Are you thinking about ditching your spectacles or contact lenses in favor of undergoing laser vision correction (LVC)? Or are your patients asking for information about the procedure? Then you’re in good company, as patients are increasingly looking to invest in permanently correcting their vision and living a lens-free lifestyle. That’s according to the Refractive Surgery Council (RSC), an organization dedicated to providing consumers with high-quality information about LVC surgery.
The RSC reports that the total number of LVC procedures in the last quarter of 2021 reached 190,509 — a year-to-date increase of 32% over the same period and a remarkable rise on previous reports. The council also revealed that the total number of procedures performed in the United States in 2021 reached 833,000. According to the RSC, this is the highest recorded number since the council began tracking LVC procedures in the U.S. and highlights the public’s shift toward refractive surgery options.
The number of LVC procedures performed in the U.S. over the last year reflects the considerable choice patients now enjoy, according to RSC Chairman Jim Wachtman. These options include LASIK, SMILE, PRK and other variations. With the total number of Americans eligible for LVC estimated to reach 165 million, demand is likely to rise even further.
“We can confidently state LASIK, SMILE and other laser vision correction procedures are trending upwards. Looking at the historical data, it is clear 2021’s performance is reflective of a renewed consumer interest in and demand for the procedures, not just about catching up from pandemic-related disruptions,” said Wachtman.
“Given the trend in people prioritizing their personal goals, we are very optimistic about 2022,” he added.
“The burgeoning epidemic of myopia, combined with the intense digital lifestyle consumers lead today, bring LASIK, SMILE and other vision correction procedures into focus,” said Dr. Richard Lindstrom, founder and attending surgeon emeritus at Minnesota Eye Consultants, and member of the RSC’s Advisory Board. “Couple this with the many exciting diagnostic, treatment and technology advancements in the field of ophthalmology, it becomes increasingly important for patients to make a point of scheduling their annual eye exams to ensure they are taking advantage of the latest innovations in eye and vision care,” he said.
Formed in 2010, the Refractive Surgery Council enjoys a membership comprised of industry representatives from Alcon, Johnson & Johnson Vision Surgical, Staar Surgical, Zeiss and Ziemer, as well as medical organizations, including the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), the American-European Congress of Ophthalmic Surgery (AECOS), the International Society for Refractive Surgery (ISRS), and the Refractive Surgery Alliance Society (RSA).
