Laser Eye Surgery: No More Glasses?

Laser eye surgery is becoming more and more popular, and many different types of people are taking advantage of this new surgery. People who have lost their glasses for that last time. People who have had problems with their contacts. Athletes and those in high-risk jobs who need to see but may not be able to wear glasses or contacts. People who want to simply want to improve their appearance, but do not want the hassle of ordering many different pairs of glasses, or have to worry about contacts. As laser eye surgery becomes more readily available, the demographics become more and more diverse.

But what is laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery clears vision by reshaping the cornea in a non-invasive way-with a laser. There are two well-known types (or brands) of laser eye surgery, LASIK and PRK. Both of these surgeries do the same thing, however they differ in their approach.

The PRK procedure removes the upper layer of the cornea by etching it off with the laser. The LASIK surgery cuts a flap in the eye to remove the top layer of the cornea. The end result is the same-the cornea is reshaped and changing the way the eye interprets information. Most of the post-operative symptoms are the same, however, there are some minor differences.

While both laser eye surgery procedures are considered low risk and can be done quickly, there are always possible complications when having any surgery performed.

Most patients will deal with some amount of pain or discomfort for a few days. Blurred vision and sensitivity to light are also common and usually clears in the days following surgery although some may find continued symptoms for months and even fewer may find the symptoms are permanent. Other complications (due to scarring) can potentially cause permanent damage to vision, although additional surgery can sometimes correct this.

As with all surgeries there is a potential risk of infection. It is generally advised to have each eye operated on separately instead of at the same time to reduce the chance of infection in both eyes. Most infections can be cleared with medication, especially if treated right away.

Even with laser eye surgery, it is still possible to continue to need corrective lenses, though you should be able to get by with a weaker prescription. This is due to another complication-under- or overcorrection of vision. This happens when the laser removes too much or not enough of the cornea to create perfect 20/20 vision. Under-corrected vision may be fixed with further surgery, but overcorrected vision is permanent.

As with every other surgery, you need to be able to have confidence in your surgeon. If you have any unanswered questions, do some research on your own, speak with your doctor, and continue to ask questions until you are satisfied.