Myth 1: "LASIK wears off after 10 years"
**Truth:** LASIK permanently reshapes your cornea — that change doesn't reverse. However, your eye can continue to change with age (especially after 40), which may affect your vision years after LASIK. This is a natural aging process, not a LASIK failure. Most patients enjoy clear vision for decades.
Myth 2: "I'm too old for LASIK"
**Truth:** LASIK is generally performed on adults 21–60. The upper limit isn't age itself — it's prescription stability and corneal health. Some patients in their 50s are excellent candidates. However, if you're over 50 and developing cataracts, a refractive lens exchange (clear lens extraction) may actually be a better long-term investment.
Myth 3: "LASIK is too risky"
**Truth:** LASIK has one of the highest patient satisfaction rates of any elective surgery — consistently above 95% in large studies. Serious complications are rare. The technology has improved dramatically since the early 2000s. The risk of vision complications from daily contact lens wear over a decade often exceeds the risk of LASIK.
Myth 4: "My prescription is too high for LASIK"
**Truth:** High prescriptions may not qualify for LASIK — but that doesn't mean you're out of options. ICL (Implantable Collamer Lens) treats prescriptions up to -20 diopters and is available right here in Waco at Brazos Eye Surgery.
Myth 5: "LASIK is painful"
**Truth:** Numbing drops make the procedure itself pain-free. Some patients experience mild discomfort or a gritty sensation in the first 24 hours, but most describe it as mild. The procedure takes about 15 minutes total for both eyes.
Myth 6: "You can go blind from LASIK"
**Truth:** There are no documented cases of blindness caused by LASIK in the medical literature. It is among the most studied elective procedures in history.
Myth 7: "I'll still need glasses after LASIK"
**Truth:** Most LASIK patients achieve 20/20 vision or better. A small percentage may need a touch-up enhancement procedure, but complete dependence on glasses after LASIK is uncommon in appropriately selected candidates.