But Lasik has come with its own cluster of arguments, critics, and naysayers. A lot of people still feel that Lasik is yet to develop fully and that 4-6% is still a very high rate of failure for a medical procedure, especially one with such grave consequences. So let's see what Lasik is and what it's all about.

What is Lasik Eye Surgery?

Lasik is the abbreviated form of "laser-assisted situ keratomileusis" which is basically a form of eye surgery, which involves re-shaping the cornea to fix vision problems. This is done by cutting open a 'flap' in the cornea first. After this, laser is used to remove a pre-determined amount of tissue from the cornea after which the flap is replaced, which then heals naturally. The patient remains conscious during Lasik surgery, but local anesthesia is used to numb the eye.

It takes between 15 to 20 minutes to complete the procedure, but it takes up to 2-3 weeks for the eyes to heal completely. A lot of care has to be taken to ensure that the eyes do not catch any sort of infection post-operation. Light shields or eye patches are provided to the patient so that bright light does not harm the eyes. Upon complete recovery, patients can then function normally without glasses or contact lenses.

What Eye Issues Can Lasik Fix?

Lasik has been used to fix eye problems like myopia, astigmatism and hyperopia. These are common eye defects which require people to use some sort of aid to see properly. Lasik has proved to be highly successful in rectifying these defects in a large number of cases.

Issues with Lasik

The main reason the safety of Lasik is debated so much, is because of it involves the eyes. Though Lasik has had a success rate of almost 92 - 95%, there have been some rare cases where patients have lost vision partially or completely, temporarily or permanently.

In rare cases, people have reported issues like:

1. Glare - In this situation, any source of light appears to create glare around it, thus blurring vision
2. Halos - In some cases, people have reported seeing halos after corrective surgery
3. Double vision - People have also complained about double vision, where they see a shadow of the object next to it.
4. Under correction or over correction - Sometimes, if the laser removes more or less corneal tissue than planned, patients experience under or over correction.
5. Dry eyes - This is one of the more common complaints. Patients experience dryness of the eyes, which if not attended to immediately can cause a lot of infections and possibly blindness.

Checklist Before You Go for Lasik Surgery

1. Adequately read up on the subject. This is absolutely vital, because you must know what you are getting into.
2. Your vision needs to have been stable for a few years, before you try laser surgery. If you just got yourself spectacles, do not go for the surgery. Instead, wait a few years before you consider it.
3. Enquire with patients how their experience was and which eye hospital or ophthalmologist they went to. Preferably consult 5-6 patients of a specific doctor.
4. Friends and relatives may highly recommend laser eye surgery, but remember that it is not for everyone. Ask around adequately about the process from trustworthy sources as well.
5. Read up on the risks of laser eye surgery. This knowledge will help you in making a good decision.
6. Go through suggested tests before you opt for Lasik, because it is possible that it may not fix your eye defect. There are still a few eye problems that Lasik cannot fix.
7. Pay close attention to the instructions from your ophthalmologist. The post-operation period is the most crucial as you have to take extreme care not to aggravate your eyes.
8. Stay in constant touch with the ophthalmologist so you can keep reporting your observations to him. What you may consider unimportant could possibly be a symptom of a post-operative issue.
9. Do not go for a comparatively unknown eye hospital because they charge less. When it comes to your eyes, it is best to spend for quality care and skills.