Laser eye surgery, a relatively new procedure developed in the past few years, allows people with less than perfect eyesight to forgo glasses and contacts. However, the newness of this surgery may cause questions about possible complications from using lasers on the human eye.

Considerations

A 2009 Archives of Ophthalmology study reports that the two most common corrective laser eye surgeries, photorefractive keratectomy and Lasik, pose little long-term threats to the eye and that the corneas of recipients of laser eye surgery degrade at a normal rate.

Effects

Even the most routine laser eye surgeries, like Lasik, may result in problems such as dry eyes, halos around objects at night and glare, reports Dr. Rex Hamilton of University of California, Los Angeles on National Public Radio (See References 2).

Expert Insight

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that laser eye surgeries still need more long-term studies on their health effects. In addition, laser eye surgeries are not approved for minors or those who partake in contact sports.

Tips

Dr. Rex Hamilton recommends that patients looking for a place to get the safest laser eye surgery go to a clinic that takes a low volume of patients, such as a university. Lasers need adjustments after each surgery and more patients increases the risk of forgetting to calibrate the laser or not having enough time for proper recalibration.

Warning

No matter how experienced the doctor or how safe the procedure is some diseases, such as herpes around the eye, eye injuries and diseases like dry eyes and glaucoma, may increase the risk of laser eye surgery, reports the FDA.

Source:

Medline Plus

National Public Radio

U.S. Food and Drug Administration