How many lasik procedures are performed per year in USA?

With a pool of about 43 million candidates for refractive surgery in the US alone, one would assume that there should be millions performed every year on patients to correct their vision with Lasik surgery. And you might be surprised to know that only 12 million of Lasik patients have undergone the procedure since it was first approved in 1995.

Also, the average age of the refractive surgery candidate with myopia is 40 years and with hyperopia, 55 years. This would mean that this segment of the population should be financially able to afford a procedure that cost less than $2000.00.

It is reported that ninety-six percent of refractive procedures performed today are laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK). Ophthalmologists, or Eye MDs, have known for more that a century that surgically modifying the shape of the cornea, the clear outer layer of the eye, could correct refractive error.

Besides price, the key factors in the decision to have refractive surgery are candidacy, effectiveness of the procedure, and safety. Put another way, refractive surgery prospects

Approximately 700,000 LASIK procedures are performed annually, making it one of the most common surgeries in the United States. More than 90 percent of people who have LASIK achieve 20/20 to 20/40 vision and are able to perform all or most of their daily activities without glasses or contact lenses.

So what are the questions that patients are most likely to ask:

 Can you correct my prescription with surgery? (candidacy)

 Will I be 20/20 after surgery? (effectiveness)

 What can go wrong? (safety)

 How much will it cost? (price)

Looking at the numbers released from the American Academy of Ophthalmology , the number of eye surgery when from about 1.2 million procedures a year to about 750,000 projected for 2011. And studies have shown time and again, a direct correlation between the number of Lasik procedures performed per year, and the general economy. Any downturn in household income or consumer index sentiment has a measurable effect on the number of patients seeking the lasik surgery.

For more info about Lasik check out  http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/lasik/lasers.htm.