(She was, according to her doctors, a perfect candidatesomeone with moderate refractive errors, a.k.a.
when the shape of your eyeball causesblurry sight, who was otherwise healthy.)
But the procedure didnt go as smoothly as shed hoped.
CSA-Printstock/Getty Images
When her surgeon was operating, her LASIK flap inexplicably folded up like a curtain, Dreyfus says.
The unusual reaction left her withsevere dry eyessomething she struggles with to this day.
And though her vision improved, she still needed to wear eyeglasses (albeit a much lower prescription).
But what about those horror stories that are becoming increasingly commonon TikTok?
Plus its a procedure, and even those that are quick and relatively safe come withsomelevel of risk.
Whenand howthings can go south with laser eye surgery.
(For others, it may take up to six months.)
The next day, Dr. Richardson was back to work.
For a lot of individuals, recovery is a breeze.
And you may want to proceed with caution if youre not a risk taker,according to the FDA.
Thats because, of course, things canand dogo wrong.
Whitney Fields, 38, from Austin, was fed up withcontacts scratchingher supersensitive eyes.
Her doctor suggested LASIK because she was, on paper, a good candidate.
It hurt so bad, I thought I was going to die, Fields says.
Her vision was also freakily blurry for the first eight weeks.
But Fieldss dryness never went awayshe struggles with it to this day.
Yet, shesokaywith that side effect because she canseeagain.
Its a quality of life thing for me, she says.
Im so much happier.
For others, like Dreyfus, the issues are much more annoying.
Her vision, which initially improved after the procedure, started to decline over time.
And because she can no longer wear contacts, she now needs to wear prescription glasses.
The FDA notes that you may still need glasses or contacts after the procedure.
After all that, I basically got five years glasses-free, she says.
(Some eye tests can be done ahead of time to determine if youre at risk for this.)
Another is neuropathic corneal painthis damages certain ocular nerves and triggers persistent, excruciating eye discomfort.
Doctors are still trying to figure that out, Dr. Bert says.
How to minimize your risk if you want laser eye surgery.
Here are a handful of ways to keep your risk of complications from laser eye surgery low.
Take some time to figure out the reason you want to live a life sans contacts or eyeglasses.
Are your glasses interfering with your ability to work?
Do your contacts irritate your eyes?
Or do you just kinda suck at remembering to take them out at night orin the shower?
It really comes down to how your vision impacts your quality of life.
It is still a surgical procedure, Dr. Bert says, and no surgery is without risks.
If you think laser eye surgery could really improve your quality of life,check in with an optometrist.
Its also worth asking for referrals from friends, family, and colleagues who had good experiences.
venture to get as much information as you’re free to, Dr. Bert says.
You should feel comfortable with your physician and not feel pressured to get the procedure.
Also ask your surgeon about the cost.
LASIK generally runs about $1000 to $4000 per eye, and isnt usually covered by insurance.
Tell them if you experience dry eyes or floaters and ask how the surgery could affect those issues.
Clue them into the medications you take.
Dr. Richardson did so a year later, and it recorrected her vision.
(Again, not common, but possible.)
(Still, its always worth digging deeper.)
Even with the brutally dry eyes, she says shed do it all over again.
Its a quality of life thing for me, she says.
Im so much happier.
