Is LASIK Eye Surgery Safe?
If you have impaired vision, you might consider getting LASIK eye surgery. The procedure, although minimally invasive and relatively quick, can seem intimidating to people who have never been through it.
Is this surgery genuinely safe? And is there anything you can do to make it even safer?
The State of Modern LASIK Eye Surgery
Modern LASIK surgeons are incredibly skilled at performing what is now a very established, safe procedure. We have tools, techniques, and collective knowledge that allows us to perform LASIK eye surgery operations with minimal, if any side effects in nearly all cases. The average person going in for this type of surgery can expect to have a quick, safe, painless procedure, and experience dramatic improvements in their vision after a relatively short recovery period.
In the immediate aftermath of your surgical procedure, you’ll likely need to rest. It’s not uncommon for people to experience very mild discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurry vision in the first couple of days. However, after a few days to a week, all of these symptoms should completely disappear, and you’ll be able to return to your normal activities.
Potential Issues and Complications
That said, there are some potential issues and complications that may arise as a result of this surgical procedure. However, these tend to be exceptions from the norm.
For example, some people may be at increased risk for complications following LASIK eye surgery. They may be of advanced age, they may have pre-existing eye health conditions, or they may not be good candidates for LASIK eye surgery in the first place.
Additionally, some people may experience additional discomfort or pain as they recover from the procedure, or even after the default recovery period. However, these instances tend to be exceedingly rare.
Always make sure you talk to certified professionals before deciding whether to move forward with LASIK eye surgery.
How to Decrease Risks
For most people in most situations, LASIK eye surgery is extremely safe, and you’ll be able to return to your normal life with nearly perfect vision after just a few days of recovery. But if you want to maximize your chances of escaping without any risks or side effects, you should follow these strategies:
· Work with a qualified LASIK specialist. First and arguably most importantly, you should work with a qualified LASIK surgeon. There are many individuals and institutions that offer this type of eye procedure, but not all of them are equally experienced or capable. Make sure you review your options carefully and do your due diligence, so you can be assured that you’re going to get the best quality surgery and aftercare. Ask lots of questions, review the tools and technologies that your surgeon is going to use, and make sure you fully understand the procedure before you decide to move forward. A good LASIK surgeon is going to be able to demonstrate their qualifications and put you at ease with the procedure.
· Talk to your eye doctor. It’s typically a good idea to talk to your eye doctor before deciding to move forward with LASIK surgery, even if you’ve found a specialist surgeon with experience you trust. Your eye doctor is going to have a deeper and more familiar knowledge of your medical history, as well as your qualifications as a LASIK eye surgery candidate. If there are any risks that may negatively affect you, or important considerations you need to bear in mind with this decision, your eye doctor will be able to introduce them.
· Make sure you’re a good candidate. In line with this, you need to be absolutely sure that you’re a good candidate for LASIK eye surgery. There are many reasons why your vision might be poor, and not all of them can be corrected with this surgical procedure. If the root cause of your vision issues isn’t something that can be corrected with a LASIK procedure, you may need to seek alternative options.
· Follow all instructions before, during, and after surgery. Your LASIK Eye surgeon is going to give you a long list of instructions to follow before, during, and after your procedure. These instructions exist for a reason, and you can greatly reduce your risk of experiencing complications if you follow them to the letter. If there are any instructions that are confusing to you, be sure to ask for clarification.
· Exercise extra caution following your procedure. Finally, take extra care following your procedure. Rest and avoid any unnecessary activities that could cause eye strain or a risk of physical impact to your eyes.
Generally, LASIK surgery is an extremely safe procedure. For some people, it can be slightly riskier or less valuable. However, with a bit of due diligence and some careful risk management, you can reduce your risks of complications to an absolute minimum.
Alexia is the author at Research Snipers covering all technology news including Google, Apple, Android, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung News, and More.