Risks of Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery frees most people from having to use eyeglasses or contacts for vision correction. Laser eye surgery, in most cases is a permanent vision correction procedure. However, as any surgery, laser eye surgery can pose some risks. In many cases the risks are rare, but it is important to know the risks and how to deal with those risk when it comes to laser eye surgery.

Laser Eye Surgery

• Many people are happy with the results of refractive surgery or laser eye surgery. Laser eye surgery is beneficial because it reduces the need for glasses or contacts. Laser eye surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist and it corrects myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. Find out more about the possible risks of laser eye surgery in the following information.

Vision Problems

• Yes, laser eye surgery is suppose to correct vision; however, a possible side effect of laser eye surgery is a loss of vision or debilitating vision problems. With the loss of vision, an individual will not be able to determine certain lines on the vision chart and no amount of surgery, wearing contacts or glasses will fix this. This is a result of the laser eye treatment itself.

  After laser eye surgery, some people may experience night blindness, double vision or a glare or have halos. These effects usually take place at night or where there is low contrast like fog.

Dry-Eye Syndrome

• At times after the treatment of laser eye surgery, the eye may not be moist enough to produce tears, resulting in dry-eye syndrome. Dry-eye syndrome is uncomfortable and can reduce visibility by creating blurred vision and other vision problems. It is possible for this to be a permanent condition after surgery. If dry-eye syndrome does occur, intensive drop therapy treatment may be necessary. Intensive drop therapy is done on a patient-by-patient basis, so no one treatment is appropriate.

Age

• Many people who receive laser eye surgery may find farsightedness reappearing with the advancement of age. If this is experienced, it might be necessary for the patient to get eyeglasses with the progression of age.

Risks During and After Surgery

• Complications that might occur during laser eye surgery is equipment malfunction. Equipment may commit an error such as cutting the flap over the cornea all the way through instead of just cutting the top flap. If this does happen, the procedure may not be continued or permanent damage can be caused to the eye.

  After the initial laser eye surgery, a flap over the cornea can move, resulting in inflammation or infection of the eye. If this happens, the patient may have to undergo another surgery or get serious invasive treatment with drops. If this therapy does not correct the eye, there may be temporary of even permanent blindness depending on the situation.