Statistics on LASIK and Other Refractive Surgery

More than 17 million people worldwide have had LASIK or other laser refractive surgery. About eight million laser vision correction procedures have been performed in the United States — A leading ophthalmic industry researcher, 2007.

The number of laser vision correction procedures performed annually in the United States has remained relatively unchanged over the past several years. Approximately 1.3 million procedures were performed each year in 2004, 2005 and 2006, and it was estimated that another 1.3 million would be performed in 2007 — TLC Vision Corp. 2006 Annual Report.

Of those having vision correction surgery in 2005, 54 percent were male and 46 percent were female. — VisionWatch (Jobson Medical Information LLC and Vision Council of America).

Over half (56 percent) of those having vision correction surgery in 2005 were within the age group of 18 to 34. — VisionWatch.

In surveys of consumers conducted by VisionWatch for the six-month period ending December 2006, only 57 percent of respondents said they were "somewhat aware" of the vision correction surgery procedures that are available.

Approximately 50 percent of the LASIK surgeries performed in the United States in 2005 were custom, wavefront-guided procedures. — American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS).

About 25 percent of the LASIK surgeries performed in the United States in 2005 were bladeless, all-laser procedures using an IntraLase femtosecond laser to create the corneal flap. — IntraLase Corp.

When surveyed three or more months after surgery, 70 percent of LASIK patients said they felt "amazed and delighted that I could see so well." — VisionWatch (data for six-month period ending December 2006.)

A Gallup poll in late 2003 revealed a lack of public knowledge about LASIK:

Seventy-three percent of respondents said they knew nothing at all about new advances in the field, such as wavefront technology, with more than 67 percent saying they knew little or nothing about LASIK in general.
Eighty-five percent of those who had considered LASIK said it was important to alleviate their dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses, but 56 percent admitted they had never spoken with a doctor about the procedure.
Eighty-six percent of those who had considered LASIK appeared to be waiting for a safer laser eye surgery procedure.

The poll involved 1,000 people who wear eyeglasses or contact lenses and who have never had laser eye surgery. — Alcon Inc. commissioned the poll.