The American Academy of Ophthalmology reiterated the importance of ensuring potential Lasik vision correction surgery patients talk to their providers to make sure they're good candidates for surgery.
Here's what you should know:
1. Recent media attention created a heightened awareness of the risks associated with Lasik.
2. In response, AAO cited research showing that Lasik touts a 95 percent patient satisfaction rate through more than 300 peer-reviewed studies.
AAO President Keith Carter, MD, said, "A small number of patients have substantial and persistent symptoms after Lasik. This is why ophthalmologists continue to evaluate patient satisfaction and continue to evolve the surgery to improve patient outcomes and to address patients with symptoms. While most patients are good candidates, Lasik is not for everyone."
3. To ensure patients are properly informed, AAO partnered with the FDA a decade ago to create a patient guide to refractive surgery. The organization also launched its online information guide, the EyeSmart program.