But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
Complications are rare, and most people are satisfied with the results.
Your results depend on your refractive error and other factors.
People with mild nearsightedness tend to have the most success with refractive surgery.
People with a high degree of nearsightedness or farsightedness along with astigmatism have less-predictable results.
Read on to learn more about what to consider as you decide whether this surgery is right for you.
There are several types of laser refractive surgery.
Typically, images are focused on the retina in the back of the eye.
With nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, images are focused either in front of or behind the retina.
This results in blurred vision.
Traditionally, blurry vision is corrected by bending (refracting) light rays with glasses or contact lenses.
But reshaping the cornea itself also can provide the necessary refraction and vision correction.
The cornea is the dome-shaped transparent tissue at the front of your eye.
You may be told to take a mild sedative medication just before the procedure.
However, this is not common.
After you are lying comfortably on an operating table, eye-numbing drops will be administered.
With each pulse of the laser beam, a tiny amount of corneal tissue is removed.
This allows your eye surgeon to flatten the curve of your cornea or make it steeper.
There are other types of laser refractive surgery that may not use a flap.
Each technique has advantages and disadvantages.
Individual eye surgeons may specialize in specific types of laser eye procedures.
The differences among them are generally minor, and none are clearly better than any others.
The flap is then placed back into its original position.
Discomfort after surgery is minimal, and vision recovery usually takes place in 1 to 2 days.
Intraocular lenses.Corrective lenses can be surgically inserted in the eye to improve vision.
But these are not a routine option for most people.
It has the advantage of treating higher levels of astigmatism and myopia.
However, it has other downsides, such as early cataract formation and glaucoma.
Your eye surgeon will ask detailed questions about your eye health.
This may require occasional changes in the prescription of your glasses or contact lenses.
Certain conditions and medicinespregnancy, breastfeeding, steroid drugsmay cause temporary changes in your vision.
Most insurance plans consider laser eye surgery to be an elective procedure and don’t cover the cost.
Know what the surgery will cost you.
Complications that result in a loss of vision are rare.
However, certain side effects, including dry eyes and temporary visual changes, are fairly common.
By their early to mid-40s, all adults lose some ability to focus on nearby objects.
This condition is called presbyopia.
Presbyopia results in difficulty reading small print or doing close-up tasks.
A nearsighted eye will focus on near objects by itself without reading glasses.
This means that as you get older you will need to use reading glasses.
Not everyone is able to adjust to or tolerate monovision.
It’s best to do a trial with contact lenses before having a permanent surgical procedure.
Contact lenses distort the natural shape of your cornea.
This can lead to inaccurate measurements and a less than optimal surgical outcome.
But as you get older or in low-light conditions, you may still need to wear glasses.
But long-term results often aren’t available or haven’t been well studied.
This makes it difficult to draw conclusions from the data that is reported.
This is called regression.
Your eye surgeon will probably work with a team, who may help with your initial evaluation and measurements.
The surgeon can help you understand the benefits and limitations of surgery.
Talk to an eye surgeon in whom you feel confident and get your questions answered.
Updated: 6/27/2023
Publication Date: 12/12/2008
