One of the irritations that a laser eye surgery consultant or a cataract eye surgeon have to deal with is dispelling myths that a patient have read and subsequently believed. Some of these myths are enough to make patients far more fearful and doubting of laser eye surgery and its ability to improve their eyesight than they need be.

Although millions of people have had successful laser eye surgery and all the surgeons who carry it out are extremely skilled and experienced professionals, having a doubt placed in one’s mind due to falsehoods is what makes many candidates for laser eye surgery doubtful at one end of the scale and downright terrified at the other. So, to help them, and possibly yourself, here are seven laser eye surgery myths you can completely dismiss as false.

Myth #1 – Laser Eye Surgery Is Extremely Painful: Invariably this is untrue. Your surgeon will apply eye drops to numb your eye, so you feel no pain during the procedure. After surgery, there may be some irritation, but this can be combatted with painkillers and any discomfort usually subsides within a couple of days.

Myth #2 – Everyone Can Have Laser Eye Surgery: Unfortunately, this is not the case. First, you must be at least 18 and even then your prescription must have been constant for at least 2 years. Also, those with certain eye conditions, such as cataracts or glaucoma, and people with certain pre-existing medical conditions, might not be candidates for laser eye surgery.

Myth #3 – Laser Eye Surgery Means You Need Never Wear Contact Lenses Or Glasses Again: If only. Whilst laser eye surgery can correct your vision as it is now, and its effects can last a lifetime, if an individual’s vision changes as they age, or they develop certain eye conditions, then they may need to wear glasses, for example, when reading.

Myth #4 – These Lasers Can Burn Your Eyeball: This is almost laughable if it was not so frightening a falsehood. The lasers used are not something that you would see in a Sci-Fi movie, but are instead ‘cold lasers’. In other words, they do not generate any heat and therefore they cannot burn anything, including eyeballs.

Myth #5 – It Takes A Long Time To Recover From Laser Eye Surgery: Not true, as most people recovering from laser eye surgery can go back to work and restart their usual activities within the first week. Admittedly, they may attend check-up appointments for their consultant to monitor their progress, but at this stage vision is normal and all discomfort has gone.

Myth #6 – If You Shop Around You Can Find Cheap Laser Eye Surgery: By all means get competitive quotes and compare laser eye surgeries, but never opt for any clinic which classifies its procedures as ‘cheap’. Laser eye surgery is a skilled procedure, and you should only entrust the health of your eyes to fully qualified professionals, not cheap amateurs.

Myth #7 – Laser Eye Surgery Is More Expensive Than Contact Lenses: Well it may well be at the outset given that the procedure will usually cost a few thousand dollars. However, over the years, as you add up all the costs of replacing lenses and all the necessary solutions, then contact lenses eventually become the costlier option.