Afraid of laser vision correction? Here are 5 reasons why you shouldn’t

Interesting facts Last updated:  3 min

If you have a dioptre that bothers you, you don’t like wearing glasses, you have enough complications with contact lenses, etc. You are probably one of the people who wishes to have laser vision correction. But, on the other hand, you also feel fear that prevents you from realizing your desire.

Laser vision correction

Like any other surgery, laser vision correction carries a certain degree of risk. Nevertheless, this intervention is one of the most frequently performed in the world, with a success and safety rate of over 95% (out of 100 operated patients, 95 patients are completely and permanently removed from the dioptre). More than 45 million people around the world have undergone the laser vision correction, and that number is constantly increasing.

1. It is not possible to become blind from laser beams

One of the most common misconceptions is that laser vision correction can lead to blindness. Research by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shows that not a single such case has been registered in the world. On the other hand, any complications after surgery are very rare (in only 1% of cases) and can be remedied with timely treatment. The most dangerous complication is eye infection, which occurs in one out of 5,000 procedures performed (0.02%) and can also be cured. 

2. Laser vision correction is completely painless

Laser vision correction
Before the start of the operation, the patient is instilled several times with anesthetic drops, which make the intervention completely painless. If the patient is scared and tense, he will be given a sedative before the operation, which will further relax him. During the operation, the patient is awake and in constant contact with the doctor. According to the patients, the only thing that is felt in the eye is the water that is used to rinse, the slight pressure of the brush in the PRK technique or the microkeratome in the LASIK technique.

3. If you move your eyes during the procedure, you will not jeopardize the operation

Lasers of the new generation represent extremely precise and sophisticated equipment, constructed so that the possibility of any error is reduced to a minimum. A high level of security enables the so-called eye tracker – a device for tracking eye movements at a speed of 400 movements per second. Thanks to this device, the laser will work only when the cornea is centered, which means that even without the cooperation of the patient, it is not possible to make a mistake. Also, during the operation, the patient’s eye is gently opened with a special holder, so that blinking is impossible. 

4. The effect of the operation is practically immediately visible

Laser vision correction
Laser vision correction of both eyes takes only about 10 minutes, while the correction of one dioptre takes only 2.5 seconds. The effect of good vision is immediately visible, which patients can see by looking at the clock on the wall of the operating room. Depending on the technique with which the operation was performed, vision stabilization is achieved within 5 to 14 days.

5. Recovery of the entire diopter is very rare

The most common fear of patients is the return of diopters. Research has shown that in the correction of myopia, the percentage of dioptre recovery is up to 5%, and in the correction of farsightedness and/or high astigmatism (over 3.0D) up to 10%. Even if the residual diopter returns, it does not exceed 15% of the initial diopter before the operation. If the remaining dioptre is a nuisance to the patient, it is possible to carry out retreatment and remove it no earlier than three months after the operation.

Source: http://www.eyecare2020.com/blog/2016/01/afraid-of-lasik-5-reasons-you-shouldnt-be/