Is Laser For Eyes Safe
Laser eye surgery has become an increasingly popular option for improving vision and correcting common issues. There are a few different types of lasers, but they all work in the same basic way: by focusing light on the retina to reshape it.
Laser surgery can be used to correct nearsightedness (nearsightedness), farsightedness (farsightedness), and astigmatism. It can also be used to treat some types of cataracts. Laser eye surgery is safe when performed by an experienced surgeon who has been trained specifically in laser eye surgery.
Is Eye Laser Safe?
LASIK eye surgery is a popular procedure for patients seeking clear vision and to enjoy work and leisure without glasses or contact lenses. The procedure involves cutting a small flap in the cornea surface cells to reshape the cornea underneath it, and the average cost per eye is about $2,200. Patients may choose to save and pay for it via a flexible spending account or credit union financing plans.
LASIK is quick and safe, taking about 20 minutes and requiring a Valium to calm nerves. However, not everyone is eligible for the procedure, especially those aged 40 and older due to presbyopia. Photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) can be better for people with high prescriptions or very thin corneas.
Results come quickly, with most normal activities resuming within 48 hours. However, those who receive PRK may expect a longer recovery time and some minor pain due to the corneal surface removal.
LASIK may cause dry eyes for up to three months, but the odds of it becoming a permanent issue are rare. PRK patients do not have that risk, but athletes and active individuals might pursue it to perform at their best.
LASIK recipients can regain 20/20 vision, but not superhuman sight. For those with higher prescriptions, the chances of achieving a 20/20 vision are about 20-30%.
Lastly, there is a slight chance of needing LASIK again due to myopic regression, which can cause a minor decrease in vision quality over time.
How Much Does Laser Eye Surgery Cost
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Popularity of Laser Vision Correction | – Approved by FDA over 2 decades ago – Approximately 1 million eyes corrected annually for many years – Recent decline to about 800,000 eyes corrected each year |
| Cost of LASIK | – Prices range from $1,000 to $4,000 per eye – Average price in the U.S. was $2,632 per eye in 2020 – Cost comparable to glasses/contacts and eye exams for 8-10 years |
| Factors Affecting Cost | – Location – Experience of the surgeon – Technique used – Included costs – Individual eye health/vision problems |
| Insurance Coverage | – Generally not covered by private insurance – Can use FSA or HSA for payment – Some larger insurance companies may offer coverage |
| Types of Laser Eye Surgery | – LASIK – LASEK – Presbymax – Blended Vision – SMILE |
| Conditions Treated | – Short-sightedness (myopia) – Long-sightedness (hypermetropia) – Astigmatism – Reading vision problems (presbyopia) |
| LASIK Procedure Overview | – One of the safest and most common surgeries – 90% of patients suitable – Painless procedure taking less than 5 minutes per eye – Fast recovery with improved vision within hours |
| LASIK Technology | – Wavefront treatments with 7-dimensional eye tracking – Two lasers used: femtosecond laser and excimer laser – Bladeless surgery ensuring precision and safety |
| LASIK Breakdown |
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LASEK eye surgery
This is an alternative to the LASIK procedure and a better choice for patients who have thinner corneas. LASEK stands for laser-assisted subepithelial keratectomy. It is one of a collection of procedures that we term advanced surface laser ablation.
All of these surface procedures involve reshaping the cornea without creating a flap. In order to do this, the surface layer of cells on the cornea (the epithelium) is disrupted either manually or with a laser and must regrow. For this reason, although the procedure is painless, the recovery is painful for 2-3 days and the vision is blurry for the first week, taking a few weeks to get to the 20/20 or 6/6 vision level or better. We give you anaesthetic drops and painkillers to go home with, in order to minimise any discomfort.
We tend to only recommend a surface procedure when we feel that LASIK is not advisable; for example in thin or irregular corneas and around 10% of the laser vision correction procedures that we carry out are surface advanced surface laser ablation procedures. In higher prescriptions, we use the anti-scarring agent MMC (mitomycin C) to reduce the chance of haze following the procedure.
Once this procedure is finished, a bandage contact lens will be inserted to aid the healing process, which is a slower visual recovery than the Lasik procedure. The bandage contact lens will be removed between 3-5 days after surgery with vision improving noticeably for weeks after the treatment.
Presbymax eye surgery
This is a procedure available only on the Schwind Amaris 1050RS laser platform. This procedure extends the depth of focus in the non-dominant eye by precisely adjusting the optics of the eye. This extended range of focus creates a smoother transition between the distance and near vision for a complete range of focus.
Presbymax treats presbyopia, also known as ‘reading vision’. The following conditions can also be corrected at the same time: myopia (short-sightedness), hypermetropia (long-sightedness), and astigmatism (irregular eye shape).
Not all patients are suitable to have Presbymax and the best treatment will be determined by your in-depth examination and discussion with your individual surgeon.
Looking for more information on what sets our laser eye surgery apart? Our laser eye surgery brochure contains all the information you need. View our brochure page to receive your free download.
