The Pros and Cons of Corrective Eye Surgery

Today I’m happy to have a guest poster!  This is a guest post by Samantha, a freelance writer, and health expert. She also loves reading and blogging.

The new thing in the world of eye health is eye surgery for Astigmatism, Myopia and more that can restore your vision to a perfect 20/20. But, can LASIK fix astigmatism or other eye problems?For individuals who have worn glasses for decades, this is lifesaving news from heaven. But before you jump onto the eye surgery bandwagon, it is important to consider all aspects of the issue. Although there are many benefits, there are still some risks that are important to consider before you take the leap.

Take a look at these pros and cons before you make your final decision:

Eye surgery pros

  • Improved Vision:

Obviously, the biggest benefit of eye surgery is a clear vision. The thought of using your own two eyes to see anything around you is phenomenal and can only be understood by those who struggle with this problem. If you have suffered from poor vision for most of your life, it is like suddenly switching on the light and seeing things for the first time in a different way.

  • Hassle-free lifestyle

Apart from a clear vision, one of the reasons for having done a corrective eye surgery is the fact that you will never have to wear glasses or contact lenses again. If you hate having to hunt for glasses, switch on to contacts, or pay money for clear vision, it is an amazing feeling to know you will never have to go through all that trouble again.

  • Dream your career:

Eye surgery can also have an effect on your quality of life. If your poor vision has always been a hindrance in pursuing your passion, eye surgery will completely remove those limitations. You can dream about any career you like and do anything you want, be it becoming a pilot or join the military or become a sportsman.

  • Safe and quick

You may think contact lenses are safe and surgery is a harmful procedure but the reality is completely opposite. Lasik and Corrective Eye Surgery treatment are not only safe but also very quick. The whole procedure takes not more than 20 minutes. Furthermore, the laser is designed to automatically shut off if there is an unintentional movement in the patient’s eye that may cause any error or harm.

  • Immediate results:

For most people who fear eye surgery, Lasik treatment has no post-surgery complications and gives immediate results. You can follow your daily routine after two to three days of your surgery and witness the results of the surgery within a few hours.

  • Better appearance

Eye surgery can also improve your appearance. If you suffered from a lazy eye, had squinted eyes due to poor vision, or simply didn’t like how you looked in glasses, eye surgery can correct all those issues. Without glasses, many people feel more confident and develop a better sense of fashion after this treatment.

Eye surgery cons

On contrary to all the above pros, there are some cons to having eye surgery. The biggest con is the risk of permanent loss of vision that can never be restored. Although every treatment has some risks involved, this isn’t said to be true for Lasik treatment and a rare case to be seen.  If your eye is damaged during surgery, you may never have good vision again, even with glasses or contact lenses.

  • Eligibility:

Not everyone who wears glasses or contact lenses is eligible for corrective eye surgery. Patients crossing the age of 40 and suffering from presbyopia (a condition where with age the lens of the eye becomes stiff and doesn’t give a close-up vision are most likely ineligible and

  • Dry eyes:

Right after the surgery, some people suffer from an acute dry eye condition that may be there from one week to three months. Very rarely this dryness can extend up to year, however, by using omega-3 fatty acids, patients can easily lessen the dryness. Sometimes the dryness can also affect your tear development or cause blurry vision, constant eye discomfort and itching.

  • Minor Side effects:

Although corrective eye surgery is generally 100% successful, there may be chances when it can also make you see double. Some other side effects include holes in your vision, permanent glares, halos around the eyes, or permanent double or triple vision. Some side effects may make it difficult to see in dim light or fog.

  • Lasik isn’t one-time:

Corrective eye surgery is not a one-time solution and may require to be taken again if the patient has higher glasses before the surgery or has myopic regression.

  • Injured Flaps:

There is a flap created during LASIK surgery which is not secured and heals with time. If the patient rub their eyes or have long fingernails, there may be chances that the flap is dislocated.

  • Subconjunctival haemorrhages

One of the immediate and common side effects of corrective eye surgery are the red spots that you would see on the white part of the eye right after the surgery. These are bruises caused during the surgery and disappear within a week-months’ time period. These red spots are known as Subconjunctival haemorrhages and harmless to your vision however they just don’t look good to the patient

  • No guaranteed 20/20 vision:

Although Eye specialists will say corrective eye surgery will give you 20/20 vision, only 20-30% patients are lucky to have so. It will for sure improve your vision and help you get rid of contact lenses/glasses, but it wouldn’t promise you 100% improved vision.

Conclusion:

If you are on the fence about eye surgery, it is important to consider all the risks and benefits. The idea sounds wonderful, but just like any other procedure, there are risks involved. Before making any decision, informing yourself of all the facts like how much is lasik eye surgery and how beneficial it would be, will help you make the right choice for you. Once you take into account all the pros and cons, you can then determine which is the right choice for you personally.