How Safe is Laser Eye Surgery?
Laser Eye Surgery is an extremely safe procedure, particularly when it is performed by an expert surgeon with access to the latest technology.
Several studies into the outcomes of Laser Eye Surgery support its safety in suitable patients. For example, a 2006 study by the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) concluded that Laser Eye Surgery “is safe and efficacious for use in appropriately selected patients.”
This has been further supported by an abundance of literature with many studies demonstrating excellent patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and safety. However, as a surgical procedure, Laser Eye Surgery is not completely without risk. It is important to be aware of these risks when considering whether treatment is the right option for you.
The good news is that the chance of experiencing a serious complication – defined as an unexpected occurrence – is extremely small. Moreover, the vast majority of complications can be corrected.
In the hands of an expert surgeon, the chance of experiencing a marked, permanently reduced vision or quality of vision that cannot be satisfactorily corrected is around 1 in 30,000.
How is Laser Eye Surgery Safety Measured?
Measures of safety in Laser Eye Surgery take into account any risk of compromise to your vision. This includes blurring, double vision, and any other distortion that cannot be corrected with glasses to achieve the same level of visual acuity you had with glasses before the surgery (your Corrected Distance Visual Acuity, or CDVA).
In some cases, some blurriness may remain following Laser Eye Surgery. This isn’t technically a compromise to your vision; rather, your vision is simply not fully focused. This blurriness can usually be corrected, either with the help of glasses or, as is more often the case, with an enhancement procedure.
Loss of visual acuity can be measured using a Snellen chart – a common eye test. This chart features several lines of letters, each of which gets smaller the further down the chart you go. For example, if a patient was able to read the letters up to the 20/16 line before Laser Eye Surgery, but can only read up to the 20/25 line after (with glasses), this would be considered a loss of two lines of CDVA.
According to the 2006 NICE study, the likelihood of experiencing worse corrected vision after LASIK (without glasses) was 0.6% – around 6 in every 1,000 patients. However, with the latest techniques (such as ReLEx SMILE), this risk can be even smaller.
London Vision Clinic was the first clinic in the UK to introduce this latest innovation in Laser Eye Surgery. Today, the risk of an eye losing two lines of best-corrected vision is around 1 in 1,000.
A Higher Risk for Higher Prescriptions?
The risks associated with Laser Eye Surgery are extremely small for all patients; however, the chance of experiencing complications can vary depending on your prescription. Your doctor should explain the risks thoroughly during your consultation, including any risks that may be particularly relevant to you.
Choosing a high-quality clinic and an expert surgeon is the best way to ensure the highest level of safety for your Laser Eye Surgery treatment. With the help of the latest technology, thorough screening processes, and regular follow-up appointments, you will have the best possible chance of achieving the very best outcomes.