What is the most popular Laser Eye Surgery today?
LASIK is still the top dog, but non-cutting procedures like ASA are gaining fast because they are better, safer, more advanced types of laser eye surgery.
“Bottom line, LASIK numbers are declining while procedures like ASA are on the rise. And that’s a good thing... Our dramatic increase in media consumption and screen time only worsens dry eye symptoms that LASIK patients experience.”
Laser Vision Correction has overwhelmingly been a force for good since 1998, helping many people achieve 20/20 vision or better. But choosing the right laser eye surgery has always been a matter of great deliberation and debate.
Here's a look at how many patients are getting laser eye surgery in America right now and what we can expect for the next decade and beyond.
How Many People Get Laser Eye Surgery Each Year?
2021 was a boon year for laser vision correction, with 834,000 people receiving laser eye surgery according to the American Refractive Surgery Council.
It’s possible that this year (2022) will be the first in recent history that over one million people receive laser vision correction. By 2030, this number will likely swell by another 500,000 people annually. But which laser eye surgery do most people choose?
Are More Patients Getting LASIK or PRK & ASA?
LASIK is the most popular laser eye surgery in the United States. But that doesn't mean that's a good thing – nor does it mean it will continue to be in the future.
Right now, LASIK has a very hard grip on the overall laser eye surgery market (what Kleenex is to Tissue Paper, LASIK unfortunately is to Laser Vision Correction). LASIK also has the shortest recovery period, so a lot of people just opt for it without researching alternatives or assessing long-term complications. I have written extensively about the risks of LASIK and “LASIK Mills” compared to safer procedures and more personalized practices.
LASIK used to make up approximately 95% of corrective eye surgeries in the United States. But now, that percentage is closer to 80% to 85%. Bottom line, LASIK numbers are declining while non-cutting procedures like Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA) and PRK are on the rise. And that’s a good thing.
Breakdown by Type of Laser Eye Surgery
Here’s a look at the estimated and projected shift of patients migrating away from LASIK toward PRK and ASA (also known as LASEK). By 2030, I expect that as high as 40% of new laser eye surgeries will be non-cutting procedures like ASA or PRK. And I will explain why.
Why LASIK Numbers are Declining
LASIK’s market share is shrinking as consumers become more aware of safer alternatives to LASIK and more suspicious of profit-focused “LASIK Mills.” In 2009, the FDA found that 46% of LASIK recipients experienced one or more visual problems after the surgery, including dry eyes, haze, halos, and starbursts.
And guess what? 2009 predates remote work, binge-watching, and TikTok. Our dramatic rise in media consumption only worsens dry eye symptoms that LASIK patients experience. With many Americans spending 10 or more hours glued to screens every day, eye dryness and digital eye strain have unfortunately become especially prevalent for people that have had LASIK surgery.
This VeryWell Health article is just one of many connecting LASIK and Dry Eyes. Countless other studies have shown that dry eyes are far more likely to occur with LASIK and other flap-cutting procedures than with procedures that don’t involve cutting your cornea (like ASA and PRK).
Why Patients Are Choosing ASA
With considerable technological advances in the last ten years, ASA offers a more precise, less invasive procedure. Here are the three main reasons a growing number of patients are choosing ASA over LASIK.
Exceptional Clinical Results
Most ASA patients achieve 20/40 vision or better after surgery.
In ASA, the laser actually works on the same surface that’s been tested. A wavescan is done prior to the procedure that gives us your unique fingerprint of your eye. Everyone has a different combination of aberrations that causes them to see blurry. In LASIK, these are corrected on a deeper level, underneath the flap. In ASA, we are working on the surface. The result is a more precise correction in ASA!
Patients who are nearsighted, farsighted or who have astigmatism experience life-changing results.
More Eligible Patients
More people qualify for ASA surgery than LASIK, including those with higher prescriptions or thin corneas. That’s because ASA doesn’t involve cutting, lifting then re-placing the superficial 20% of your cornea. Not cutting preserves 100 to 150 microns of cornea tissue and, because of this, we can treat patients with higher prescriptions than LASIK can. For example, if a patient with a -7.00 prescription isn't a good candidate for LASIK, he or she may be a good candidate for ASA.
Fewer Risks and Complications
ASA is 10x safer than LASIK when it comes to long-term complications because it doesn’t involve cutting the cornea. The cutting step is the riskiest part of LASIK.
During LASIK, the surgeon cuts a flap of the cornea. This can lead to issues with the worst being a "free flap" where the flap disconnects from the rest of the cornea. Flap-related effects include dry eyes and night time visual complaints.
What Else to Know about ASA
ASA is a form of laser refractive surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It’s a modern and refined version of Photorefractive Keratectomy (PRK). Excimer lasers work directly on the surface of the eyes to alter the shape of your cornea with precision.
You may be eligible for ASA surgery if you’re nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. If you’re over the age of 18, not pregnant, and have minimal change to your eye prescription for 12 months or longer, you’re likely eligible for ASA. The actual laser time is about 8 seconds a diopter. Think about that: in 24 seconds, it can correct 3D of myopia.
The cost of ASA ranges from $2,000 to $2,600 per eye. While there's an upfront cost, you'll have better eyesight with increased convenience and reduced vision expenses (think of all the money you spend on glasses and contact lenses!).
Schedule a free consultation to discuss your specific needs and check out my ASA Surgery page for more info.
About Moskowitz Eye Care
Moskowitz Eye Care is a boutique ophthalmology practice in New York City. One of the top-rated ophthalmologists and refractive surgeons in Manhattan, Craig Moskowitz MD, FRSCS is an international specialist in a safer, no-cut alternative to LASIK eye surgery called Advanced Surface Ablation (ASA). Dr. Moskowitz personally performs every eye examination and operation, providing a truly individualized patient experience and world-class outcomes.