How likely is it that laser eye surgery will give you 20/20 vision or better?
Very likely.
The answer to this question is not quite as straightforward as you might think, however. For example, the % of eyes achieving 20/20 or better depends upon how nearsighted the patient is, whether pre-op best-corrected visual acuity is 20/20, how much astigmatism there may also be, and the surgeon's experience with fine-tuning the results based on tracking the actual outcomes. Furthermore, the brand of laser is a factor: earlier excimer lasers (the kind used in LASIK) would typically produce 20/20+ in only about 73% of patients' eyes (FDA monitored study) while the later approved ones are typically 95% or better. You can access the FDA patient information website to find specific information. Remember, though, that the FDA studies only considered one treatment -with an "enhancement" or follow-up treatment in the first 3-6 months, the percentage of 20/20 is even higher.
Written by J. Trevor Woodhams, M.D. - Chief of Surgery, Woodhams Eye Clinic
