Will My Vision Fluctuate After Laser Eye Surgery?

Laser Eye Surgery is one of the world’s safest and most commonly performed procedures. Tens of millions of people are now enjoying the results of their laser-corrected vision. In fact, in the UK alone, an estimated 15,000 people have Laser Eye Surgery every year!

Compared with other surgical procedures, Laser Eye Surgery is minimally invasive, has fast recovery times, and requires little time in the clinic. But that isn’t to say there is no risk of side effects. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases, side effects are temporary and resolve themselves in a short period. But what about fluctuating vision? Is this a side effect of Laser Eye Surgery?

Your Post-Surgery Vision

Once treatment has been completed, many people notice an immediate improvement in their vision. The procedure involves changing the cornea’s shape to correct how light reflects into the eye. This helps to focus light directly onto the cornea, where before it may have been focused in front of or beyond this photo-sensitive layer of cells.

While most Laser Eye Surgery procedures performed today (such as LASIK and ReLEx SMILE) are minimally invasive, they will still trigger your eye’s natural inflammatory response. This can lead to several side effects, including dry eyes, glare (such as halos and starbursts), and fluctuations in your vision.

Fluctuating Vision After Laser Eye Surgery

Swelling is one of the key features of your eyes’ inflammatory response. This occurs when your body sends fluid to the affected area to help reduce pain sensation and accelerate healing. This is a completely normal bodily response; however, it can cause several side effects, including vision disturbances.

As mentioned above, these common side effects are experienced only temporarily. Furthermore, the extent of fluctuating vision will vary from patient to patient. This can depend on a number of factors, including the type of Laser Eye Surgery procedure you had (PRK/LASEK, LASIK, or ReLEx SMILE), and your personal healing rate. However, most patients will experience some fluctuations in their vision during their recovery.

This may include short periods of not being able to focus effectively on objects in the foreground or distance, or at times experiencing blurry vision. Your surgeon and our clinic staff will regularly monitor these side effects during your follow-up appointments to ensure they are within the limits of normal recovery.

When will my vision reach optimum levels?

It typically takes eyes between three and six months to fully heal after Laser Eye Surgery. During this period, you will be advised to follow certain guidelines to ensure a smooth recovery. However, most patients can return to most normal activities within a few weeks.

If you experience side effects such as fluctuating vision, there are some things you can do to prevent them from worsening. For example, extended periods of screen time can dry out your eyes and make other side effects worse. Nonetheless, this is usually manageable with the help of lubricating eye drops.

You may also find that you still require glasses for some activities during this period. This might include for close-up tasks or driving. While we can’t guarantee that you will eventually be able to ditch your glasses and contact lenses for good, the majority of our patients achieve 20/20 vision (or better!) once their eyes are fully recovered.

Eventually, your vision will begin to stabilise. If at this point, you’re still experiencing other side effects like halos and glare then a further correction or enhancement procedure may be necessary. However, it’s important to wait until your eye measurements are consistent to consider a re-operation.

If you would like to learn more about the potential side effects of Laser Eye Surgery, get in touch with one of our friendly clinic coordinators today. Alternatively, Book an Initial Consultation to get the ball rolling!