Laser Eye Surgery: Purpose, Procedure, Benefits and Side Effects

Laser eye surgery refers to the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to treat vision-related disorders. It is regarded as the best alternative to glasses and contact lenses. A special type of cutting laser is utilized to change the shape of the cornea to improve vision. It helps to reshape the cornea permanently.

LASIK, SMILE, and surface laser treatments are the 3 main categories of laser eye surgery, the definitions of which are given below:

This surgical procedure is typically performed with a couple of lasers. One of these lasers is to open up a thin protective flap on the surface of the cornea, while the other one is to reshape the cornea that lies underneath. Thereafter, the protective flap is laid back in its place in such a way that it stays there without the need for stitches.

This procedure involves removing the clear skin that covers the cornea. This is done so that the surgeon can reshape the cornea with the use of a laser. It must be noted that this skin naturally grows back after the procedure.

Furthermore, you must be aware of the fact that all three of the above-mentioned types of laser eye surgery produce similar results. However, your eye surgeon or healthcare provider will talk through these options with you, and they may help you decide on the most suitable one for you.

Summary- Different types of laser eye surgery are defined to treat different types of eye disorders.

• Clearer, better, or corrected vision
• No risks related to contact lenses
• Significant cost savings
• No need for contact lenses or spectacles
• Permanent vision improvements
• Convenience
• Immediate results
• Painless Surgery

Summary- The main advantage of laser eye surgery is that the majority of patients no longer need corrective lenses in order to see clearly.

Laser eye surgery is advised to treat some vision-related issues, such as-

• Astigmatism- cornea curves or flattens unevenly which results in the disruption of focus of near and distant vision.
• Farsightedness (hyperopia)- shorter or flat eyeball or cornea than average ones so light focuses behind the retina and leads to blurry vision.
• Nearsightedness (myopia)- cornea curves too sharply and light rays focus in front of the retina and result in blurry vision.

Summary- Laser eye surgery is capable of treating various eye disorders as stated above.

There are very rarely any complications or risks associated with laser eye surgery. However, some of them are-

• Permanent loss of vision
• Dry eyes
• Under or overcorrection
• Temporary visual issues (glare)
• Astigmatism
• Regression

Although, these issues usually clear up on their own within a few weeks (or maybe months) after surgery and can be tackled easily with the help of medications.

Summary- Laser eye surgery often accompanies some of these side effects.

• Make sure laser surgery is a good option for you and that you are a suitable candidate
• Allow your doctor to be aware of your entire medical history
• Stop wearing any kind of eye makeup if you are finally going for surgery
• Avoid wearing contact lenses for several weeks or months prior to laser eye surgery
• Avoid using any moisturizers, lotions, or perfumes on your face before surgery

Summary- Before commencing surgery, we should follow some simple tips to be prepared.

During the laser eye surgery procedure, an eye surgeon reshapes parts of the patient's cornea with the help of a programmed laser. It must be mentioned that every pulse of the laser beam used in the surgery removes a small amount of corneal tissue.

One of these lasers is to open up a thin protective flap on the surface of the cornea, while the other one is to reshape the cornea that lies underneath. The flap is, however, laid back in its original place after the surgeon is done reshaping the cornea. In most cases, the flap tends to heal without any stitches.

Before your laser eye surgery takes place, your healthcare provider may instruct you not to eat or drink anything for at least 12 hours. The doctor may also advise you to stop taking certain medications (temporarily) that could potentially increase your risk of excessive bleeding during the surgery procedure.

Laser eye surgery usually takes around 30 minutes (or even less) to conclude. During this surgical procedure, you will most likely be asked by the surgeon to lie on your back in a (surgical) reclining chair. You may be given certain medicines to help you settle down and relax. Thereafter, some numbing drops are given to your eyes and the surgeon holds your eyelids open with the help of an instrument.

Immediately after the laser eye surgery procedure, your treated eye may itch, burn, or feel like there is something stuck in it. You may also experience some kind of discomfort, or in rare cases, a little pain. The doctor may suggest you take a mild pain-relieving drug if that happens.

Right after the surgery, one or both of your eyes may shed water or tears. You will probably have hazy or blurry vision for a few hours (or even days) after the procedure.

The cost of conventional laser eye surgery, or LASIK, in India ranges between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 50,000 approximately.

However, this cost is merely for reference purposes and should not be considered a standard cost of the procedure. The best thing you can do in this regard is to get in touch with our team of experts and get the precise cost of laser eye surgery in India.

Summary- The cost of laser eye surgery usually lies from 25,000-50,000 rupees.

• Avoid taking frequent showers or washing your hair for a few days after the surgery
• You should not let non-sterile water (from showers, hair washing, etc.) come into contact with your eyes
• Make sure that the soap or shampoo stays out of your eyes as you wash your hair
• Avoid rubbing your eyes for at least a month after laser eye surgery
• Don't forget to use artificial tears or eye drops prescribed by your doctor
• Avoid driving until you feel comfortable or your doctor okays it after the surgery
• Don't forget to wear the protective glasses or eye shield given by your doctor while you sleep
• Avoid working out or doing any other strenuous activity for several days after the surgery
• Wearing dark sunglasses may help, as your eyes will probably be sensitive to light after surgery.
• Avoid being in dusty or dirty environments for several days after you undergo laser eye surgery

• Protein-rich foods (chicken, fish, eggs, etc.)
• Vitamins, especially vitamin C (sweet yellow peppers, kale, kiwis, etc.)
• Healthy fats (olive oil, chia seeds, dark chocolate, nuts, etc.)
• Carbohydrates (whole grains such as brown rice and oatmeal)
• Sugar and empty calories should be avoided

Summary- We must include nutritious foods in our diet to combat the disorder.

There are very rarely any complications or risks associated with laser eye surgery that may result in a permanent loss of vision. However, certain risks, such as dry eyes and temporary visual issues (glare), are fairly common in patients who choose to go through this surgical procedure.

These issues usually clear up on their own within a few weeks (or maybe months) after surgery. All in all, laser eye surgery is usually a safe procedure, and it is nothing that one should be afraid of facing or undergoing.

Summary- Laser eye surgery is a safe option to treat eye disorders.

Fortunately, laser eye surgery is not at all painful in most cases. The surgeon places numbing eye drops in both eyes of the patient right before the surgical procedure begins. While the patient may still feel minor pressure during the surgery, they should not feel any pain.

Summary- Laser surgery is not considered painful.

It must be noted that the immediate recovery period for laser eye surgery usually lasts six to 12 hours. However, it may vary from patient to patient, depending on a few factors. While most patients may be able to see clearly within 24 hours after the procedure, others may take as long as several days to recover completely from it.

Summary- The recovery period is usually variable for different cases.

Some common side effects of laser eye surgery include-

• Halos and glare
• Ectasia
• Dry eyes
• Infection
• Flap complications

Summary- These side effects of laser eye surgery can be tackled with the help of proper care.

Do not shy away from wearing the eye shield or protective goggles (given by your doctor) while you sleep for the first week after the surgery. Keep your eyes away from the tap water for at least a week or so.

For at least three (or more) weeks, avoid going to pools, saunas, whirlpools, and lakes. Also, keep in mind that you must avoid wearing any kind of eye makeup for at least a week (or more) after you undergo laser eye surgery.

Summary- Proper aftercare is required to smoothen the recovery phase.

Lasik eye surgery can be a great, or in fact, the best way to improve your vision and quality of life. However, before you take the leap into having the surgery done, you should make sure that you are comfortable with the idea and plan everything beforehand so it goes smoothly.

Furthermore, we hope that you enjoyed learning about laser eye surgery and found this article helpful and beneficial. If you want more information about this surgical procedure, please do not shy away from contacting us any day at any time. We would love to hear from you!