You may be able to ditch your glasses or contact lenses after this type of laser eye surgery. Here’s how.

Do you wear glasses or contact lenses — or both? Even if you do have vision insurance through your employer, you may only be covered for glasses or contacts, but not both, during a plan year. And costs can add up quickly; a year’s supply of contact lenses can run in the hundreds of dollars.

But there may be a way around those expenses. In fact, you may be able to do away with spending yearly money on glasses and contacts. That’s thanks to a type of surgery called LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) that could correct your vision issues and eliminate the need for glasses and/or contacts altogether.

It’s worth noting up front that vision insurance and health insurance typically don’t cover LASIK surgery. But it’s a good idea to check with your insurance provider.

Here’s what you need to know about LASIK surgery and whether you might be a good candidate for this eye-related procedure.

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What is LASIK surgery?

Normally, an ophthalmologist will conduct this type of surgery. That’s a type of eye doctor that has training to do surgery on the eyes.

LASIK is normally an outpatient procedure where an ophthalmologist uses a laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea to correct certain vision problems. The cornea is the clear covering on the front of the eye.

What type of vision issues does LASIK surgery correct?

An eye doctor will use LASIK to correct refractive errors, or a type of vision issue that causes blurry vision. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the eye keeps light from focusing correctly on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eyeball.

Examples of refractive errors include:

• Nearsightedness: faraway objects appear blurry
• Farsightedness: close-by objects appear blurry
• Astigmatism: faraway and close-by objects may appear blurry because of the way the cornea or lens inside the eye curves

Eye doctors most often do LASIK on nearsighted people who wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision.

“Whatever glasses you’re wearing right now have a prescription in them that corrects your refractive error,” says Jovi Boparai, M.D. He’s an ophthalmic surgeon based in Princeton, New Jersey, and CEO of CorneaCare, a direct-to-consumer eyecare company. LASIK surgery is designed to correct those refractive errors. “The goal is that you may not need glasses at all after the procedure,” he adds.

A refractive error called presbyopia is the normal age-related loss of near vision that happens at around age 45. To help with this condition, LASIK surgery may be done to create monovision. That’s when one eye is corrected to see closeup objects clearly, and the other eye is corrected to see faraway objects.

The brain adapts to use one eye for closeup work and the other for distance vision. Before committing to surgery, contact lenses that simulate monovision can be used to help test whether monovision would work for you.

What happens during LASIK surgery?

LASIK surgery normally takes about 10 to 15 minutes per eye, and you’re awake during the surgery. The surgeon will put eye drops on the surface of the eyes to numb them, and a special eyelid holder keeps you from blinking. Using the laser, the surgeon creates a paper-thin flap of corneal tissue and then peels it back.

“You reshape the inner part of the cornea to try to get the vision result that you want,” says Dr. Boparai. To finish, the surgeon folds the flap back into position and smooths the edges. The flap reattaches itself in a few minutes and then heals in place.

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How do I know if I can get LASIK surgery?

To determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK surgery, your eye doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to ensure that your eyes are healthy and determine if LASIK might help your vision issues.

The doctor will also:

• Look at factors such as the shape of your eye
• Take into account your specific refractive error
• Take measurements, such as your cornea’s thickness and pupil size

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends the following requirements for LASIK surgery:

• You’re at least 18 years old. “You’ve finished growing, and your eyes are no longer changing,” says Dr. Boparai.
• Your eye prescription is stable. That means there haven’t been any changes in your prescription in at least a year, says Dr. Boparai.
• Your refractive error can be treated with LASIK.
• Your corneas are thick enough and healthy enough.
• Your overall eye health is good.
• You’re in good health.

The AAO also recommends that you don’t get LASIK if you have one of the following conditions:

• Advanced glaucoma (a type of eye disease that may cause blindness)
• Cataracts that affect vision (a type of eye condition that causes cloudy vision)
• Corneal scars or disease
• Corneas that are too thin
• Diabetes that is not controlled well
• Extreme levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism
• History of having certain eye infections
• Keratoconus (cone-shaped cornea)
• Pregnancy
• Severe dry eye
• Unstable (changing) refractive error

What are the pros of LASIK surgery?

For one, you may be able to ditch your glasses or contacts for good. About 9 out of 10 people who have LASIK end up with vision between 20/20 and 20/40 without having to wear glasses or contact lenses.

You may also be wondering if LASIK eye surgery is safe. “LASIK is very safe. I would say in the realm of refractive surgeries, it’s probably the safest option that we offer,” says Dr. Boparai. LASIK happens on the surface of the eye, through your cornea, so the surgeon isn’t actually going inside the eye. That makes it less risky, he notes.

What are the cons of LASIK surgery?

It’s possible that LASIK may over- or under-correct your vision, requiring glasses, contact lenses or additional surgery to fix it. It’s rare, but some people may experience permanent vision loss from the procedure too. Additionally, you may still need glasses for certain activities, such as reading or driving at night.

As with any surgery, LASIK has potential risks and complications, some of which may not go away.

The most common side effect is dry eye. In addition to the sensation of dryness, if you have dry eye, you may experience:

• Blurry vision
• Feeling like there’s something stuck in the eye (foreign body sensation)
• Gritty sensation
• Irritation
• Redness
• Watery eyes

“Almost 50% of patients will experience some form of dry eye within the first month or so after the procedure,” says Dr. Boparai. “Only a small subset will still have some dry eye symptoms at about 3 to 6 months out.”

Less common side effects, which may be temporary or permanent, include:

• Corneal infection
• Corneal scarring that makes it impossible to wear contact lenses
• Decrease in contrast sensitivity — even with 20/20 vision, objects may appear fuzzy or gray
• Decreased ability to see in low light — for example, with night driving
• Double vision
• Eye pain or discomfort
• Glare
• Halos (rings) or starbursts around lights
• Hazy, foggy or blurry vision
• Light sensitivity
• Scratchiness
• Small pink or red patches of blood on the whites of the eyes, due to broken blood vessels, which typically go away over time

How can I get a discount on LASIK surgery?

Your plan or employer may offer a vision discount that includes a presurgery exam or laser eye surgery with an in-network eye surgeon. This means you might get a set rate, such as a certain percentage off the usual fee. Also, financing and payment options may be available from the LASIK provider.

Our vision plans offer coverage for annual eye exams with no waiting period, plus coverage for glasses and/or contacts. Learn more about vision insurance today, or call 1-844-211-7730 for more information.

For informational purposes only. This information is compiled by UnitedHealthcare, and/or one of its affiliates, and does not diagnose problems or recommend specific treatment. Services and medical technologies referenced herein may not be covered under your plan. Please consult directly with your primary care physician if you need medical advice.

Sources:

American Academy of Ophthalmology. “LASIK — laser eye surgery.” August 9, 2024. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/lasik

National Eye Institute. “Refractive errors.” November 15, 2023. Retrieved from https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/eye-conditions-and-diseases/refractive-errors

National Library of Medicine: MedlinePlus. “LASIK eye surgery.” January 29, 2024. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/007018.htm

UnitedHealthcare. “3 benefits of vision insurance.” May 1, 2024. Retrieved from https://www.uhc.com/news-articles/benefits-and-coverage/vision-benefits

UnitedHealthcare. “Reduce the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.” Retrieved from https://uhc.qualsight.com Accessed September 9, 2024

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