LASIK remains the most popular procedure, but non-cutting procedures like ASA are rapidly gaining popularity because they are safer and more effective laser eye surgeries.
Laser vision correction has been a force for good since 1998, helping many people achieve 20/20 vision or better. But choosing the right laser eye surgery has been a matter of much thought and debate.
Let’s take a look at how many patients are currently undergoing laser eye surgery in the United States, and what we can expect over the next decade and beyond.
How many people undergo laser eye surgery each year?
According to the American Board of Refractive Surgery, 2023 was a banner year for laser vision correction, with 834,000 people undergoing laser eye surgery.
This year (2024) has the potential to be the first in recent history that more than a million people undergo laser vision correction. By 2030, that number could rise by another 500,000 per year. But which laser eye surgery procedure do most people choose?
Do more patients undergo LASIK or PRK and ASA?
LASIK is the most popular laser eye surgery in the United States. But that doesn’t mean that’s a good thing—or that it will continue to be.
Currently, LASIK is a very large share of the overall laser eye surgery market (like Kleenex is to tissue paper, LASIK is to laser vision correction). LASIK has the shortest recovery period, so many people choose it without researching alternatives or evaluating long-term complications. I’ve written extensively about the risks of LASIK and “LASIK Mills” compared to safer procedures and more personalized practices.
LASIK used to account for about 95% of corrective eye surgeries in the United States. But now, it’s closer to 80% to 85%. The bottom line is that LASIK numbers are declining, while non-cutting procedures like Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and PRK are increasing. That’s a good thing.
Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK)
LASIK is the most popular eye surgery for myopia. It involves reshaping your cornea to correct refractive problems.
During the procedure, your eye doctor will use a laser to cut through the top layer of your cornea, creating a corneal flap. Next, they will reshape the inner layer of corneal tissue for optimal vision before sealing it back in place. This reshaping allows light to refract correctly, resulting in clearer vision.
The results of LASIK are almost immediate, with some people noticing significant improvements in vision as soon as a day after surgery.
The recovery process takes a few days, during which you may feel a slight burning sensation around your eyes.
While LASIK has the shortest recovery time compared to other options, it can also come with the highest risk of complications. This is because the corneal flap created can cause healing issues.
Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK)
PRK vision surgery is a surface ablation procedure that involves removing the top layer of corneal tissue, called the epithelium. It was created before LASIK and LASEK and remains a popular option.
During PRK, your eye doctor applies an alcohol solution to the outer surface of the cornea to loosen it, making removal easier. After removing the epithelium, they use a laser to gently reshape the remaining surface of the cornea.
The recovery period for PRK is longer than LASIK because the epithelium needs to grow back, which can cause some pain.
Your vision will improve in about a month, and the side effects will disappear around this milestone.
