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LASIK vs Contacts? Which is safer?

Posted on April 7, 2010 in FAQs

This is a question that comes up A LOT in our clinic, especially from parents of teens and young adults when they are considering vision correction surgery. Most would bet that contact lenses are safer because surgery is, well, surgery. Although contact lenses are very safe if used properly, the risk of serious infection is always there. Lens related infections can result in vision loss from something as simple as not washing hands before putting them in, or using tap water to store lenses. One out of 10,000 daily contact lens wearers will develop a serious infection (resulting in vision loss) in the course of a year. On the other hand, there are always risks of complication following any surgical procedure. Laser vision correction surgery has been around for twenty years and technological advancements in lasers and better training have reduced complications such as nighttime halo and glare that used to be common. Researchers have studied the risks of LASIK and long term contact lens use. Over a million people opt for laser vision correction each year with complications occurring in one out of 10,000, about the same as contact lens use. It really becomes a lifestyle choice for the individual.