The Risks And Complications Of Laser Eye Surgery

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Before you read the article, I highly recommend you go over our Laser Eye Treatment FAQ

What are the risks and complications of laser eye surgery? Most people who undergo laser eye surgery are amazed with the results. But, just like all other medical surgical procedures, there are risks and side effects attached to it. Thus, it is imperative that you consider the risks and complications of laser eye surgery when deciding whether to adopt such a treatment. This article would assist you along this endeavour.

To understand the complications of laser eye surgery, we must first comprehend what laser eye surgery means. LASIK eye surgery which is the most common of all laser eye procedures, involves the use of a laser or ‘microkeratome’ which cuts a small flap of the cornea’s surface. After which the flap is lifted and the laser reshapes the cornea and then the flap is placed back gently. Using a laser during this procedure allows more precision and thus fewer complications are expected to rise. However, if the flap is not accurately cut, this may lead to the cornea’s failure to perform. Such complications can lead to an improper shaped eye which can cause blurry vision and astigmatism.

Vision Loss: One very serious but rare laser eye surgery risk is ‘vision loss.’ Few laser eye surgery patients have experienced such vision loss which cannot be improved or corrected with contacts, glasses, or second surgery.

Debilitating Visual Symptoms: Patients have also indicated to experiencing double, halos or glare vision after laser eye surgery. Consequently, this can cause adverse night vision complications. Some patients may even see worse than they did before the laser eye treatment.

Under Treatment Or Over Treatment: After laser eye surgery, only few and limited patients obtain 20/20 correction vision without contacts or spectacles. For those who wore glasses or lenses before might still need them after the laser surgical procedure.

Severe Dry Eye Syndrome: after laser eye surgery, patients might find it difficult to produce tears to keep their eyes moist, which can lead to discomfort, reduce vision quality, and blur vision. To treat this complication patients would consider ‘intensive eye drop therapy’. Dry eye syndrome however can be a permanent complication that patients must endure.

Results Diminishing With Age: Another risk factor of laser eye surgery is that its results may decrease in due time. This risk is most common among far sighted vision patients.

The risks and complications of laser eye surgery are very alarming and must be considered if you wish to undergo such a procedure. As for the newer laser eye surgical procedures that have only just been developed, its safety and long term effectiveness cannot be determined thus far.

Nevertheless, care must be given when selecting the best LASIK eye surgeon and clinic to undergo your laser surgical procedure. You must also ensure that the particular laser eye clinic has well maintained laser eye surgical equipments. Additionally, having a qualified and experienced eye surgeon would ensure you of safety, effective monitoring, and comfort if any complications happen to arise unexpectedly.

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Who Can Have Laser Eye Surgery?

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Who can have laser eye surgery? Those who are dependent on contact lenses or glasses may wonder whether laser eye surgery is the ideal solution for their eye vision problems or not. Numerous people undergo laser eye surgery to correct their vision, but you must first consult your doctor to see if you are a proper candidate for laser eye surgery. If you are not an ideal candidate and you still underwent this surgery then you would be faced with numerous potential risks and complications that can exacerbate your overall vision.

If you are undergoing laser eye surgery, the first thing you should know, is whether your eye surgeon is fully licensed and qualified to perform this laser eye procedure(Is Laser Eye Surgery Safe?). You may be shocked as to the relatively high numbers of unlicensed ophthalmologist there are in the laser eye surgery field today. So please don’t hesitate to ask your doctor for proof of certification. You must also ask your eye surgeon how many times he has performed these procedures and how successful were they. Remember, it is your right as a consumer to ask these questions.

You must also learn the risks that are involved with laser eye surgery. Numerous people who undergo this surgery have learned that there vision has not improved and they are still faced with the hassle of wearing contact lenses and glasses to combat their night vision, near sightedness, and far sightedness vision problems. You must also understand that this procedure may in fact improve your vision problem, but it will not give you 20/20 vision. In fact you should actually prepare yourself for‘less than perfect eyesight’.

As we all know laser eye surgery is very expensive, so it is wise that you talk this out with your insurance carrier because in most cases, they would cover partial costs of the procedure expenses.

Laser eye surgery is not recommended for children under the age of eighteen, as they lack refractive stability since their eyes are still undergoing development. Other unsuitable candidates include breastfeeding mothers, pregnant women, individuals who take medications, and people with diabetes.

The best effective way of knowing if you are a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery, is for you to consult your doctor or health care provider. You can also consult your ophthalmologist or eye doctor as he would be well formulated with the laser eye procedure and what risks and benefits it can pose upon your vision. People who have herpes or shingles surrounding their eyes, or other eye diseases such as glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and keratoconus, should share this vital information to their eye doctor.

So if you are pondering upon just ‘who can have laser eye surgery’? Then it is imperative that you consult your doctor for he would know whether you are a good candidate for laser eye surgery or not. You should also inform him of any eye diseases or conditions that are you have. And you should also at the same time consider the potential risks and complications attached to this surgery. You can educate yourself with the topic by doing your own research beforehand.

You should also know the types of laser eye surgery.

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