“Are There Any LASIK Side Effects?”

 Top 5 Parents' Q&As Answered by an Optometrist

Hello, this is BGN Eye Clinic at Jamsil Lotte Tower.

Today, we would like to address the questions that parents, rather than patients themselves, frequently ask us. A significant portion of our patients considering vision correction procedures such as LASIK, LASEK, and SMILE LASIK are in their 20s. Especially during school vacation periods, we receive a high volume of inquiries, visits, and surgery bookings from university students. Naturally, this leads to many inquiries from the parents who accompany them.

It is completely understandable for parents to feel anxious when their children decide to undergo eye surgery. Whenever parents mention reading negative online reviews telling people not to get LASIK, we deeply empathize with their concern. Because it involves their child, parents naturally want complete reassurance that this is truly a safe and right choice.

Therefore, today we have compiled and detailed the most common questions from parents from an optometrist's perspective, just as we would during an actual consultation. If you are currently concerned about your child's upcoming vision correction surgery, we hope this guide provides clarity and peace of mind.

Vision Correction Surgery for Your Child: Top Parents' Q&A

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. Parents want to confirm beyond doubt that the procedure is medically safe.

At BGN Eye Clinic, we utilize state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and comprehensive pre-operative examinations to thoroughly assess the patient's eye condition. We only proceed with surgery when strict medical eligibility criteria are fully met. We evaluate more than 10 critical parameters, including corneal thickness, astigmatism axis, and refractive error. Based on these precise results, we determine surgical candidacy and guide you through accurate, personalized medical consultations.

The human eye does not stop aging or changing simply because it has undergone surgery. Just like other organs such as the hands or brain, the eyes can undergo subtle, natural changes over time due to aging, fatigue, and environmental factors.

Occasionally, parents worry that post-operative changes in vision represent a complication or side effect, but in most cases, these are simply natural physiological changes over time.

For patients with high myopia or thin corneas, we may intentionally leave a minimal degree of refractive error during surgery to prioritize long-term ocular safety. Additionally, as patients age and experience presbyopia, many choose supplementary reading glasses to optimize distant or near focus.

In the vast majority of cases, patients enjoy their daily lives completely free of glasses after surgery. The core objective is ensuring that vision correction is tailored to each patient's specific ocular profile, providing maximum daily comfort and clarity.

This is another top concern brought up by parents! There is often a clear difference in perspective between university-aged patients and their guardians. Students are eager to undergo surgery promptly now that they are adults, while parents worry whether it might be premature. We frequently observe this debate during actual consultations.

Generally, physical growth stops once an individual reaches adulthood. If the patient meets all necessary medical criteria, they can decide on surgery following a thorough evaluation with our surgeons. The reason many people consider surgery in their 20s or 30s relates to optimal recovery speed and eye health. Since presbyopia typically begins after age 40, many choose to consult with us prior to that stage.

Most importantly, our clinic prioritizes listening to, empathizing with, and making decisions together with parents. In fact, we frequently advise: “It is perfectly fine to complete only the examination today, discuss it thoroughly with your parents at home, and return together later.”

Legally, adults have the full autonomy to decide on surgical procedures independently. However, we strongly encourage open discussion and mutual agreement with parents before proceeding.

In practice, our optometrists frequently speak directly with parents over the phone or provide additional detailed explanations before the surgery date. We firmly believe that creating an environment where the family feels entirely reassured and aligned yields the highest overall satisfaction after surgery.

Parents often ask about our surgeons' qualifications during phone inquiries or consultations. This serves as their final reassurance that they have chosen the right clinic.

The chief surgeons at BGN Eye Clinic are board-certified ophthalmologists with extensive clinical and surgical experience. Details regarding surgeon schedules and specialties are fully provided during consultations, and direct physician discussions are always arranged when needed.

It is entirely natural for parents to worry about whether the surgery is safe and whether their child might regret it later. We believe parental concern is simply another expression of love.

That is why our consultations aim not only to explain surgical technicalities, but also to build genuine trust with parents. As optometrists, we strive in every session to explain every step of the procedure clearly while easing any underlying anxiety.

Our most rewarding moments come when parents tell us that their minds are completely at ease after our discussion. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to BGN Eye Clinic at Jamsil Lotte Tower anytime.