Lasik eye surgery

Will you really get rid of your glasses?

Lasik eye surgery may be pitched as a "safe and easy alternative to glasses," but more than half of the people who have it or other laser vision-correction surgery still need to wear glasses at least some of the time. That's according to a Consumer Reports National Research Center survey of 793 adults who had laser vision-correction surgery in the past eight years.

While 80 percent of the respondents said they were "completely" or "very satisfied" with their surgery, nearly two-thirds said they were disappointed to find that they still had to wear glasses or contact lenses at least occasionally. That's understandable, since being tired of contacts and glasses was the most common reason respondents gave for choosing the surgery. A majority of respondents said they had it to correct nearsightedness (56 percent), while others had it done for astigmatism (35 percent) and farsightedness (20 percent). Side effects such as dry eyes, halos, and blurry vision were common among our respondents, and sometimes lasted at least six months after the surgery. That's particularly distressing, since Lasik eye surgery and similar operations are elective, not essential, medical procedures.

Our findings come at a time when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which regulates devices used in laser vision surgery, has taken a hard look at Lasik, spurred by complaints of troubling side effects and a lack of reliable data about how often they occur.

Most consumers have to pay out-of-pocket for the procedures, since most insurers don't cover them or offer only a small benefit. Our Patient Power Tool Kit can help make sure you get your money's worth. The package includes:

• A tool to help you determine whether you're likely to be satisfied based on the odds and your expectations.
• Detailed information from consumers who have had the surgery.
• A safety assessment of laser vision-correction surgery based on the latest evidence.
• A guide to choosing a surgeon, including key questions to ask and red flags that should prompt you to get a second opinion.
• What to expect before, during, and after the surgery.
• The costs of surgery, insurance coverage, and payment options.