How LASIK Surgery Impacts Your Health

Whenever you start to consider any sort of medical intervention, it’s important to educate yourself on the upsides as well as any potential downsides. This is especially true with any type of surgery, and all the more true when you’re dealing with a part of the body as valuable as the eyes. 

So if you’ve been thinking about getting LASIK laser eye surgery, it’s in your best interest to understand the full scope of what laser eye surgery entails. Here’s a look at both sides of the equation. 

(Potential) Downsides

The most serious risk of LASIK is experiencing any complications from the surgery. Possible complications include a dislocation of the corneal flap that’s being made, or infections. However, complications from LASIK are extremely rare, especially if you use a qualified, licensed eye surgeon who has performed numerous procedures in their career.  Furthermore, it is important your surgeon uses the most advanced and safest laser technology which will reduce your risk even further. 

Another aspect of LASIK and eye health to keep in mind is that the surgery permanently reshapes the cornea, so what’s done cannot be reversed (at least not without another surgery). This usually doesn’t impact patients, though, since the top LASIK doctors leave patients with great vision results and no desire to undo the procedure.

Finally, it’s quite common to experience dry eyes for a short period of time after getting LASIK surgery, due to decreased tear production in the eyes. This is known to go away after the eyes are healed, however, and the discomfort can be greatly lessened by the use of prescription eye drops from your LASIK doctor.

Upsides 

The biggest benefit to having LASIK is the improved vision that occurs afterward (in the vast majority of cases). Patients can say goodbye to their contacts or glasses, and enjoy clear eyesight all day, every day.

As far as LASIK and eye health are concerned, LASIK is also gentle on the eyes and while the procedure itself may be a little uncomfortable, it’s often described as painless.

Furthermore, the recovery after laser eye surgery is very quick. Usually within a day, you feel normal and within a week, you’re back to your everyday lifestyle (with a couple of exceptions regarding water and rubbing your eyes). Also, if you ever need to have further vision enhancements, adjustments can be made after LASIK as needed.

So, there’s a look at some of the potential risks of LASIK as well as the benefits that countless patients experience. The best way to know for sure whether laser eye surgery is right for you is by scheduling a consultation with one of our eye doctors. Contact us to learn more.