Can you go blind from laser surgery?

Lasers are not just found in science fiction movies but have become a revolutionary tool utilized in the medical realm. Laser therapy has gained traction as an alternative to traditional surgical procedures for treating various medical conditions, including vision problems.

In most cases, laser eye surgery performs better compared to traditional surgeries when it comes to correcting visual impairments like Myopia and astigmatism. However, one question that rings at the back of anyone’s mind is whether it’s safe or not. So can you go blind from laser surgery?

What is Lasik?

To understand more about LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis), we need first to comprehend how light rays enter your eyes’ cornea before processing images by the brain.

Normally, light should focus directly onto our retina with help from a transparent tissue called the conjunctiva located on top of our iris.

But suppose there’s something wrong with its shape or imperfections on either part that blur clarity when forming images. In that case, corrective measures are needed.

That’s where LASIK comes into play! It’s an advanced surgical procedure to reshape your cornea using ultraviolet radiation energy emitted through a laser device.

How does Lasik Surgery work?

The doctor will use numbing drops and cut open a thin flap on your cornea using either a microkeratome blade or another specialized instrument such as femtosecond lasers.
Then they’ll show off their mad cutting edge 90s hacker-looking gear and proceed to zap away some layers until reaching an ideal curve fitting for better image formation!

Don’t be scared yet; these surgeons know what they’re doing and regularly perform this procedure countless times per day!

The Risks Involved

Although uncommon (but then again aren’t many frightful clichés spawned from unlikely occurrences?) one potential risk associated with lasers during surgical procedures is vision loss.

But keep in mind, the chances of anything going catastrophically wrong are almost non-existent if you get an experienced board-certified LASIK surgeon.

It’s like going on a blind date – the stakes will certainly diminish if your partner isn’t just some random person from Craigslist!

How often does it happen?

The likelihood ranges anywhere between one to two cases per million refractive surgeries – which sounds like an incredibly low number – but let’s remember each human being represents their own unique circumstances and that could either amplify or mitigate risk factors.

Plus, even when the worst happens (touch wood), other methods may help regain much of what was lost using contact lenses and corrective glasses!

Disclaimer: Not all ocular complications only entail complete blindness; many folks merely experience reduced quality of sight.

People at Risks

While laser surgery regarding eyesight complications can potentially be effective for practically anyone with nearsightedness or astigmatism, certain people may carry different risks related to potential post-operative complication incidence rates.

This includes those who:
  • Have undergone previous cornea operations
  • Have thin corneas
  • Experience dry eye symptoms

You might wonder why these specific groups should worry more than average? It has everything to do with lower pre-op thickness affecting recovery speed magnitudes as well as the natural variation in how sensitive our eyeballs can handle alterations in humidity distribution zones versus normal operating parameters.

Nevertheless, choosing highly trained surgeons over inexperienced ones and monitoring recovery progress accordingly is vital toward minimizing negative future spirals!

Conclusion

When undergoing any medical treatment always weigh up carefully whether it’s absolutely necessary before engaging yourself fully into any procedure whose implementation includes artificial tools like lasers that beep sounds reminiscing Life Support machinery seen in old hospital films.

Considerations taken into account include company reputation ratings online reviews by past patients currently basking poolside while you sweat bucketloads over Lasik surgery!

But don’t stress too much, these specialized tools are highly advanced, and LASIK experts will walk you through what they’re doing before performing said procedure to help ease tensions caused by volatile imaginations.

Their job is ensuring their patients receive high-quality medical care, and nothing bad happens during the operation itself. So kick back as if it were a relaxing day at the park!

Remember: sight restoration is like playing Russian roulette with less bullets than chambers when in trained and experienced hands…albeit with further success!

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