| Laser eye treatment is a well-established | | | | comfortable. Dry eye does not only create |
| form of treatment today and as we continue to | | | | discomfort, but visual quality may be |
| see advances in technology and there is | | | | lessened due to intermittent blurring. This |
| further and wider acceptance of this form of | | | | condition could well be permanent. Intensive |
| treatment, so ever more people are turning to | | | | eye drop treatment or further surgery might |
| laser eye surgery as an alternative to | | | | be needed. |
| contact lenses or glasses. | | | | |
| | | | Problems with a Perfect Procedure: Even when |
| But what are the risks of laser eye | | | | everything goes smoothly, there are effects |
| treatment? | | | | that could cause some dissatisfaction. Older |
| | | | patients should be aware that they cannot |
| Although the chances of encountering a | | | | have both good near vision and good distance |
| serious vision-threatening complication, or | | | | vision in the same eye without the use of |
| severe eye injury, as a result of laser eye | | | | corrective lenses. Several myopic patients |
| treatment are very small indeed, treatment is | | | | rely on their condition (by taking off their |
| not risk-free and in this brief article we | | | | glasses, or by wearing a weaker prescription) |
| will look at some of the more frequently seen | | | | when they need to read. These patients might |
| problems. | | | | well need to use reading glasses after the |
| | | | myopia has been surgically corrected. |
| Excessive Corneal Haze: As part of the normal | | | | |
| healing process, corneal haze can occur after | | | | Flap Damage or Loss: Occasionally, the flap |
| laser eye surgery. Usually, it has very | | | | of tissue which is supposed to remain hinged |
| little, if any, effect on the final | | | | to the central cornea becomes detached. If |
| obtainable vision and can only be seen by an | | | | this occurs it can be replaced after the |
| experienced eye doctor with the use of a | | | | laser treatment, however, there is a risk |
| microscope. Despite this, instances of | | | | that the flap may be damaged or lost. |
| excessive vision which interferes with vision | | | | |
| do arise which can commonly be cured with | | | | Distorted Flap: A distorted corneal shape can |
| additional laser eye treatment. | | | | be produced by irregular healing of the |
| | | | corneal flap, resulting in a decrease of |
| Decrease in Best-Corrected Vision: Following | | | | best-corrected vision. |
| laser eye surgery, a few patients find that | | | | |
| with corrective lenses the best vision | | | | Halo Effect: Noticed in dim light, the halo |
| obtainable is in fact worse than it was | | | | effect is an optical effect. As the pupil |
| before laser eye treatment was performed. | | | | enlarges, a second faded image is produced by |
| This can happen because of irregular tissue | | | | the untreated peripheral cornea. A few |
| removal or from the development of corneal | | | | patients find that the halo effect interferes |
| haze. | | | | with night driving. |
| | | | |
| Regression: In the months following laser eye | | | | You've probably concluded at this point that |
| treatment some patients find that the effects | | | | laser eye treatment is simply too risky, but |
| of the procedure are gradually lost. This can | | | | we need to keep a sense of perspective here. |
| be similar to an undercorrection, and further | | | | |
| laser eye treatment is often the answer. | | | | In spite of the fact that the risks mentioned |
| | | | here are extremely real risks and do appear |
| Infection and delayed healing: There is a | | | | from time to time, the chances of coming |
| lower than 1 in 1,000 change of the cornea | | | | across any of these problems is extremely |
| becoming infected after laser eye treatment. | | | | small. Many thousands of procedures are |
| Generally, this means added discomfort and a | | | | carried out around the world every day and, |
| delay in healing, but showing no longer-term | | | | in the vast majority of cases, patients are |
| effects over a period of four years. | | | | very happy with the results. |
| | | | |
| Undercorrection/Overcorrection: It is not | | | | The purpose of this article is not to scare |
| possible to predict perfectly how the eye | | | | you off, but simply to help you in making a |
| will respond to laser eye treatment. As a | | | | reasoned decision balancing both the pro's |
| consequence, you may still need to use | | | | and the con's before you embark on laser eye |
| corrective lenses following surgery to obtain | | | | treatment. |
| clear vision. Sometimes, a further procedure | | | | |
| can be undertaken to improve the result. | | | | For more information on laser eye treatment |
| | | | and the questions that people considering |
| Severe dry eye syndrome: As a result of | | | | surgery frequently ask visit Lasik Laser Eye |
| surgery, your eye may not be able to produce | | | | Surgery today. |
| enough tears to keep the eye moist and | | | | |