Wise EYES Guys Podcast — Episode 3
Is it normal to be nervous about LASIK or another vision correction procedure? Absolutely—and for some people, that fear can be strong enough to prevent them from even exploring their options.
In Episode 3 of Wise EYES Guys, Dr. Andrew Holzman, Dr. Jonathan Solomon, and Dr. Sonny Goel have a candid conversation about fear, anxiety, and vision correction. They discuss the concerns they hear from patients, misconceptions about eye surgery, how they help nervous patients feel more comfortable, and why education, communication, and careful patient selection are so important when considering a procedure.
In This Episode
The Wise EYES Guys discuss:
- Why fear of eye surgery is a normal response
- Common fears patients have about LASIK and vision correction
- Fear of blinking or moving during LASIK
- Misconceptions about pain, recovery, and how long LASIK results last
- Why some patients never make it to a consultation because of anxiety
- How education can help replace fear of the unknown
- The role of trust and communication between a patient and surgeon
- Why surgeons don't operate on everyone who wants vision correction
- How candidacy and diagnostic testing contribute to safety
- LASIK, EVO ICL, RLE, and other refractive options
- How social media and misinformation can amplify fear
- The importance of the overall patient experience
- Why technical surgical skill is only one part of being a good surgeon
Is It Normal to Be Afraid of LASIK or Eye Surgery?
Fear surrounding an eye procedure is something all three doctors encounter regularly. As Dr. Holzman explains during the episode, patients frequently express some version of the same concern: “These are my eyes.” That makes anxiety about allowing someone to operate on them an understandable emotional response.
But there's another group the doctors don't necessarily get to meet—the people interested in improving their vision who are so concerned about surgery that they never schedule a consultation.
The doctors' goal isn't necessarily to eliminate fear. Instead, they discuss helping patients understand what will happen, what their options are, and whether they are actually good candidates so that fear of the unknown can be replaced with information and perspective.
“What If I Blink or Move During LASIK?”
One of the most common misconceptions Dr. Holzman discusses is the belief that patients somehow need to keep their own eyes open throughout LASIK.
They don't.
The doctors explain that the eyelids are held open during the procedure, so patients don't have to worry about accidentally blinking at the wrong moment.
It's a relatively simple misconception, but it's also an example of how not knowing what actually happens during a procedure can create unnecessary anxiety.
Patients may similarly arrive expecting LASIK to take much longer than it actually does. Dr. Goel describes telling patients that the procedure itself is relatively quick, which can help reduce some of the anxiety surrounding what they imagine will happen.
Common Myths That Can Make Vision Correction Seem Scarier
The doctors identify several misconceptions they've encountered from prospective patients, including concerns that:
- They won't be able to keep their eyes open
- LASIK will be painful
- Recovery will take weeks
- LASIK only lasts for a certain number of years
- Astigmatism cannot be treated
- Their prescription automatically makes them ineligible for vision correction
- Vision correction surgery carries an unusually high risk of losing vision
The problem, according to the doctors, is that these beliefs can sometimes stop someone from even having their eyes evaluated.
An evaluation doesn't commit a patient to surgery. Instead, it allows the surgeon to perform the necessary testing, understand the patient's goals, and determine whether LASIK—or potentially another vision correction option—is appropriate.
Why Patient Selection Matters
One of Dr. Holzman's recurring messages in the episode is that not everyone who wants LASIK should have LASIK.
He explains that his practice turns away a meaningful percentage of people evaluated for laser vision correction because something makes them less than an excellent candidate.
The doctors discuss factors such as corneal shape, corneal thickness, uncontrolled dry eye, keratoconus, ectasia, and other findings that may affect candidacy for laser vision correction.
For some patients, another approach such as EVO ICL may be worth exploring. For others, the appropriate recommendation may be not to undergo refractive surgery.
That screening process is an important part of refractive surgery safety: the objective isn't simply to perform a procedure, but to identify the appropriate procedure for the appropriate patient—or recommend no procedure when that's the better choice.
How Surgeons Help Nervous Patients Feel More Comfortable
Technical skill is only part of being a surgeon.
Drs. Holzman, Solomon, and Goel spend a significant portion of the episode discussing the seemingly small things that can change a patient's experience: sitting down with the patient, slowing the conversation, reading body language, answering questions, explaining what's happening, and making sure the patient doesn't feel rushed.
Dr. Goel describes intentionally lowering his voice and slowing down when speaking with an anxious patient. Dr. Holzman similarly discusses changing his demeanor on surgery days and communicating with patients throughout their procedures.
The doctors describe this combination of experience, education, empathy, and communication as an important part of building confidence and helping patients manage their anxiety.
Can Social Media Make Fear of LASIK Worse?
The doctors also discuss the role the internet and social media may play in shaping perceptions of vision correction.
Someone researching LASIK today can encounter enormous amounts of information before ever speaking with an eye doctor—including individual stories of negative experiences that can spread widely online.
Dr. Holzman suggests that highly negative experiences may receive disproportionate attention on social media compared with the much larger number of patients who have routine experiences and simply move on with their lives.
The broader point isn't that patients shouldn't research a procedure. It's that online anecdotes don't determine whether a particular individual is an appropriate candidate.
That's what comprehensive diagnostic testing and an individualized consultation are designed to establish.
The Importance of Trusting Your Surgeon
Dr. Holzman brings a personal perspective to the discussion. At the time of recording, he was preparing to undergo hip replacement surgery himself. He describes initially being frightened, then becoming more comfortable as he researched the procedure and met with different surgeons.
He ultimately chose the physician with whom he felt the greatest confidence and rapport—not simply because of technical qualifications, but because the surgeon took time to ask about him, his activities, and how the procedure would affect his life.
That experience reinforced something the three doctors emphasize about their own patients: people want to know that the physician treating them understands them as a person.
For someone considering vision correction, choosing a surgeon isn't only about technology or price. Experience, communication, trust, appropriate screening, and individualized care all matter.
Fear Doesn't Necessarily Mean You're Making the Wrong Decision
Being nervous doesn't automatically mean a patient shouldn't proceed with a procedure. Fear can simply reflect the importance of the decision.
Dr. Holzman describes the objective not as eliminating fear entirely, but replacing fear of the unknown with understanding, perspective, and confidence.
That's ultimately why the doctors encourage interested patients to become educated about their options. A consultation can determine whether someone is a candidate, answer their questions, and give them the information they need to decide whether vision correction is right for them.
Considering Vision Correction?
If fear or uncertainty has kept you from exploring vision correction, the first step isn't committing to a procedure. It's finding out what options may be appropriate for your eyes, your vision, and your goals.
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