What Are The Negative Effects of Laser Eye Surgery?
What Are The Negative Effects of Laser Eye Surgery? Laser eye surgery, despite its growing popularity and success rate, is not without risk. Patients who opt for this type of eye correction need to understand the potential side effects that can occur. Some of these adverse effects range from common post-operative discomforts like dry eyes, sensitivity to light or temporary blurred vision – to more severe complications with lasting impacts on vision.
In order to give you a deeper understanding about risks involved in laser eye surgery, we will delve into different categories such as common side effects, potential risks related with surgical process along with possible complications following operation. By doing so, we aim to cast light on what you might face after choosing laser eye surgery as your preferred solution.
What Are The Negative Effects of Laser Eye Surgery? Common Side Effects
Laser eye surgery has revolutionized the field of vision correction but it may also come with its share of side effects. Among them, discomfort post-operation is quite common which might include dry eyes and sensitivity to light. The tears produced naturally by our eyes help keep them clean and lubricated, however following a laser procedure patients often report experiencing dryness that can last anywhere from a few weeks to months.
In addition, some people who undergo laser eye surgery might develop sensitivity to bright lights. This could be in the form of an increased glare or halos around headlights and traffic lights at night causing difficulty while driving. Similar symptoms could present themselves during daylight as well making daily activities hard for some time post-surgery until their bodies adapt fully to these changes. Although such negative effects are temporary for most patients understanding them beforehand helps cope better post-treatment.
Potential Risks
While over eight out of ten patients adapt to laser eye surgery without substantial hitches, the treatment bears noteworthy risks. Infection is one such risk that might occur post-surgery despite best efforts at ensuring sterilization during the procedure. This could result in irritation and vision impairment needing immediate therapy with aggressive antibiotics or potentially another surgical intervention.
Furthermore, other instances of negative effects on your vision after laser eye surgery include corneal haze, undercorrection or overcorrection. Corneal haze signifies a cloudy effect often making the patient’s view appear foggy which albeit rare can be quite intrusive if it occurs. Undercorrecting refers to when less tissue than planned is removed reducing desired results whereas conversely, if more than required tissue is taken off it leads to overcorrection causing other complications depending on individual cases.
Complications
Even though a vast majority of patients achieve successful outcomes, complications following laser eye surgery can occasionally occur. A loss of vision, be it partial or complete, could persist as the most alarming complication that one may face post-surgery. Notably, this does not necessarily mean blindness but an inability to see as sharply or clearly as before even with corrective eyewear.
Another frequency reported issue concerns visual disturbances such as halos and glares around bright objects especially at night. This might hamper your ability to drive during evening hours or perform tasks in low light areas profoundly impacting your routine lifestyle. Additionally double vision is yet another complication seen in some cases where individuals perceive two images instead of one making everyday activities quite cumbersome until resolved fully over time.
Recovery and Healing Process
While the surgery itself only takes a short time, the recovery and healing process is an essential part of your journey post-laser eye surgery. Immediately after your operation, you may experience blurred or hazy vision which typically improves within a few days but can take up to several weeks for some patients. It’s also normal to feel itching or burning in the eyes during early stages of recovery and developing dry eyes which tend to resolve over time.
In line with this, it is vital that you adhere strictly to prescribed post-operative care while healing progresses including regular follow-up examinations scheduled by your surgeon. These check-ups are crucial in assessing how well your eyes are healing, checking for signs of infection or complications as well as guaranteeing visual acuity improvements. The key here lies in patience; understanding that most side effects gradually fade over several months allows individuals traverse their recovery paths with less uncertainty.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common side effect of laser eye surgery?
Dry eyes and temporary visual disturbances like glare, halos or double vision are quite common post- treatment but subside over time.
How long does it usually take to recover from laser eye surgery?
While every individual heals at their own pace typically improvement in vision becomes noticeable within a few days post-surgery. Full recovery including disappearing of minor side effects can stretch into several months.
Are complications from laser eye surgery permanent?
Most complications arising as negative effects of laser eye surgeries resolve through time and proper aftercare. However, in rare scenarios such as severe infection or incorrect procedure there might be more lasting impacts on vision which must immediately be addressed by medical professionals. This article has been intended for informational purposes only and should not substitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.
