Anxious About Laser Eye Surgery? Why You Don’t Need to Be

In addition to providing one of our most valuable assets – our vision – our eyes are among the most vulnerable organs in our bodies. Their exposed position makes us extremely protective of them; so, when someone starts talking about aiming a laser at them, most of us will understandably shudder. This anxiety over Laser Eye Surgery is only exacerbated by a lack of education and age-old scaremongering in tabloid media. But what if we were to tell you there really is nothing to be anxious about?

Of course, anxiety isn’t always logical, but we often find that knowledge often dispels fear – especially when it comes to something as unfamiliar as Laser Eye Surgery. That’s why we’re dedicated to providing as much information and debunking as many myths as possible about the procedure.

Let’s take a look at some highlights:

• Laser Eye Surgery is one of the most commonly performed elective procedures in the UK (and the world).
• It is considered safe and effective in over 99% of patients.
• The whole procedure is completed in a matter of minutes.
• The chances of experiencing a complication are exceedingly small and usually correctable.

So, no need to worry, right?

“Well,” you might say, “but what about the pain? What happens if something goes wrong? Can I go blind? What if I blink or flinch or sneeze when under the laser? What if…”

Okay, let’s start from the beginning:

Does Laser Eye Surgery hurt?

This is one of the biggest fears for many patients – and understandably so. Thankfully, this is very straightforward: No!

Thanks to the use of numbing eye drops, you shouldn’t experience any pain during the procedure. We’re not saying that it won’t feel a little weird – most patients describe the sensation as a slight pressure in the eye, but as we said above – your treatment will be over before you know it!

It is normal to experience some discomfort in the hours and days following the procedure; however, this is usually managed with the help of painkillers and lubricating eye drops – both of which will be provided by us on the day of your treatment.

What if something goes wrong?

As with any kind of surgical procedure, there is always a small risk of complications. The good news, however, is that the chances of something going noticeably wrong during your treatment (especially in the hands of an experienced surgeon) is around 1 in 1,000.

Furthermore, the chance of an expert surgeon being faced with a situation where they could not satisfactorily correct said problem is even rarer (closer to 1 in 30,000). This makes Laser Eye Surgery one of the safest surgeries around – even safer than wearing contact lenses!

As you’ll imagine from the figures above, there’s nearly an immeasurable chance of going blind as a result of Laser Eye Surgery. You can watch a video of our expert Laser Eye Surgeon, Mr Glenn Carp, discussing this in more detail here.

What if I move?

This is an extremely common concern among patients awaiting Laser Eye Surgery. After all, we really can’t control when we sneeze or blink! But don’t worry, with state-of-the-art technology, your treatment is easily adaptable to your normal bodily functions!

Our eye-tracking technology means nothing you do while in the operating chair can disrupt your treatment. You can even fall off the chair and you can rest assured your treatment will still go as smoothly as if you were asleep.

Still anxious? That’s okay, it’s perfectly normal to have some nerves about Laser Eye Surgery. That’s why we do all we can to make you feel calm and ready (chocolate and head massages really help).

If you have any anxieties about your upcoming treatment, our friendly clinic coordinators are always on hand to provide more information. Get in touch today! Alternatively, Book a Consultation to check your suitability for Laser Eye Surgery and start your journey to clear vision.