LASIK is one of the most successful elective procedures in the world, with 90.8% of patients achieving an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better, and 99.5% achieving 20/40 or better. Satisfaction rates for LASIK are also remarkably high, with only 1.2% of patients expressing dissatisfaction.
Despite its high success rate, however, LASIK has been plagued with numerous myths that keep people from pursuing the surgery.
What are some common myths associated with LASIK, and how should you debunk them?
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Myth: Physicians would never have LASIK on their own eyes.
“Why is my LASIK doctor wearing glasses? Do they know something I don’t?”
Many people falsely believe that the doctors who provide LASIK wouldn’t dare have the procedure on their own eyes. This myth likely originates from LASIK doctors who wear glasses due to presbyopia, or doctors who aren’t LASIK candidates. When a prospective patient sees that their doctor is wearing glasses, they might feel uneasy.
As it turns out, refractive surgeons are more than four times more likely to have refractive surgery than the general population. Sharing this information with your prospective patients may put their minds at ease.
Myth: LASIK is dangerous.
“I don’t want to go blind!”
Like all surgeries, LASIK has some risks; however, many people mistakenly believe that complications are a) commonplace and b) always serious. Unhappy consumers can readily share their stories on the internet, making it seem like LASIK is more dangerous than it really is.
Tell your prospective patients that LASIK has significantly improved since the 90s, and make sure to share the high patient satisfaction and success rate. Let them know that many complications associated with LASIK can be corrected, or are only temporary.
Myth: LASIK is unaffordable.
“LASIK is a luxury procedure, right? I’m not exactly the luxury type.”
Many people avoid LASIK because they’re afraid it costs too much money. After all, glasses and contact lenses are cheap, right?
In many cases, LASIK is ultimately more affordable than glasses or contact lenses. This is because LASIK is a “one and done” procedure, whereas glasses and contact lenses must be purchased throughout the course of your life. We encourage you to sit down with your prospective patients and do some math to determine if LASIK will save them money in the long-run.
In the end, it’s our duty as ophthalmic professionals to make sure our patients understand the difference between LASIK fact and LASIK fiction. Comprehensive patient education materials, solid content on your website, and free consultations are all key to making patients more comfortable with LASIK.