is rare, and many patients resume contact sports without complications.
Amongst all types of refractive surgery, LASIK surgery has been a mainstay and treatment of choice in Singapore for many who seek a more convenient and better quality of life without glasses. As one of the most commonly performed and most popular eye procedures in Singapore, there are still myths surrounding LASIK surgery. And understandably, there are still many people who are deterred by these misconceptions. In this article, we will debunk some of the most common LASIK surgery myths, so you can make an informed decision.
Myth 1: LASIK is painful
Pain and fear are some of the biggest deterrents for those considering LASIK surgery. Being an extremely painful procedure is likely one of the most widespread myths about LASIK surgery. In reality, though, during LASIK surgery at our Mount Elizabeth eye clinic, there is minimal pain as numbing eye drops will be administered prior to surgery. You can feel the LASIK surgeon stretching out the eyelids or adjusting your head and face, but there is usually not much pain.
The first few days after surgery, some eyes will feel dry, gritty and scratchy, though such symptoms will resolve on their own thereafter.
Myth 2: LASIK results wear off quickly
A common misconception about LASIK surgery is that the results wear off and are only temporary. This is far from the truth, as the effects of LASIK are long-lasting for the vast majority of people. The refractive errors that are removed during LASIK or ReLEx SMILE surgery are permanently gone and do not return; therefore, the procedure provides a long-term solution for short-sightedness, long-sightedness and astigmatism.
We must, however, note that the eye is a living thing and hence is capable of change. Ten or 20 years down the road, new refractive errors may be acquired, but that is regardless of whether one has had LASIK surgery.
Myth 3: LASIK can cause blindness
Going blind from any eye procedure is everyone’s biggest fear. However, this misconception is often unfounded and misconstrued. In the hands of an experienced eye surgeon in Singapore, LASIK surgery is primarily a low-risk, safe and effective laser vision correction procedure.
When performed on eyes that are suitable, LASIK surgery offers a high success rate. Hence, it is essential for you to go through a comprehensive LASIK evaluation to evaluate suitability prior to surgery. During this, your eye surgeon looks at your level of eye prescription, corneal shape and thickness, eye pressure and overall eye health to ascertain if you meet all the necessary criteria to be deemed a suitable candidate for LASIK surgery.
Myth 4: Everyone is a candidate for LASIK
While LASIK surgery is suitable for many people, there can be exclusions:
- Those with existing eye diseases like cataract or glaucoma
- Females who are pregnant
- Those with very thin or irregularly shaped corneas
- Those whose eye prescription is too high (in this case, implantable contact lens surgery can be considered)
Our experienced eye doctor at Mount Elizabeth Novena is able to assess if you are a suitable candidate for LASIK or if alternative procedures, like epi-LASIK surgery, might be better suited for your eyes.
Also Read: Which Laser Eye Surgery is Suitable for You?
Myth 5: As a flap surgery, LASIK surgery is not as safe
This is far from the truth, as flap complications are very uncommon with the IntraLase Bladeless Technology, which uses a femtosecond laser to create the flap, and this increases the level of safety significantly.
Myth 6: LASIK surgery causes extreme dry eye
This is untrue. While there can be more dry eye post-LASIK surgery compared to post-SMILE/SMILE Pro/epi-LASIK, the eyes will go back to their pre-surgery state after 1 to 3 months.
Myth 7: Not safe to do contact sports due to possibility of flap dislodgement
After 1 month, it is rare for the flap to dislodge. Many people who have had LASIK surgery have proceeded with extreme and contact sports without any complications.
How to get accurate advice from your eye doctor
At our Mount Elizabeth Eye Clinic, we aim to provide the best possible advice and recommendations for LASIK surgery through a comprehensive LASIK evaluation, which includes a consultation to answer any questions you may have.
The cost of LASIK surgery in Singapore may vary depending on the procedure, eye clinic and eye surgeon you choose. The investment, though, is often deemed worthy for permanent vision correction. It is understandable to be concerned about laser eye surgery cost in Singapore; hence, do discuss financing and payment plans with the eye clinic of your choice prior to surgery.
Conclusion
For anyone considering laser vision correction, debunking the myths about LASIK surgery in Singapore will help in the decision-making process. When performed by an experienced and skilled eye surgeon at a trusted eye clinic, LASIK surgery is able to offer significant pros with minimal discomfort and long-term results.
We believe that with proper guidance and the right information, you will be able to reap the benefits of clear vision without glasses or contact lenses.
If you are ready to embark on your LASIK surgery with us, please contact Lang Eye Centre at [email protected] or +65 6684 1000.
