Is Laser Eye Surgery Safe? Side Effects, Risks & Rewards

Is laser eye surgery safe for treating common vision problems? The answer is yes. Laser eye surgery can correct some of the most common vision problems, including:

Near-Sightedness

Also known as myopia, near-sightedness results in objects in the distance appearing blurred. This is usually a result of the eyeball being slightly longer than normal or having a cornea that is curved too sharply.

Far-Sightedness

Hyperopia (or far-sightedness) occurs when you have a shorter than average eyeball or a cornea that’s too flat, which makes light focus behind the retina instead of on it. This causes close objects to appear blurry.

Astigmatism

A cornea that curves or flattens unevenly causes astigmatism, which can lead to difficulties focusing on objects that are both near and far. 

Laser eye surgery works by reshaping the cornea, as this is responsible for the refraction of incoming light. Over the years, new methods have been developed to increase the number of people who are suitable for laser eye surgery. In a commonly used procedure such as LASIK, a thin flap of cornea is created. Once the flap is moved out of the way, a laser reshapes the underlying tissue before the flap is replaced.

Is laser eye surgery safe in terms of side effects ? Laser eye surgery can have some side effects, but thankfully most are short-lived.

Dry Eyes

It’s common to experience drier than normal eyes after surgery. Your eyes don’t produce tears as normal during recovery, which causes dry eyes. It can take up to six months for your eyes to start producing tears normally again, but in the meantime, you can use eye drops to reduce the severity.

Sore Eyes

In the hours after surgery, you may experience some eye pain or discomfort. This is normal and expected in some cases, so your ophthalmologist or doctor may recommend pain medication or drops for relief. You will need someone to drive you home after the surgery and it’s best to rest your eyes in the hours after. A plastic shield worn over the eye/s at night will protect them from any damage that may be caused by rubbing them in your sleep.

Problems with Vision

It takes time for your eyes to heal after any kind of eye surgery. It’s possible that you could experience glare in the weeks following surgery. Halos and double vision are common laser eye side effects, but in most people they are short lived. For the first few weeks after surgery, you may find it more difficult to see at night, but this side effect will pass.

How safe is eye surgery and risks associative to it ? The vast majority of laser eye surgeries are completed without any problems and patients are thrilled with the final result. However, like all surgeries, patients must be aware of the potential for risk.

Most risks are associated with existing health conditions. It’s for this reason that your surgeon will ask for a full medical history to accurately assess your level of risk. Autoimmune disorders and a weak immune system are responsible for some extra risk. Difficult to manage rheumatic conditions can also bring extra risk, in addition to diabetes and a family history of keratoconus. Injuries or diseases of the eye can also increase the risks associated with laser eye surgery, as well as some medications and hormonal changes.

Some of the risk factors or laser eye effects include:

• Glare – Some people achieve improved vision in good light, but their vision is reduced in poor light after surgery.

• Astigmatism – If tissue is removed unevenly from the eye, it may cause astigmatism.

• Loss of vision or regression – while both of these risks are rare, it is possible that complications may cause a loss of vision or for vision to slowly return to its pre-surgery prescription.
  

• Over or under corrections – when your vision after surgery has been corrected more than it should, it’s known as an over correction. Too little correction is called an under correction. A second surgery may be needed to fix these issues, usually three to six months after the initial surgery.