Many adults have eye issues which require them to wear contacts or glasses in an effort to correct vision each day. Refractive surgery is the broad term for procedures used to resolve common eye problems, with LASIK currently the most popular of surgery options to date. Over the last several years, laser eye surgery has progressed leaps and bounds, helping hundreds of thousands of patients see better without lenses. Not everyone with common vision problems is a candidate for LASIK and other laser eye surgeries, but the procedure can be advantageous when you understand what issues it can correct and the risks involved in the process.

Correcting Common Eye Conditions

LASIK surgery and other refractive eye surgeries work to reshape the tissue beneath the cornea so light focuses properly. This specific type of surgery differs from other laser eye procedures because a flap is created on the outer layer of the cornea so the tissue beneath can be seen clearly. With the help of a specialised laser, small amounts of tissue are removed to help reshape the cornea for improved vision. Once the tissue is removed, the flap is laid back into place and the cornea heals naturally over time. In some LASIK surgeries, special technology is used to create a digital image of the eye which is used to guide the procedure from start to finish. Most patients are done with the surgery in 15 to 20 minutes, per eye, without the need for bandages or stitches afterward.

LASIK is a popular laser eye surgery because it helps correct the following common eye conditions:

• Myopia – nearsightedness that can be rectified by flattening the cornea
• Hyperopia – farsightedness, fixed by a steeper cornea
• Astigmatism – corrected by smoothing irregular cornea areas into a regular shape

With each common eye condition, LASIK has the potential to take away the need for wearing contact lenses or eyeglasses permanently. The procedure itself is pain-free for most, and it requires no significant downtime before or after. Before qualifying for LASIK, however, it is essential for an eye doctor to thoroughly examine the eyes to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure. That examination involves an analysis of the shape of the cornea, pupil size, condition present, and any other eye conditions which may be in play.

The Risks of Laser Eye Surgery

Although advancements in laser eye surgery have come quite a way over the last two decades, there are still inherent risks which should be considered prior to going through with the procedure. First, a team of experts in medical negligence claims shares that there are some patients who undergo LASIK surgery and experience adverse results, worse than daily contact or glasses wear. Chronic dry eyes can be a problem, only with painful irritation post-procedure. While nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism may be gone after LASIK, the side effects of surgery can be more troublesome and permanent. All too often, these risks are not presented to patients before surgery, making them unaware that any issues may present themselves after their vision is corrected.

In addition to dry eyes and persistent discomfort, some LASIK patients also experience a reduction in their ability to see at night. Floaters may also become a problem when the flap folded back after the cornea is reshaped. If it becomes wrinkled or does not heal properly, speckles in the vision may take place. In severe cases of incorrect surgery or prolonged healing, LASIK may also result in further operations to correct problems with the eyelids. While these side effects of laser eye surgery are few and far between, when they happen, they can take away most if not all of the benefit of having near-perfect vision.

The Good News

The risks of LASIK surgery and other vision correction treatments may present as a sound reason to avoid the procedure as a strategy for correcting vision, but the statistics show that many people have had great success. Throughout the United States, more than 700,000 LASIK surgeries are performed each year, with a success rate of 97%. Even more promising is the fact that seven out of 10 patients who undergo LASIK have 20/20 vision or better post-procedure, and more than 95% have no complaints afterward. LASIK surgery and other corrective treatments, like all medical procedures, are bound to have some potentially harmful effects, but overall, getting the right treatment for common vision problems can be a life-changing event.