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LASIK is a popular laser eye surgery chosen by many as it is quick, safe, and effective. Nevertheless, people often wonder if LASIK is completely safe. While it is generally safe, potential risks include dry eyes, glare, halos, under-correction or overcorrection, and, in rare cases, infection.
It is important to know both the benefits and the potential side effects before making the decision. Consulting a trusted and experienced eye surgeon can assist you in making the right decision.
LASIK ('laser in-situ keratomileusis') is a type of laser eye surgery that allows people whose sight is poor not to wear glasses or contact lenses to see better. During the procedure, the eye doctor will use a specialised laser to reshape the cornea. The cornea is the front part of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina.
An irregularly shaped cornea can lead to blurry vision. LASIK helps fix this by reshaping the cornea, allowing for better focus. Most people, however, have better vision within a day, and this is a pretty quick surgery, only a few minutes. LASIK is fast, safe, and gives great results, and many people prefer LASIK.
Laser eye surgery, however, such as LASIK, is quite safe for most people. For LASIK, the majority of doctors use advanced tools and follow strict regulations. The problem is that most patients see better and do not have any serious problems. But, no surgical procedure is entirely without risk.
As you might contemplate, some people have side effects, even dry eyes, glare, or blurry vision. Usually, these go away in time. Some will even require a second treatment or still require glasses. However, it is important to talk with a good eye doctor before the surgery. Go for LASIK surgery only if the eye surgeon ensures that the eyes are healthy, and choosing LASIK will be beneficial.
Similar to any medical procedure, there are certain risks and complications of LASIK surgery. Patients must be aware of those potential issues before choosing to undergo LASIK. Here are the risks and complications:
A common query among potential LASIK patients persists,i.e., whether the outcome of the surgery will be affected if they accidentally move or blink their eyes during the procedure. This concern is understandable as a patient stays awake during laser eye surgery. However, with advanced medical technologies, surgeons are able to keep their eyes steady, which ensures optimal results.
Some involuntary eye movements during the surgery will not cause any problems. Additionally, any movement outside the laser's tracking range will automatically result in a halt of the procedure.
During the surgery, your ophthalmologist will cover one eye and ask you to look towards a red or green flashing light with the eye that needs to be corrected for vision. Before starting, they will use anaesthetic eye drops to bring in a calming sensation so the patient does not have the urge to blink.
Next, your eyelashes will be taped away using special adhesive drapes, and a gentle retainer will hold the eyelids open. Therefore, if a patient is still urged to blink, it will not cause any problems.
Many assume LASIK changes eye colour, but this is a common misconception. LASIK reshapes your cornea to correct refractive errors, improving how light focuses on the retina for clearer vision. Your eye colour, however, depends on the iris, which sits behind the cornea and contains melanin—the pigment responsible for colour.
Since LASIK does not interact with the iris or affect its pigment or structure, it cannot alter eye colour. The procedure is limited to the corneal surface and does not reach deeper structures involved in colour formation. Any perceived colour change post-surgery is usually due to reduced glare or improved clarity, not an actual shift in pigmentation.
If someone notices a change in eye colour after LASIK, it could be due to lighting, pupil size, or unrelated medical conditions, not the surgery itself. Always consult your ophthalmologist for clarity.
Many reports have repeatedly revealed that laser eye surgery can permanently alter colour vision. However, you should know the basis of the claim.
Colour perception is normally felt by the interaction of the retina in the eye, light and the human brain. Specific cells in the retina, referred to as cones, respond to the varying wavelengths of light.
Three types of cones are present in the human eye retina, each one meant to receive a particular colour.
When the incident light falls on these cones, they form electrical signals. The optic nerve sends these signals to the brain, where it further processes them into different colour perceptions.
While LASIK alters the shape of the cornea to improve vision, it does not affect the retina or the cone cells, making changes to colour perception highly unlikely.
Colour perception is generally unaffected by laser eye surgeries such as LASIK, Trans-PRK, and Femto-LASIK. These procedures focus on reshaping the cornea to correct refractive errors and do not involve the colour-sensing structures (cones in the retina) or the neural pathways for colour vision.
LASIK surgery is a famous treatment for correcting vision, but it might not be suitable for everyone. Understanding who should opt for this surgery is crucial to ensure safety, effectiveness and long-term success.
Here are the eligibility criteria for those who can opt for LASIK surgery:
Laser-assisted in Situ Keratomileusis, or LASIK, is a very common refractive eye surgery to correct vision abnormalities such as myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism. The most frequently asked question from patients before surgery is: "How long after LASIK will I see clearly?".
Well, the time to clear vision varies based on factors like individual healing rates, the extent of vision correction needed, and adherence to post-surgery care. However, the majority of individuals start to see enhanced vision in the first 24 hours.
Vision improvement for most patients starts a few hours after having the LASIK operation. A few people notice significant clarity as soon as the operation is completed. However, this initial vision is hazy or slightly cloudy, like looking through a thin film or frosted glass.
This is a normal part of the recovery process. Within 6 to 12 hours, vision stabilises, and most patients report significant improvement compared to their pre-surgery vision.
During the first 24 to 48 hours, patients may experience temporary side effects, including:
● Light sensitivity
● Mild irritation or gritty feeling
● Halos or starbursts around lights, particularly during nighttime
● Fluctuating vision clarity
After one day, most individuals can see adequately enough to accomplish most activities without glasses or contacts. Some feel comfortable resuming work or driving the next day, yet it is best to wait for the eye surgeon to indicate that vision is stabilised and safe. Vision still improves over the first week.
Some people can expect a slight variation in clarity, particularly when they are tired or in dim light. These changes are usually within the healing process.
Even though LASIK has a quick result, full visual stabilisation could take a few weeks to several months, depending on the nature of the vision correction and on individual healing times. Generally:
Individuals with larger prescriptions or correcting astigmatism may take a little longer to attain a stable outcome.
Regular follow-up visits with the eye surgeon are necessary to check for healing and changes in vision. These usually take place:
The day following surgery
● 1 week
● 1 month
● 3 months
● And as necessary thereafter
These visits ensure that the eyes are healing well and that no complications, including dry eye or inflammation, are arising.
No, LASIK typically does not cause any permanent pain or damage to your night vision. Some folks might experience temporary changes, such as glare, halos, or starbursts around lights when it is dark. These effects are just part of the healing journey and usually fade away within a few weeks or months. In rare instances, some issues might linger a bit longer, but they can often be handled with proper follow-up care.
After LASIK, the eye needs time to heal. During this period, some people report difficulty seeing clearly in dim or low-light environments. Common temporary symptoms include:
These are usually mild and go away on their own as healing continues.
Changes in night vision after LASIK often occur because of:
Not everyone has the same experience. The following factors can increase the chance of night vision side effects:
However, an eye surgeon checks all of these during the consultation to make sure LASIK is suitable for you.
For most people:
Regular follow-up appointments help track healing and ensure all concerns are addressed early.
Before choosing a LASIK surgery, make sure to consider the following factors:
LASIK is a very safe and effective eye surgery for most people. The procedure is often enjoyed by many patients who have little or no problems and enjoy clear vision. But there is no such thing as a risk-free surgery.
For some, the side effects could be mild, and for some, a few may need further treatment. A good set of eyes is important, and you should follow your doctor's advice. It is a life-changing solution for better vision in as much as it can be done with the right care and guidance.