Laser eye surgery is a popular vision correction procedure that can help people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. It works by reshaping the cornea, the transparent front part of the eye, so that light focuses on the retina at the back of the eye. FemtoLASIK is a type of LASIK surgery that uses a laser to remodel the cornea. While laser eye surgery can provide many benefits, there are also some potential risks and side effects.
The most common side effect of laser eye surgery is a temporary decrease in tear production. This can cause difficulty seeing at night and dry eyes, which usually lasts a few days to a few weeks. Dry eye after LASIK and PRK occurs because the superficial nerve endings on the surface of the cornea need to regenerate and heal. Nerves regenerate in 6 to 12 weeks, and during this time the eyes tend to dry out.
Infection is another potential risk of laser eye surgery. Fortunately, the risk of infection is extremely small, with IntraLasik representing the lowest risk of all. The overall risk of infection after using IntraLasik in very good eye centers is 1 in 10,000 cases. Complications in the flap, such as eyelets, partial flaps and irregular fragmented flaps, have been described in Lasik laser eye surgery with a blade.
However, these complications are now rare since the introduction of the IntraLase femtosecond laser for creating flaps. Another potential complication is corneal instability. This is a condition in which the cornea is more elastic than normal and, after laser eye surgery, it can become unstable. A study found that 94% of people who underwent laser surgery to correct their vision were able to avoid using physical correction tools, such as eyeglasses and contact lenses, even 5 years later. However, approximately 1 in 10 people who undergo laser surgery need follow-up procedures for the best results. It's important to note that health insurance plans may not cover elective vision correction procedures such as LASIK.
Additionally, there are health problems and eye conditions that increase the likelihood of a suboptimal result, so it's important to see an eye doctor for a thorough review of your medical history before undergoing laser eye surgery. For a few days or a few weeks after laser eye surgery (with both LASIK and surface ablation), ALL patients have halos. While this is normal and should go away over time, it's important to be aware of this potential side effect before undergoing laser eye surgery. Overall, laser eye surgery can provide many benefits for those who are nearsighted or farsighted or have astigmatism. However, it's important to be aware of potential risks and side effects before undergoing any type of vision correction procedure.
