Lasik Results Much Improved: Patient Advocacy

SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The probability of getting a good result from Lasik and similar eye surgery to reduce the need for glasses has significantly improved, reports the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (http://www.usaeyes.org/), a nonprofit patient advocacy that evaluates patient outcomes and certifies Lasik doctors. The positive change is attributed to improved technology, refined techniques, new procedures, and better patient selection.

USAEyes.org concluded that 90% of patients achieved 20/40 vision or better -- good enough to drive without glasses -- and 65% achieved 20/20 vision, after a review of US Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, peer-reviewed data, and individual patient outcomes.

"We feel our numbers represent the overall norm," says Glenn Hagele, Executive Director of USAEyes.org. "Some studies show as much as 98% with 20/20 vision or better, but these tend to be a subgroup with a low prescription or only Lasik patients." The USAEyes.org analysis included nearsighted, farsighted, all available types of refractive surgery including laser and lens implants, and all types of patients.

Approximately 3% of patients had some sort of unresolved complication at six months after surgery, with 0.5% being serious problems requiring extensive maintenance or invasive correction. Dry eye symptoms are the most often reported difficulty. "The severity of complications has improved," according to Hagele. "Long-term studies indicate that some of these problems resolve later, however we only evaluated results at six months after surgery."

Hagele cautions actual results may vary. "This analysis is an excellent general guideline, however every person's vision is unique and upon examination an individual may have a higher or lower than normal probability for success."

The Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (http://www.usaeyes.org/) is a nonprofit nongovernmental patient advocacy organization that evaluates and certifies doctors who perform surgery to reduce the need for corrective lenses.