More than 40% of patients who underwent LASIK surgery to fix their vision, encounter side effects months after their surgery, a study says.
They experienced symptoms that they've never experienced before
Researchers found that the side effects showed up 3 months after the patients underwent surgery. They reported symptoms such as seeing halos or glare around objects, something that they never experienced before having the surgery.
Researcher Malvina Eydelman of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and her colleagues wrote, "To our knowledge, our study is one of the few that have reported the development of new visual symptoms. While the overall prevalence of visual symptoms decreased, a large percentage of participants with no symptoms preoperatively reported new visual symptoms postoperatively."
The LASIK surgery was generally effective
The study done by the researchers involved studying 2 sets of people who underwent LASIK surgery for 6 months; the first being 262 Navy personnel, with an average age of 29. The second group consisted of 312 civilians with an average age of 32.
They then filled out a survey before their surgery, that asked questions such as how satisfied they were about their eyesight and if they were experiencing halos, starbursts, glares or dual images.
The LASIK surgery was generally effective, with all of the respondents reporting an improvement in their vision after undergoing surgery. However, 43% of those in the naval group, and 46% of the civilians reported new symptoms only three months after the surgery.
Dr. Mark Fromer, an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, commented on the research, saying: "There is no such thing as perfect surgery." He also added that people should be informed of those symptoms by their doctors prior to their surgery, so that they will be informed.
"Laser vision correction surgery can be a wonderful procedure, but it has to be for the right patient," says Dr. Fromer. "It has to be for the patient who is willing to accept any of the possible side effects that sometimes can occur with LASIK, such as dry eye or eye glare or double image."
Go to the next page to learn more about what to expect from LASIK surgery.
What should I expect from LASIK surgery?
LASIK, or laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, involves using a high powered laser to reshape a patient's cornea to correct conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
Nowadays, LASIK is becoming more commonplace, and a lot of people are opting to undergo LASIK so that they can correct their vision as it offers a permanent solution compared to wearing contact lenses or glasses.
So, what should you expect when you're undergoing LASIK surgery? Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Talk to a doctor first to know if LASIK is right for you. The first thing would be to talk to your doctor and ask them if LASIK would be a good way to address your problems with vision. That way, you'll have options when it comes to fixing your eye problems.
- Relax. LASIK surgery is as straightforward and simple as it gets. LASIK surgery is one of the safest and most reliable procedures that you can have.
- Avoid rubbing your eyes after the surgery. You might experience itchiness or slight pain right after the surgery. While doctors usually prescribe something to help ease the itching or pain, you might be tempted to rub your eyes. It's best to avoid doing that since it could cause complications.
- Follow your doctor's orders. Follow your doctors orders of what you should do after the surgery. Make sure to show up for your check-ups so that your doctor can properly track your recovery, and so that you can tell your doctor if you're experiencing any side-effects or problems.
- Know the side-effects. LASIK isn't perfect. As was shown in the earlier study, some people do experience side-effects after undergoing the surgery. That's why it's important to be aware of the side-effects beforehand and ask yourself whether LASIK is right for you.
READ: Baby’s eyes swollen? Conjunctivitis in newborns can lead to blindness
Sources: techtimes.com, huffingtonpost.com, fda.gov, docshop.com
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