Today, just imagine starting your day by opening your eyes to a clear world—no need to search for your glasses or insert contact lenses. This is the simple, everyday freedom that LASIK surgery provides.
LASIK full form – Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It is a safe, quick surgical procedure. It reshapes the cornea using a precise laser to correct vision problems—nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hypermetropia), and astigmatism. Yet, a common and very valid question is, “Is LASIK surgery safe?” As doctors, we emphasise understanding both the potential benefits and the small but real risk. First let us deeply get into…
How Does Laser Eye Surgery Work?
We remember Riya, a young teacher who once walked into my clinic, tired of blurry blackboards and foggy glasses. Like over 150 million people globally (a WHO figure), she also struggled with refractive errors. We gently explained LASIK: a quick, bladeless procedure where we reshape the cornea—the eye’s clear front surface. This is done so that the light focuses properly on the retina. It’s like sculpting vision clarity with precision. Using an excimer laser, we remove microscopic corneal tissue to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism. In just minutes, her world transformed. She cried the next day – not from pain, but from finally seeing clearly unaided!
Is LASIK Surgery Safe?
When patients ask me, “Doctor, is LASIK really safe?” – I understand the anxiety behind those words. And I gently reassure them: Yes, when done on the right candidates, LASIK is one of the safest elective procedures in modern medicine. It’s FDA-approved, and over 30 million procedures have been performed globally till the end of 2025. What’s astonishing—and rarely discussed—is that LASIK success rates are one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any surgery. Over 96% of people report improved vision without glasses and many reach 20/20 vision or even better.
here’s something most don’t know:
- NASA and the U.S. military approved LASIK for their pilots and astronauts. These are those people whose vision precision must be flawless under extreme conditions. That speaks volumes.
- What truly matters is candidacy: LASIK isn’t for everyone; it is primarily for the age group under 25. We conduct thorough screenings to ensure safety.
Risks & Complications of LASIK Surgery
Sometimes patients like Arjun come to me full of hope—but also fear. But then, Lasik surgery complications are very rare—less than 1%:
- Dry eyes affect up to 30% of patients temporarily post-surgery. It happens due to decreased corneal nerve sensation. Usually it resolves within weeks. Some people need artificial tear drops till it settles.
- Night vision disturbances—like halos or glare—are more common than people think. But this is also in especially low-light settings and is often temporary.
- Occasionally, we see undercorrection or overcorrection. This may happen in those with high prescriptions, which may require enhancement surgery later.
- The corneal flap—created during LASIK – rarely can shift or wrinkle. We call this “flap dislocation.” It is of course somewhat unsettling, but treatable if caught early.
- Rarer is ectasia- a condition where the cornea weakens over time. But thanks to better screening tools like corneal topography and wavefront mapping, this is now avoidable.
Severe complications are extraordinarily rare. And with modern LASIK techniques, most side effects are minor and reversible.
Who Should Avoid Considering LASIK Surgery
You know, while LASIK is life-changing for many, it’s not for everyone. And that’s okay, because safety first—your vision deserves care, not compromise.
- We often gently advise patients under 18, pregnant women to avoid LASIK.
- Then also those with uncontrolled diabetes or conditions like glaucoma or keratoconus must wait or consider alternatives.
- Interestingly, even subtle corneal irregularities or chronic dry eye can quietly disqualify someone.
Benefits of LASIK Surgery
You’d be surprised how life-changing LASIK truly is.
- Excellent and Short LASIK Surgery Recovery Time – Most patients, like Aman, are back to work in just 24–48 hours. This is because the cornea heals faster than almost any tissue in the body.
- Longer Term Vision Correction – The results last decades, especially if done after age 25 when vision stabilizes.
- Money and Time Saving – What many don’t realise is you could save over ₹1.5–2 lakhs over 10 years by skipping glasses, lenses and repeated prescriptions.
- Leaves No Stitches, No Scars —Your eyes may never look or feel operated on at all. What you get is just vision precision. It’s so gentle, the laser touches the eye for less than a minute.
LASIK Surgery Recovery and After-Care
After LASIK, your eyes begin healing almost immediately. But then they are vulnerable, like fresh skin under a scab. We always tell our patients:
- Avoid rubbing your eyes—even subconsciously during sleep. This can shift the healing flap.
- Blue light from screens reduces blink rate. This will be drying your eyes further and sunlight? Even mild UV can delay corneal regeneration. So use high-quality sunglasses when you step out and we are sure you must be doing that as a young human already!
- Use every drop we prescribe—they’re not just medicine, but shields against infection and dryness.
- Attend all follow-ups; 1 in 500 may need enhancements later.
Is LASIK Surgery Permanent?
When you ask us that, we smile, we pause gently and say—mostly, yes. The cornea reshaping is permanent. Over 96% of people don’t need retreatment. But here’s what most don’t know: your eyes still age.
Conditions like presbyopia or cataracts can naturally blur vision later, unrelated to LASIK.
Another rare fact—hormonal changes with age or any other factor, can subtly shift vision post-surgery. And though rare (less than 1%), some may need enhancement years later.
So while LASIK corrects your current refractive error for life, it doesn’t freeze time. I always say—it’s permanent for what it fixes, not for what may come with time or changes in your body.
CTA:
We have seen patients go from years of dependence to walking out with tears of joy the next day. That moment—that smile—is why we believe so deeply in LASIK safety, when responsibly offered. So what are you waiting for, Book an appointment, and let’s see if we can provide you freedom from glasses or there are any LASIK contraindications! We always prioritise long-term eye health over quick fixes. Trust the process—we walk it with you.
FAQs
LASIK is considered very safe when performed on the right candidates by experienced surgeons. While no surgery is 100% risk-free, complications are rare and often minor. More than 96% of patients are satisfied with the results.
People under 18, pregnant women, those with uncontrolled diabetes, severe dry eyes, thin corneas, or eye conditions like glaucoma or keratoconus are usually not good candidates for LASIK.
Yes, LASIK permanently reshapes the cornea to correct current refractive errors. However, natural age-related vision changes like presbyopia or cataracts can still occur later in life.
No, LASIK surgery is virtually painless. Numbing eye drops are used during the procedure, and mild discomfort or irritation afterward usually subsides within a few hours.
Most people return to normal activities within 24–48 hours. Vision usually stabilizes in a few days to weeks. It’s essential to follow after-care guidelines for proper healing.