Eye office myths are common, and a wide variety exists—from the feeling of receiving too many tests to thinking that all catar…
Want to know what pre-surgery questions your peers are searching for? With the vast amount of information available online, it can be hard to know where to start. But don’t worry, we’ve laid out 4 common topics along with the 2 most used channels to get information.
The search trends we will discuss are related to one common type of eye surgery: laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Globally, 16.3 million people experience it. LASIK involves using a laser to reshape your cornea (the clear “window” of tissue in the front of your eye). It can correct vision errors such as nearsightedness (blurry distance vision), farsightedness (blurry close-up vision), and astigmatism (blurry distance and close-up vision).
From January 2015 to June 2024, the Refractive Surgery Council (RSC) collected over 530,000 monthly Google searches about LASIK. The RSC found several common search topics:
Common LASIK searches include phrases such as “LASIK cost.” This suggests that cost is an important factor to you and your peers when considering LASIK.
Cost estimates online can change depending on your personalized treatment plan. This is why it is important for you to consult with your eye care team. The goal is to identify the pricing that best reflects your eye care needs and insurance coverage.
Other common LASIK searches involve questions such as “Is LASIK safe?”, “Does LASIK hurt?”, and “LASIK side effects?”
There is a variety of information available online about LASIK safety and risks. For example, you may find a list with all the possible side effects of LASIK. You may also find a personal anecdote from a patient who experienced severe dry eye after LASIK surgery. In either case, you may overestimate the likelihood that a LASIK side effect will occur.
A personalized evaluation at an eye care clinic can help determine your risk of developing side effects after LASIK surgery. Most patients experience the strongest dry eye symptoms within the first few months after LASIK surgery.
Another common LASIK search includes questions like “LASIK age limit?” and “How old do you have to be to get LASIK?” These questions suggest that age is a key factor in determining if LASIK is a good fit.
When researching the required age for LASIK surgery, it is important to take other factors into account. For example, you may see a personal anecdote of someone between 21 and 45 years old who got LASIK surgery. If you fall within that same age range, you might assume you are a good candidate for LASIK surgery. Still, you need to consider other factors that might not appear in the same article.
Another factor to consider alongside required age is a procedure’s reversibility. LASIK involves reshaping your cornea to correct your vision. Evolution Implantable Collamer® Lens (EVO ICL) involves inserting a removable artificial lens into your eye. So, if you are seeking a non-permanent way to correct your vision, then you might be a better candidate for EVO ICL than LASIK.
A fourth common LASIK search involves a direct comparison between LASIK and other eye surgeries. Examples include Evolution Implantable Collamer® Lens (EVO ICL), refractive lens exchange (RLE), and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK).
The Refractive Surgery Council (RSC) found 6600-8100 monthly Google searches for “PRK versus LASIK.” While both PRK and LASIK reshape your cornea to correct vision errors, they do so in different ways. PRK involves the removal of the surface layer of your cornea, whereas LASIK involves cutting a flap in your cornea.
When comparing eye surgeries, it is important to question any assumptions that may come up. For example, an article might state that LASIK, PRK, EVO ICL, and RLE each treat a variety of vision errors (ex. nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism). You may assume that if you have a vision error like astigmatism, you would be a good fit for any one of those procedures.
But neither LASIK nor PRK can treat a prescription that is very high or low. So, if you have an extreme prescription, then you might be a better fit for either EVO ICL or RLE. You might also assume that if you have a vision error without an extreme prescription, you would be a good fit for either LASIK or PRK. But if you have a non-extreme prescription and a thin cornea, then PRK may be a better option for you. This is because LASIK requires a specific level of corneal thickness.
The common LASIK searches discussed above may appear on various online channels. The Refractive Surgery Council (RSC) identified two common ones:
On Reddit, the Refractive Surgery Council (RSC) found 1600-1900 monthly LASIK searches. Those searches often generated Reddit content from peers who experienced LASIK surgery.
Peer experiences can ease anxiety about LASIK surgery, but they can also be misleading if taken out of context. For example, a recent post on Reddit that generated many comments may pop up on your screen. This post might be from a peer who experienced severe dry eyes after LASIK surgery. The post’s newness and popularity may lead you to overestimate the likelihood of developing a LASIK side effect. Your eye care provider can help determine this likelihood by taking into account your specific eye care needs.
Another online channel for LASIK searches is Google AI. Google AI gathers information from several websites to form a summarized answer. This answer can appear at the top of the search page for convenient access.
Google AI can provide a basic overview of LASIK surgery. Still, it may not include information from verified medical sources. So, it is important to seek out information from other sources online. That way you can develop a more holistic, evidence-based understanding of LASIK surgery.
The amount of information online can be overwhelming, especially when you are considering eye surgery for the first time.
On our Mittleman Eye website, we have services tailored to the specific eye care services that we offer. These include searchable blog posts and service pages with common questions from patients. Our goal is for you to access the information you need to reduce any anxiety and help determine the care that works best for you.
Whether you are a good fit for eye surgeries like LASIK depends on your personal eye care needs. Our team at Mittleman Eye is here to address any questions and concerns you may have. Our office locations in Jupiter and West Palm Beach allow you to choose the most convenient location for you. We offer several ways for you to schedule an appointment. You can text or call us at 561-500-2020, or go online to mittlemaneye.com/appointment-request.
By opting into SMS from a web form or other medium, you are agreeing to receive SMS messages from Mittleman Eye. This includes SMS messages for conversations (external). Message frequency varies.
If you have questions about this Notice, you may call the Privacy Officer at 561-500-2020