Is it Worth Getting Laser Eye Surgery?

There are abundant reasons a person might decide to have Laser Eye Surgery. These might range from the obvious to the extreme, but the reality is: Everybody’s reasons are different. But the question is, is it worth having Laser Eye Surgery?

Over two decades have passed since the London Vision Clinic first opened its doors, and in that time, we’ve heard countless reasons for having Laser Eye Surgery.

Some stories are incredibly touching, such as a dad who wants to be able to help when his second baby wakes up in the night, without having to scramble around to find his glasses. Or a bride-to-be who wants to walk the aisle and pose for her wedding photos without her specs.

But of course, some reasons are much more mundane. From being fed up to the endless games of hide-and-seek with glasses to being on your last tether with your contact lens routine, we believe that none of these reasons is more or less valid than another.

For many people, their reasons are a mixture of work and pleasure, professional and leisure. Because let’s face it: Our vision affects all aspects of our lives. Which is also why many people can take years totting up the pros and cons or collecting recommendations from friends, all to try and work out if the big step could be worth it.

But the fact is that this process could go on forever. So, perhaps a better question to ask would be: Is Laser Eye Surgery right for me, right now?

And to answer that, we need to consider your suitability for treatment, as well as the risks and benefits of having the procedure.

Who is Laser Eye Surgery for anyway?

The first thing to consider when asking whether Laser Eye Surgery is right for you is whether you are a suitable candidate. Happily, thanks to ongoing developments in techniques and technologies, the vast majority of people are. However, there are some prerequisites for treatment.

Some of the simpler criteria for Laser Eye Surgery include having healthy eyes, being at least 18 years old, and not currently pregnant or breastfeeding. Of course, if you are found unsuitable on any of these grounds, this may only be a temporary problem. For example, most women who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding will once again be suitable candidates for Laser Eye Surgery once they have finished nursing.

But there are other things to consider when figuring out whether Laser Eye Surgery is right for you. Many of these factors will be determined during a comprehensive screening process at your clinic. At London Vision Clinic, this process involves a wide range of tests that help us to plan a tailored treatment and provide the best chance of achieving your best possible vision.

So, let’s take a closer look at some of these factors.

• Having a high prescription: Having a severe prescription can mean that Laser Eye Surgery cannot fully correct your refractive error, especially at clinics that don’t have access to the latest technology. However, at London Vision Clinic, we were the first in the UK to offer ReLEx SMILE – a revolutionary treatment that can make it possible to treat even very high prescriptions.
• Experiencing age-related changes in your vision: If you have begun to experience the age-related vision deterioration of presbyopia, traditional Laser Eye Surgery may not be the best option for you. However, another option may be more suitable: PRESBYOND® Laser Blended Vision.
• Having an underlying condition: Some health conditions can make you unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery, as it can increase the risk of complications. This may include: uncontrolled diabetes, keratoconus, and autoimmune disorders.
• Having dry eyes: Patients who are prone to dry eyes may be told they are unsuitable for Laser Eye Surgery as the procedure can induce this symptom during the recovery period.
• Having thin corneas: Laser Eye Surgery involves removing tissue from the cornea. The corneas, therefore, need to be thick enough to accommodate this, and in the case of LASIK, the creation of a corneal flap. However, the less invasive ReLEx SMILE may be a suitable option for some patients with thinner corneas.

What are the Risks of Laser Eye Surgery?

When doing your research on Laser Eye Surgery, you’ll often hear that the treatment is among the safest elective surgical procedures in the world. While this is true, it is important to remember that it is still a surgical procedure and, as such, it does come with an element of risk.

Furthermore, this risk can be influenced by a range of factors, including the experience of the surgeon performing the treatment, the technology being used, and the thoroughness of pre-operative testing.

At London Vision Clinic, we have an extremely low complication rate. This is thanks to a combination of our expert surgeons, access to the latest technology, and our comprehensive screening process (which is among the most thorough anywhere!). Nonetheless, there remains a small risk of side effects and complications. These risks should be explained to you fully during your consultation.

The risks of Laser Eye Surgery can include:

• Post-operative dry eyes: As mentioned earlier, this is a common symptom after Laser Eye Surgery. However, in most cases, it is temporary and can be managed with the help of lubricating eye drops.
• Under- or over-correction: In a small number of cases, your vision may be under- or over-corrected. This is usually fixable with an enhancement procedure.
• Night vision disturbances: The swelling that occurs after Laser Eye Surgery can lead to disturbances (such as halos and starbursts) around light sources. These usually clear up as the swelling goes down and your vision settles.

Other risks include corneal flap complications, infection, light sensitivity, and regression; however, these are all extremely rare. See here for more information on the risks of Laser Eye Surgery.

Risk, then, is often not fixed but something your chosen clinic can take active steps to manage. With that in mind, here are a few steps you can take in assessing the potential risks of Laser Eye Surgery:

• Talk to an expert: No website, tabloid article, or friend beats talking to an expert. They’ll be able to explain everything that is done to minimise risk and their experience in handling both foreseen and unforeseen complications or side effects during and after treatment.
• Understand the possibilities: It’s only natural to want to avoid thinking about worst-case scenarios. But familiarising yourself with every possible outcome can help you to better understand the procedure and whether it is right for you.
• Weighing up the cost/benefit: All surgical procedures come with some element of risk. While this can be greatly reduced by choosing the right clinic, it still requires a leap of faith to reap the rewards.

What are the Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery?

Now that we’ve covered all the scary stuff, let’s talk about the potential benefits of going ahead with Laser Eye Surgery.  So, what does better vision actually mean to you?

For one person, the best thing about corrected vision might be never having to poke contact lenses into their eyes again. For another, it might be playing with their kids or grandkids without fear of breaking their glasses. And for yet another, it might be the freedom of travelling or exercising without pesky glasses or contacts getting in the way.

But while better vision can mean something different to everyone, there are certain benefits it brings to everyone:

• Reduced chance of eye infections: Some people may be worried about the risk of infection after Laser Eye Surgery, but the risk is much higher when wearing contact lenses. Such infections can be irritating and painful, but they can also be much more serious and even put you at risk of losing your vision.
• Simply better vision: When you have become used to glasses or contact lenses, it can be easy to underestimate how much joy life without them can bring. But as our past patients have discovered, Laser Eye Surgery often gives you the gift of feeling freer and confident to explore new places, try new hobbies and activities, and even meet new people!

When asking the question, “Is Laser Eye Surgery worth it?“, the answer is rarely a straightforward “yes” or “no“. The truth is that Laser Eye Surgery can be a truly life-changing treatment – and as such, it is not a decision that should be taken lightly. Luckily, there are plenty of experts out there who can help you consider the decision with precision and care.

If you’d like to discuss your options with a knowledgeable member of our clinic staff, get in touch today. Alternatively, find out if Laser Eye Surgery could be an option for you by Booking a Consultation at our Harley Street clinic.