Common Fears About Laser Eye Surgery

Laser eye surgery can significantly improve your vision. And, a surgical procedure can give you freedom from having to use glasses or contacts. However, many people do not want to go through the LASIK procedure because they are scared. Keep reading to learn about a few things that you may be afraid about so you can put yourself at ease.

Pain and Discomfort

Most people are highly protective of their eyes. And, they know that a speck of dust in the eye or a jab to the eyeball can cause a significant amount of pain. So, it only makes sense that you may be concerned about similar types of discomfort during a laser eye surgery. 

Well, the good news is that the procedure itself is virtually painless. This is true for a few reasons. You will be provided with a local anesthetic to minimize sensations and to keep your eye stable during the procedure. And you may be given a mild sedative or a wakeful sedation medication to further reduce your discomfort. 

When the laser is used on the eye to change the shape of the cornea, it is used for a very short amount of time. Also, most people report feeling only pressure when the laser is active. 

Once the procedure is over, your eye may feel gritty or you may experience a stinging sensation. Your eye doctor will give you instructions about using ibuprofen or another pain reliever to minimize discomfort.

Worsening Vision

When laser eye surgery procedures first started, there were some reports of unsuccessful treatments. Reduced vision, the appearance of halos, and double vision were all complaints involving the surgery. There are still some risks of these things occurring, but the good news is that laser eye surgery has come a long way since those early days. Lasers have advanced, and the technique has been perfected as well, meaning that your risks of an unsuccessful surgery have been reduced significantly.

You should know that dry eyes are still a concern, but most people will experience the problem for only a few weeks. Your eye doctor can provide you with eye drops to lubricate the eyes and reduce the incidence of the problem. If dry eyes persist, then you may need to switch to the use of silicone lubricants for some time.

Also, some people will need to use reading glasses or glasses for driving at night. This does not mean that your vision will worsen but that the vision is not perfect after the laser procedure. 

To learn more, contact a medical center about laser eye surgery.