LASIK Getting Safer for Athletes

For years, athletes, especially those participating in contact sports, were told that they were not candidates for LASIK. Fortunately, recent advances in LASIK technology have enabled many athletes to undergo laser vision correction without the increased risk of serious complications.

Early LASIK techniques needed to cut a flap on the outer layer of your cornea in order to reshape the irregularities on your inner cornea. This flap posed serious risks for athletes. If it was damaged at all during the healing process, it could lead to complications in the surgery. In extreme cases, you could lose your vision. The risk of these complications was particularly high for athletes competing in contact sports.

Today, a new procedure called Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) can re-contour your cornea without cutting a flap. This enables athletes to get LASIK without the same risk of adverse consequences during the healing process.

Many ophthalmologists still do not consider athletes to be ideal candidates for LASIK. However, the truth is that laser vision correction is far safer for athletes than it ever has been in the past. Many athletes are now able to safely return to competition shortly following their LASIK procedure thanks to the advancements of ASA.

If you are considering LASIK, you can use the links at the bottom of this page to find a qualified LASIK surgeon in your area.