If you've been struggling with the need for glasses and have been considering LASIK surgery instead, you may wonder if it can really help you. When you're really committed to ditching the glasses, you should talk with your eye doctor about the possibility of LASIK surgery. However, there are some things that your eye doctor may hope you know ahead of time. Don't fall into the misinformation trap. Here are some of the key facts that everyone should understand about LASIK before talking with a doctor.

LASIK Isn't A Guarantee

LASIK will give you some marked vision improvement immediately following the procedure, but the surgery can only do just so much. In addition, you can't guarantee that you will never need to wear eyeglasses again. It's important that you set your expectations reasonably if you're thinking about this procedure. Talk with your eye doctor about your current vision condition and the level of improvement you can expect from your procedure.

Astigmatism Doesn't Disqualify You

In the earliest days of LASIK surgery, patients with astigmatism were often told that they were not ideal candidates for the procedure. You might think that, if you have astigmatism, you won't be eligible for LASIK surgery. That isn't actually the case. Modern LASIK surgery can be used to correct even astigmatism, restoring your vision and changing the curve of the cornea.

You May Experience Dry Eye

One thing that many patients don't realize is that LASIK surgery does result in some level of dry eye issues for a few months after the surgery. However, don't let the discomfort leave you feeling as though you'll be struggling with this forever. The truth is that you may struggle with dry eye for a couple of months and have to rely on a series of eye drops from your care provider, but this will pass as your eyes heal from the surgery. Just make sure that you follow the eye drop regimen carefully to help encourage healing and protect your eyes.

You Don't Need To Be Afraid Of The Procedure

Some people hesitate to consider LASIK surgery because they are worried about the procedure being painful or uncomfortable. Don't let that fear keep you from seeking the treatment that you want. Your eye doctor will treat your eye with numbing drops before the procedure, and can also provide you with a mild sedative if you need it for your own anxiety issues leading up to the treatment. 

These are some of the most important things to know about LASIK surgery. Talk with your eye doctor today for more help.