Debunking Common Laser Eye Surgery Myths

Flying above the clouds

At BoydVision, we’ve heard a lot of laser eye surgery myths. “Lasik causes blindness, it’s painful, it’s lengthy,” and on and on. In reality, many of these myths are perpetuated by word of mouth and are false! We’d like to take a moment and clear the air so that you can feel comfortable with the operation that has the highest patient satisfaction rating among any elective procedure, laser eye surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery Is A New Procedure

While the popularity of laser eye surgery has definitely increased in recent years, the procedure itself is over 30 years old. In the late 1980s, Dr. Steven Trokel patented and performed the very first laser vision correction operation. Since then, the equipment and techniques we use have improved drastically, giving laser eye surgery the distinction of the highest patient satisfaction rating of any elective surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery Is A Lengthy Procedure

The majority of our patients are blown away by how quick the operation actually is. The laser only needs 20-30 seconds per eye to reshape your cornea. While you should expect to be at our clinic for up to an hour and a half on the day of your surgery, the actual operation is over in minutes.  

Laser Eye Surgery Is Extremely Painful

This is a common belief and it is completely false. Laser eye surgery is absolutely painless. You will be given anesthetic drops before your operation to numb your eyes. You may feel a slight pressure around your eyes but this is not painful.

After your surgery, you will be given drops to keep your eyes moist and a numbing agent for any discomfort. Most people feel a sensation like a grain of sand or eyelash in their eyes, but this dissipates a few hours after your operation.

Laser Eye Surgery Can Cause Blindness

Millions of laser eye procedures are done every year with high levels of safety and effectiveness. With that said, any operation comes with inherent risks. Most complications are mild and are dealt with quickly, or eventually go away as your eyes heal. We have never had a patient go blind in our clinic and it would be an extremely rare case if this ever happens. During your consultation with Dr. Boyd, you’ll be able to ask as many questions as you like and his track record will help put your mind at ease.

Laser Eye Surgery Is Unaffordable

As an upfront cost, laser eye surgery is more expensive than a regular pair of glasses or contact lenses. But when you factor in the lifetime value of these items, you may be surprised that eye surgery will be much cheaper overall. If, for example, you spend $1 per day on contact lenses, you’ll spend approximately $3650 over the next decade!

We hope we’ve been able to give you a new perspective on laser eye surgery. It’s an effective procedure that has satisfied so many people just like you. To talk more about laser eye surgery, make sure you send us a message or give us a call at 604-430-9560. We look forward to helping you make the most informed choice possible.