For and against laser eye treatment
Laser eye treatment has become one of the most popular elective surgeries patients undergo. The risk is low and the reward is high, which attracts the interest of most people who have to wear corrective lenses or contact lenses. However, the decision to have the surgery isn’t so black and white.
Reasons for laser eye treatment
The reasons for laser eye treatment are straightforward; improved eye sight without the needs for corrective lenses or contacts. A large demographic of people are eligible; candidates most suitable for laser eye surgery include those with:
- Moderate to high degree of myopia (short sightedness)
- Low to moderate degree of hyperopia (long sightedness)
- An astigmatism associated with myopia
- Thick corneas
The laser eye surgery procedure is fast, and most patients report 75-85% better sight within the first 24 hours after laser eye treatment. The surgery is done on an outpatient basis and most patients can return to normal activity within a day. These statistics are often the highlight of surgeon consultations and marketing material, attracting millions each year to have the operation.
Reasons against laser eye treatment
However there are a few reasons against though, they are less advertised and not always covered but are equally important for all potential patients to know about. If the patients’ eye problem is improperly diagnosed there are permanent, debilitating visual symptoms that could occur after laser eye surgery, such as:
- Glare
- Halos
- Long sighted patients’ treatments will diminish with age
- Improved vision could take weeks or months
The majority of laser eye treatment patients do not experience these negative affects, but it’s important to know about them prior to making a decision to proceed. In fact, some patients still need to wear eyeglasses or contacts after the operation, but the trade off is that the prescription needed is often much less powerful then before. Other factors to be considered are your age, current eye health, overall health condition, and if you have realistic goals about what you hope to gain from laser eye surgery.
Laser eye treatment isn’t advisable if you are under the age of 18, pregnant, have a history of eye disease, thin corneas, diabetes, autoimmune disorders or glaucoma. Take time to properly educate yourself with all aspects of the procedure; this will help you to make the best possible decision after you weigh the reasons for and against laser eye treatment. These are your eyes after all, and they allow you to visually enjoy life to the full.