What are the long-term effects of laser vision correction?
Laser vision correction has been performed since 1987. Over two million procedures have been performed in over 50 countries. The FDA has approved the use of the excimer laser and recognized laser vision correction as being safe and effective for treatment of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in eligible patients. The FDA clinical trails reveal 100% of patients with mild to moderate myopia who have had laser vision correction achieved significantly improved uncorrected vision.
Although LASIK and PRK are relatively new procedures, results from U.S. studies to date show that 95-98% of patients with mild to moderate myopia who have undergone PRK have achieved stable 20/40 distance vision or better with one treatment. Although a 1-2% of eyes will lose a line of best correctable vision, no significant long-term sight threatening consequences have been reported in ten year follow-up from international centers.
