SACRAMENTO, Calif.--Patients who have had laser vision correction now have a better chance of getting positive results from the surgery, according to the nonprofit Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance (www.usaeyes.org), which evaluates patient outcomes and certifies Lasik surgeons. The organization said a review of U.S. Food and Drug Administration clinical trials, peer-reviewed data and individual patient outcomes indicates that 90 percent of patients who have had all types of refractive surgery, including Lasik and lens implants, achieve 20/40 vision or better, and 65 percent achieve 20/20 vision.

The positive change is attributed to improved technology, refined techniques, new procedures and better patient selection.

The analysis included nearsighted, farsighted, all available types of refractive surgery including laser and lens implants and all types of patients.

Approximately 3 percent of patients had some sort of unresolved complication six months after surgery, with 0.5 percent of those problems serious enough to require extensive maintenance or invasive correction.