Eye Laser Surgery: Advantages, Disadvantages, and Preparation Essentials
Laser eye surgeries, such as LASIK and PRK, are popular procedures for correcting vision issues like astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness. These surgeries reshape the cornea to ensure light focuses properly on the retina, offering excellent long-term vision outcomes for most patients.
Long-term Effects
Most patients achieve 20/20 vision or better after LASIK or PRK, with vision clarity stabilizing in 1 to 3 months after PRK and typically faster after LASIK. It's important to note that while the correction is considered permanent, natural changes in vision due to aging, such as presbyopia, can still occur over time independently of the surgery.
Potential Risks and Complications
While laser eye surgeries are generally safe, they do carry risks. Visual disturbances like halos, glare, starbursts, or glare around lights, especially at night, are possible side effects. These phenomena usually diminish or resolve with time but may persist in some cases.
Dry eyes are another common issue, particularly with LASIK due to the corneal flap creation that can affect tear production. PRK patients may also experience temporary dry eye, but less frequently long-term. Flap-related complications, such as dislodgement or corneal scarring, are specific risks associated with LASIK.
Under- or over-correction may require enhancements or additional procedures. Light sensitivity is another potential side effect, which usually resolves within weeks. PRK has a longer healing time, with vision stabilizing up to 3 months compared to a few days to weeks for LASIK.
Special Considerations
The choice between LASIK and PRK depends on individual factors such as corneal thickness, lifestyle, and risk tolerance. PRK may be preferred for people with thinner or irregular corneas or those involved in activities where a corneal flap could be dislodged.
Important Considerations
Patients should consult an experienced ophthalmologist to assess which procedure best fits their eyes and lifestyle while considering these long-term effects and potential risks. It's crucial to thoroughly research laser eye surgery providers to ensure quality and avoid complications.
After surgery, a person may feel sensations such as burning, itchiness, or a foreign object in their eye. They will be provided with an eye shield to protect their eyes and advised to take a few days off from work for recovery. Lubricating eye drops can help with dry eyes after laser eye surgery.
Sometimes, laser eye surgery may accidentally over- or under-correct a person's sight, requiring further surgery to rectify. Complications and risks associated with laser eye surgery include developing eye infections, having significant cataracts, having glaucoma, having large pupils, having keratoconus, and experiencing complications common to all surgeries.
Vision can vary for the initial few months following surgery. Corrected vision can regress years after the procedure. It may take up to 6 months for a person's vision to stabilize after laser eye surgery.
Laser eye surgery, specifically LASIK, is a common type of refractive eye surgery that reshapes the cornea to correct vision issues. The benefits include not having to wear corrective eyewear, being unable to wear contact lenses but preferring not to wear glasses, and the convenience of not having to wear corrective eyewear for activities such as sports.
However, laser eye surgery may not correct presbyopia, the need for reading glasses as people age. An individual should schedule an appointment to see their eye doctor within the first 24-48 hours after surgery to undergo an eye examination.
People who are not suitable candidates for laser eye surgery include those with a change in their eye prescription in the last 12 months, those taking medications that may affect vision, those under 18 years old, those with thin corneas, those who are pregnant or nursing, and those with certain eye conditions such as keratitis, ocular herpes, significant cataracts, glaucoma, large pupils, and keratoconus.
The cost of LASIK surgery varies depending on location and equipment used, with an average cost of around $4,200 per eye in 2020. The laser will cut a flap in the cornea, and the surgeon will then lift this open and reshape the surface of the cornea. LASIK was first patented in 1989 and is used to treat refractive errors, which occur when the eye does not properly focus light on the retina due to the shape of the cornea.
- Pursuing a career in the field of health and wellness, one might consider the impact of medical-conditions like dry eyes on eye-health, especially after undergoing a LASIK or PRK procedure.
- In the realm of fitness-and-exercise, athletes who rely solely on their vision for performance may have to consider the potential risks and complications associated with LASIK, such as visual disturbances, and weigh these against the benefits of corrective eye surgeries.
- To maintain overall health and wellbeing, it's essential for an individual to follow a balanced diet rich in nutrients that support eye-health, as certain medical-conditions like presbyopia may not be treatable through laser eye surgeries like LASIK.
