What Are The Risks of laser Eye Surgery?
Laser eye surgery has been around for about 30 years. It’s one of the most well-known medical procedures to correct refractive errors such as myopia or shortsightedness, hyperopia or long-sightedness, and blurry vision, or astigmatism. It’s also one of the safest surgeries around, with the latest technology doing a lot to reduce the chances of complications even further. It’s just like any other surgery, though. If you’re thinking about getting laser surgery, then make sure you’re also well aware of the risks that you’re taking on.
Why Know the Risks and Side-Effects?
Many of the risks, as well as side-effects that you might experience from the procedure, are temporary. That’s good news. Many are generally resolved on their own or without the need for any follow-up treatment. However, being aware of the potential issues that you might face will help you stay calm when they happen. You won’t have to end up worried and anxious that something might have gone wrong with the surgery. Stress and anxiety can also compromise your recovery process, so knowledge about the possible risks and side-effects will help. Also, in case something does happen, if you have knowledge of the risks and side-effects, you can easily tell if something’s wrong. If you have to bleed, or if there’s a lot of pain, let your doctor know right away.
What are the Factors?
Technology is a factor. Choosing a hospital that is equipped with advanced laser eye technology is a good sign that you’re in the right hands. The most important consideration, though, is your surgeon. The skill of your surgeon will determine the outcome. By choosing someone with the proper credentials and expertise, someone with years of experience in the field, and someone who has performed the procedure countless times before with success, that’s the doctor you’ll want to choose to perform your laser eye surgery in Adelaide.
What are the Risks and Side-effects?
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Loss of visual sharpness. This happens when your vision fluctuates. The result is that your vision might not be as clear as before. This happens in about one to two percent of people who undergo the surgery. However, the vision soon stabilizes within the first six months after the surgery. If this happens to you, make sure you wait the full six months. Give your eyes time to recover from the medical procedure.
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Dry eye. This is a common side-effect of the surgery. Dry eye often occurs during the first few weeks or months after the surgery. It tends to disappear after a while. If the problem persists, though, seek out the advice of your doctor. The sooner you report the problem, the better. If there’s an issue, letting your doctor know and keeping your surgeon updated on what’s happening will help them pinpoint the problem with accuracy and recommend the right course of action for you.
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Flap problem. When the corneal flap that results from the LASIK is moved out of place before it heals. You can keep this from happening, though, by ensuring that you follow post-operative instructions. One of the most important on that list is to never rub your eyes after the operation. If you do, that’s going to lead to complications and a host of other problems. You also can’t run since the water might get into your eyes. You can’t return to sports either, at least not right away.
Are you eligible for laser eye surgery?
Before you even go through with the procedure, you’ll need to be checked out. Not everyone is eligible for the procedure. Expect the doctors to take your full medical history and to thoroughly check your eyes. If you have any visual goals or concerns, now is the best time to bring them up. You’ll need to allow about an hour and a half for the appointment as there will be a lot of questions. If the hospital books you for the procedure without even taking your medical history, that’s a sign that you’re not at a good healthcare facility. Make sure you look elsewhere.
Is it the right option for you? There are plenty of other treatments or procedures that might be ideal for correcting your vision problems. Laser eye surgery isn’t the only option. You could have underlying conditions, or you might not be in the right or ideal group. Talk to your doctor about those options. Learn more about the treatments that are a much better solution for addressing your vision needs. In some cases, you might receive a recommendation to do the eye surgery in combination with another.