LASIK surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can be done on both eyes at once. However, some patients may choose to have the surgery done on one eye at a time due to personal preference or medical reasons. In general, it is considered safe to have LASIK surgery on both eyes simultaneously, but there are some risks associated with this approach. The decision to have both eyes done at the same time should be made after consulting with a qualified eye surgeon.
Simultaneous bilateral treatment is an option for those who want to have LASIK surgery on both eyes at the same time. This approach is convenient, but it is riskier than having two separate surgeries. It is important to note that LASIK is a safe procedure with good long-term results, so having it done on both eyes simultaneously is usually not a problem. In some cases, LASIK is performed on both eyes simultaneously.
However, there are some cases where LASIK surgery is required for just one eye or the patient requests that each eye be treated on different days. Patients sometimes believe that it is somehow safer to examine one eye at a time, which, judging by the surface, seems like a more conservative and careful approach. However, most surgeons will continue to treat both eyes at once: the dominant eye will be treated for distance vision and the non-dominant eye for near vision. We will not perform LASIK surgery on a patient without a thorough eye exam to ensure that they are, in fact, an excellent candidate for LASIK. The main drawback of sequential surgery (having one eye done at a time) is downtime.
Patients may need to wait for surgery on their second eye after the first surgery. Additionally, if the first eye had residual power for glasses, applying the other eye at a different time would allow the second treatment to be adjusted as needed to take into account any inaccuracy in the first eye. In conclusion, it is generally safe to have LASIK surgery on both eyes simultaneously. However, if you are uncomfortable with this approach or only need LASIK on one eye, then having it done on just one eye may be the best treatment protocol for your particular situation. It is important to consult with a qualified eye surgeon before making any decisions about your treatment plan.
