AAO Views Horror Movie LASIK Scene with Humor, Perspective

Perhaps there really is no such thing as bad publicity.

When the moderately successful summer film Final Destination 5 launched its marketing campaign in the spring, the trailers focused on a scene that in turn focused on death by LASIK. One might think an organization such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) would be concerned about such a scene—even one so far-fetched—tarnishing the reputation of the popular and highly successful laser vision correction procedure.

Like the vast majority of LASIK patients who experience clear vision after undergoing the procedure, however, the AAO seems to view the eye melting and a film franchise that’s managed five episodes despite having the word “final” in its title with perfect clarity.

“Horror filmmakers are required to push the limits of outrageous fantasy, and that’s what they’ve done here,” Allison Neves, AAO’s director of public relations told New York Magazine in an Aug. 12 online article. “It is their job to turn everyday scenarios into something sinister and diabolical in order to entertain an audience. This scene is pure Hollywood entertainment created for people who enjoy this genre.”

In fact, Eric Heisserer, the film’s writer, bragged that he was awarded the gig on the basis of the LASIK scene.

“I got the job with two words: LASIK surgery,” Heisserer said in the same New York Magazine article.

In truth, LASIK, like any surgery, is accompanied by risks. But complications from LASIK are rare (facial searing is not among them), and the procedure has a success rate in the neighborhood of 95 to 98 percent.

With hundreds of thousands of LASIK surgeries performed yearly, the procedure will likely continue to enjoy its popularity. At least until Hollywood gives us something like The Texas LASIK Massacre.

In the meantime, a consultation with a qualified ophthalmologist will determine if you’re a candidate for LASIK and whether LASIK is the best option for treating your specific vision problem.

To learn more about the benefits of LASIK and find an ophthalmologist near you, please contact The Lasik Directory.