Why do you need laser eye surgery?

Ben Welsby 20 Nov 2021

Laser eye surgery is the most well-known and often done laser refractive surgery procedure for vision correction. LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses, is a procedure that can be used in place of spectacles or contact lenses.

Laser eye surgery uses a specialized form of cutting laser to accurately alter the shape of the dome-shaped transparent tissue in front of the eye (cornea) in order to enhance vision.

The cornea bends (refracts) light precisely onto the retina at the rear of the eye in eyes with normal vision. However, nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), or astigmatism distorts the light, resulting in distorted vision.

While glasses or contact lenses can be used to correct eyesight, reshaping the cornea can also offer the required refraction.

Why is it done?

Laser eye surgery may be a viable option for treating one of the following visual problems:

Myopia (myopia)

When your eyeball is somewhat longer than usual or the cornea is too sharply curved, light rays concentrate in front of the retina, obstructing distant vision. You can see quite clearly items that are close, but not those that are far away, but going for any type of surgery read this article http://paranewyork.com/what-are-the-best-ages-for-laser-eye-surgery/

Foresight (hyperopia).

When an eyeball is shorter than usual or the cornea is overly flat, light is focused behind the retina rather than on it. This impairs close eyesight and, in some cases, distant vision.

Astigmatism.

Astigmatism occurs when the cornea bends or flattens unevenly, interfering with the focus of close and distant vision.

You are probably already wearing glasses or contact lenses if you are considering laser eye surgery. Your eye doctor will consult with you to determine whether LASIK or any similar refractive procedure is a viable choice for you.

Risks

Complications resulting in visual loss are extremely uncommon. However, some laser eye surgery side effects, most notably dry eyes and transient vision issues such as glare, are rather prevalent.

These often resolve within a few weeks or months, and relatively few individuals regard them as a long-term issue.

The following are the risks associated with laser eye surgery:

Eyes that are dry.

Laser eye surgery temporarily reduces tear production. Your eyes may seem especially dry for the first six months or so following surgery as they recuperate. Dry eyes might impair your vision’s quality.

Your eye doctor may prescribe eye drops to alleviate dry eyes. If you have severely dry eyes, you may choose to have special plugs placed in your tear ducts to keep your tears from draining away from the surface of your eyes.

Halos, glare, and double vision.

Following your laser eye surgery, you may experience trouble seeing at night, which typically lasts a few days to a few weeks. Increased sensitivity to light, glare, halos surrounding bright lights, or double vision are all possible symptoms. Click here to learn about double vision causes and treatment.

Even if you get a satisfactory visual result under conventional testing settings, your eyesight in dim light (such as at twilight or in fog) may be diminished to a larger extent following surgery than before.

Under-corrections

If the laser destroys insufficient tissue from your eye, you will not achieve the improved vision you desire. Nearsighted individuals are more likely to require corrections. Within a year, you may require another LASIK operation to remove more tissue.

Overcorrections

Additionally, the laser may remove too much tissue from your eye. Correcting overcorrections may be more challenging than correcting under corrections.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism can be induced by the unequal loss of tissue. Additional surgery, glasses, or contact lenses may be required.

Flap issues

During surgery, folding back or removing the flap from the front of your eye might result in issues such as infection and excessive tears. During the healing process, the outermost corneal tissue layer may develop abnormally beneath the flap.

Regression

Regression occurs when your vision gradually returns to your prior prescription. This is a less often occurring problem.

Loss or alteration of vision

Occasionally, surgical complications might result in eyesight loss. Additionally, some individuals may lose their ability to see as sharply or clearly as they once did.

Conditions that exacerbate dangers

Certain health problems may raise the risks of laser eye surgery or make the outcome less predictable.

If you have specific illnesses, such as rheumatoid arthritis or a compromised immune system induced by immunosuppressive medicines or HIV, your doctor may not propose laser refractive surgery for you.

Recent changes in vision caused by drugs, hormonal changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding, or advanced age
Corneal inflammation, lid abnormalities, eye traumas, or eye illnesses such as uveitis, herpes simplex in the eye region, glaucoma, or cataracts

Laser eye surgery is generally not recommended if you have an eye disease that causes the cornea to thin and bulge, or if you have a family history of it:

have reasonably good overall vision
have severe nearsightedness
have extremely large pupils or thin corneas
have age-related eye changes that cause vision to become less clear
participate in contact sports that may involve blows to the face.

If you’re considering laser eye surgery, discuss your concerns and questions with your doctor. Your physician will determine if you are a candidate for this operation or others comparable to it.

Preparation methods

Among the steps, you may take to prepare for the laser eye surgery are the following:

• Be aware of the potential financial implications of surgery.

Because laser eye surgery is typically considered elective, most insurance companies will not pay the expense. Prepare to pay for your costs out of pocket.

• Arrange for transportation home.

You will require transportation to and from your surgical location. Immediately following surgery, you may have residual effects of the medication given prior to the laser eye surgery, and your eyesight may be hazy.

• Avoid eye makeup.

On the day before and the day of your operation, avoid using eye makeup, creams, fragrances, or lotions. Additionally, your doctor may advise you to brush your eyelashes daily or more frequently in the days preceding surgery in order to eliminate debris and reduce your risk of infection.

What to anticipate

Prior to the procedure:

Long-term LASIK outcomes are often greatest in patients who are carefully screened prior eye surgery to ensure they are suitable candidates for the treatment.

If you wear contact lenses, which have the potential to alter the curvature of your cornea, you must stop wearing them completely and only wear your spectacles for at least a few weeks prior to your examination and surgery. Your doctor will offer particular instructions based on the type of contacts you wear and the length of time you’ve been wearing contacts.