A Doctor’s Views on Laser Surgery

If you’ve had Lasik eye surgery, or are considering it, you probably know that it’s hard to find honest, understandable information about the procedure. This book is a good resource that may help people make a more informed decision about the risks and benefits.

The author, an ophthalmologist, provides a thorough description of various vision problems and whether Lasik can be used to correct them. He explains the federal regulations that govern how Lasik can be used and details other factors that may influence the procedure’s success, such as pupil size. The data Ehrlich provides are particularly helpful. He draws on statistics from a group of Lasik patients to show final outcomes (such as the number who end up with 20/20 vision) and the proportion of people who experience various complications. He also does a nice job of explaining what qualities a consumer should look for in selecting a refractive surgeon.

Although Ehrlich presents the information in a neutral tone, one could argue that he downplays the consequences of a poor outcome--however rare that may be. For example, he says that complications from Lasik are “manageable.” Clearly, Web sites set up as forums for dissatisfied Lasik patients show that is not always the case, particularly for people left with vision halos or dry eyes.