Risks of laser eye surgery

Laser eye surgery treatments are classed as surgical procedures and as with any operation there are small risks, but according to the Royal College of Ophthalmologists, complications occur in less than five percent of cases and due to the advancements in technology there are better corrective treatments available for patients who do experience any problems.

 

Moorfields Eye Hospital in London, for example, is one of the world’s leading centres for eye health and is equipped with consultants who have expertise in correcting eye complications.  However,  laser eye surgery has passed extensive scrutiny from public health agencies and the medical health profession and after a decade of research, complications affecting vision are reported at a rate of significantly less than one percent.

 

Probably the most worrying risk about undergoing any type of eye surgery is vision loss but after LASIK or surface laser treatments the risk is considered to be on a par with the risk of visual loss after five to 10 years of contact lens wearing.  A severe loss of vision is very unlikely to occur and patients would need to have corneal surgery or hard contact lenses to restore their vision.   In rare cases, excessive thinning of the eye wall (Keratectasia) can cause the shape and focussing power of the eye to be unstable after treatment but again this is rare and careful pre-operative screening and detection methods will limit the risk.

 

Other complications following laser eye surgery include haziness, delayed healing or night time glare but most cases can be corrected and the risk will of course be reduced with a reputable clinic and experienced surgeon.  A small minority of patients may require an additional enhancement to their initial treatment to fully refine their visual results which involves lifting the flap and re-lasering the cornea but this is a simple, routine procedure.  An infection or complication could lead to a long-term or permanent damage to vision as a result of laser eye treatment, but the risk is low and occurs in approximately one in 1,000 people.

 

Implant based refractive surgery (RLE and ICL) is similar to cataract surgery which is a very safe procedure with a high success rate.  According to Moorfields Eye Hospital, only one in 1,000 patients have serious problems with near total loss of vision in the operated eye due to infection or a failed repair of a retinal detachment.  Retinal detachment occasionally occurs in patients with high levels of short sight but the risk of developing a retinal detachment within 10 years after cataract surgery or RLE is approximately ten percent, and without surgery it is five percent.  In any case, nine out of 10 retinal detachments are successfully repaired at the first attempt.  

If you are looking for a quote for laser eye surgery, or want more information about treatment in your local area, you can complete the Laser Eye Surgery Enquiry Form. Your enquiry will be forwarded to a maximum of three clinics or providers of laser eye treatment who partner with the Private Healthcare UK web site.