You know, I continue to be amazed when patients come in for evaluations and ask questions, questions that we've solved many years ago. It really speaks to the question why are there so many myths surrounding LASIK, and why is there so much misinformation that still exists 16 years after the introduction of LASIK, and nearly nine years after the introduction of the blade-free approach called IntraLase.
And I suppose it's probably due to the fact that there is a $10 billion industry that is designed and makes its income from keeping you in your glasses and your contact lenses. And what we'd like to do is to answer these myths, and clear up these myths for you, in these little segments.
About 50% of patients that I currently treat with LASIK have previously been told they're not candidates for LASIK. Now it's certainly possible for you to have a characteristic of your eye that makes you less than an ideal candidate. The technology we have in 2012 lets me identify that rare person.
But over 95% of the people that come in thinking they're not candidates, are excellent candidates for LASIK. And my invitation to you is come, have the evaluation with me, there's no charge the appointment, you'll find out once and for all, am I a candidate for LASIK? And I bet I'll have a very pleasant surprise for you, that you are a candidate for LASIK.
