One of the leading eye surgeries in the world right now at this very moment is the LASIK eye surgery. The surgery is essentially conducted to restore visions with the help of laser beams. However, despite being popular among the general public, there are still many unanswered questions regarding the LASIK eye surgery. This is especially true when it comes to the side effects of the LASIK eye surgery. We will ponder upon this very topic in the following pointers in the article. But before going any further we need to understand what we mean by the term ‘side-effects’. It is also important to understand that a surgery like LASIK should not be taken for granted. It is surgery with many intricacies with its own share of pros and cons.
When it comes to side effects, sometimes people mistake them for complications. Complications are a completely different thing. In the essence, a complication is basically an accidental outcome that was completely intentional and it requires treatment afterward. On the other hand, a side effect is something that occurs during the actual process and gets better over time, typically during the healing phase. Once again, before going in for the LASIK laser eye surgery, on should be aware of all such side effects and possible complications.
Moving, let us go deep into the possible known side effects of the LASIK eye surgery so that you understand what they actually are.
Itchiness In The Eyes
Scratchy or itchy eyes is one of the most common side effects in LASIK patients. It is very common for LASIK patients to have irritation in the eyes. To be precise, there is a feeling that there may be a foreign object in the eyes. This irritation is simply present as an after effect of the surgery itself. It fades away during the healing process disappears when the eyes are perfectly healed.
Doctors may prescribe patients artificial tears (preservative free) to help the situation. It is also suggested that the tears are kept in a cooler place such as the refrigerator. This way the artificial tears will be more soothing.
Mild Discomfort
LASIK surgeries are always followed by a little discomfort. This is very natural and there nothing to be afraid of as like any other surgery, the operated body part will be a little sore for a few days. This soreness or discomfort will vanish once that body part has healed completely. Similarly, the mild discomfort vanishes as the days go by and the eyes heal.
The logical explanation behind the discomfort can be explained in the following way. The corneal flap that is replaced via laser beams so as to make the eyes focus the light in a better way on the retina. Thus, the discomfort will stay as long as the corneal flap heals. The ideal way to boost the healing process is to sleep. Sleep is the best way you can avoid the irritation that occurs after the surgery. In case you cannot sleep or are not able to fall asleep, you can just nap with your eyes closed. After a few hours, the initial irritation is gone and the discomfort is negligible.
Fluctuations In vision/Halos
Many patients do report after a LASIK eye surgery that they see projections like halos or experience fluctuations in their vision. This is not in the majority of the cases, however. In most of the cases, the patients that go through the LASIK process can read the eye chart at the first eye check up after the surgery.
However, it is important to know that the like any other operation, the goes through the usual protocol after the LASIK eye surgery. The body has a natural inflammatory response after the surgery which can lead to the eyes being a little dry and sore. This is the reason that causes the vision to not be as perfect as one would expect. But fear not as this temporary. And this is why some patients may experience slight vision fluctuations and even halos in the nighttime.
Dry Eyes
This is a side effect that simply cannot be evaded. All the patients who go through the LASIK surgical procedure undergo this side effect. Dryness is simply caused because the eyes’ natural tear-producing glands are disturbed during the LASIK surgery. This causes eyes to be dry because of less tear production. Thus doctors prescribe artificial tears to patients in order to help them get through this dryness.
This feeling of dryness will eventually go away as the eyes heal completely. However, the duration usually varies from person to person. But it does not take long before the patient is completely done with the healing process.
Sensitivity To Light
After the entire LASIK eye surgery procedure is done and finished, patients go through a phase of light sensitivity. This is pretty obvious as LASIK basically works on the corneal flap, that is, the entry gate for light to enter eyes. This sensitivity to light lasts for a few days. Doctors usually give patients a pair of cool shades or sunglasses to wear at home after the surgical procedure. These glasses will help the patients to block direct sunlight to enter the eyes and prevent the eyes from being uncomfortable.
In the end, it would be safe to say that LASIK is a complex surgical procedure. If the procedure is taken care of by fine hands, there is no chance of any kind of a complication. This is also a very important factor to choose a reputed surgeon who dedicatedly deals in LASIK surgeries.
There are also speculations regarding LASIK when it comes to the ‘best vision’. The ‘best vision’ is referred to the best level of vision an individual can achieve with the help of glasses or soft lenses. It is often said that LASIK at times causes loss of ‘best vision’. This is not true entirely. There is no data that proves that LASIK causes loss of the ‘best vision’.