Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) is an elective surgical procedure that permanently reshapes the cornea to correct refractive errors like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This surgery is a popular option for people seeking freedom from glasses and contact lenses. Do the medical professionals who perform this delicate surgery choose to have it done themselves? The answer from the eye care community provides a strong endorsement of the procedure’s safety and effectiveness for appropriate candidates.
The Direct Answer: Do Eye Care Professionals Undergo LASIK?
The simple answer is that many eye care professionals, particularly those specializing in refractive surgery, undergo LASIK or similar laser vision correction (LVC). A 2015 study surveying ophthalmologists who perform LVC revealed that over 62% of those who were candidates for the procedure had already had it themselves. This prevalence is significantly higher—about five times greater—than in the general population, indicating a high degree of professional confidence in the surgery’s outcomes.
The same survey found that over 90% of refractive surgeons would recommend LVC to their immediate family members, which is a powerful testament to their trust in the procedure’s safety and results. While the decision for any eye doctor is highly personal, depending on their individual candidacy and lifestyle, the data clearly shows a strong endorsement from those who know the procedure best.
Key Reasons Why Doctors Choose to Have the Procedure
A primary motivation for eye doctors choosing LASIK is their professional understanding of the procedure’s low complication rate and high success rate when performed on an appropriate patient. They are familiar with the technology, which has significantly advanced since the first excimer laser gained approval in the 1990s. This knowledge allows them to weigh the minimal risks against the substantial benefits of the procedure with an informed perspective.
The lifestyle and professional benefits are also a major factor in the decision, especially for surgeons. For professionals who spend their days working with microscopes, operating on patients, or wearing surgical masks, glasses and contact lenses can be a hindrance. Achieving crisp, reliable vision without corrective lenses enhances precision and convenience, allowing them to focus entirely on the intricate details of their work. This improved quality of life and professional efficiency acts as a powerful incentive.
Common Reasons Why Doctors May Decline LASIK
While many eye doctors choose LASIK, a substantial number still wear glasses, and their reasons are often rooted in medical criteria. The most common reasons for declining the procedure are specific physical contraindications that disqualify them as candidates. For example, a doctor may have corneas that are too thin to safely allow for the tissue removal required during LASIK.
Other disqualifying factors include a high degree of refractive error that falls outside the treatable range or the presence of chronic dry eye, which the surgery can sometimes exacerbate. If a doctor’s prescription has not been stable for at least one year, they will also be advised against the surgery. In these cases, the doctor is simply applying the same stringent screening criteria to themselves that they use for their patients.
Some eye doctors also choose not to pursue LASIK due to personal preference or very minor prescriptions where the benefit does not justify the minimal risk of any elective surgery. Surgeons, in particular, occasionally maintain a slight prescription to aid in the close-up focus required during microsurgery. Ultimately, the decision for any doctor is governed by individual medical suitability and personal choice.
The Standard of Care: What Doctors Look for in a Candidate
When an eye doctor recommends LASIK to a patient, they are applying a rigorous standard of care based on specific medical criteria. The ideal candidate must have a stable vision prescription that has not changed for at least 12 months, demonstrating that their eyes have reached ocular maturity. Corneal thickness is also measured with precision, as the tissue must be thick enough to be reshaped by the laser while retaining sufficient structural integrity.
Overall eye health is a foundational requirement, meaning the eyes must be free of active infections, significant dry eye, and progressive conditions like keratoconus. The surgeon will also ensure the patient has realistic expectations regarding the outcome, understanding that the goal is functional vision improvement, not necessarily perfect vision in every circumstance. These objective guidelines are the same reasons why a doctor may or may not choose the procedure for themselves.