{"id":27971,"date":"2023-08-28T15:50:48","date_gmt":"2023-08-28T13:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/what-are-the-risks-of-laser-eye-treatment\/"},"modified":"2023-08-28T15:50:48","modified_gmt":"2023-08-28T13:50:48","slug":"what-are-the-risks-of-laser-eye-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/what-are-the-risks-of-laser-eye-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the risks of laser eye treatment?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Laser eye treatments are performed all over the world for a variety of reasons &#8211; in general, it is a low-risk and safe treatment.<br \/>\nHowever, every procedure carries risks or side effects.<br \/>\nWe have summarized some of the risks of laser eye treatment for you and present them in this article.  <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Risiken und Nebenwirkungen beim Augenlasern I Eyelaser Wien &amp; Z\u00fcrich #shorts\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5O9NzzGHmt0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><b>Laser eye surgery &#8211; a safe procedure?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/laser-eye-surgery-vienna\/\">Laser eye surgery<\/a> is generally a very safe procedure.<br \/>\nThe risk of complications is particularly low.<br \/>\nBlindness as a result of laser eye surgery is virtually impossible in healthy people.<br \/>\nIn addition, <a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/about-us\/\">the doctors treating patients are usually experienced specialists<\/a> who work with state-of-the-art medical equipment, which also reduces the risk of complications.<br \/>\nThe exact risks depend on    <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of the chosen method.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the individual&#8217;s state of health.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the responsibility of your attending physician to inform you about the risks, particularly with regard to your medical condition.<br \/>\nThis takes place during a preliminary consultation before the planned procedure.   <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Risks of laser eye treatment  <\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to the different procedures for different methods, the complications of laser eye surgery can vary.<br \/>\nThe risks of laser eye treatment can be categorized as follows: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">General complications<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complications of LASEK or PRK treatment  <\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Complications of LASIK treatment  <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>General complications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Most complications arise during the healing process.<br \/>\nA common complication during healing is inflammation.<br \/>\nHowever, problems can also occur during the procedure.    <\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Over- or undercorrection<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some cases, laser eye surgery results in a refractive over- or undercorrection.<br \/>\nThis means that the visual acuity is not yet optimal.<br \/>\nIf there is a residual visual defect, the patient may still be dependent on a visual aid after laser eye surgery.<br \/>\nA follow-up procedure to correct this can provide a remedy.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If it is an overcorrection, this can be treated with eye drops or by wearing visual aids for a certain period of time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Keratectasia<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Keratectasia is a curvature of the cornea that is directed forwards.<br \/>\nThe bulge is treated with the help of visual aids.<br \/>\nIn severe cases, a corneal transplant is necessary.<br \/>\nThe complication can be an early symptom of keratoconus.<br \/>\nOverall, however, it is a complication that occurs very rarely and where the risk can be greatly reduced by a thorough preliminary examination.    <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Infections<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Infections can also occur after laser eye treatment.<br \/>\nThe earlier the infection is detected, the better it can be treated.<br \/>\nEye drops are usually prescribed for this purpose.<br \/>\nIt is important that you consult a doctor as soon as you experience these symptoms, among others:   <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Redness in the eye<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eye pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deterioration of vision<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Other general complications<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In addition to the general complications mentioned above, these side effects may also occur:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Difficulties with night vision<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impairment of contrast sensitivity (blurred vision)<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Double images<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dry eyes  <\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Complications with the LASEK or PRK method<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/was-ist-lasek-prk\/\">During LASEK and PRK treatment<\/a>, the upper layer of the cornea is removed.<br \/>\nThe underlying layers are then treated using a laser.<br \/>\nThis can result in corneal opacities.<br \/>\nHowever, these are usually only slight opacities and can be easily treated with medication.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Was sind Risiken und Nebenwirkungen von LASIK? Z\u00fcrich &amp; Wien EyeLaser\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VCizVXZSXRs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h2><b>LASIK method<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/lasik-femto-lasik\/\">The LASIK method is<\/a> different: a flap is created on the cornea through an incision.<br \/>\nAfter the treatment, the flap is folded back again.<br \/>\nIn addition to the general complications, the incision results in the risk of the flap becoming inflamed or displaced.<br \/>\nInflammation is treated with eye drops, while a displacement of the cornea may require further surgery.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the flap is opened, the cornea may also become unstable.<br \/>\nThis can manifest itself in such a way that keratectasia occurs.<br \/>\nThe probability of keratectasia can be reduced by measuring the corneal thickness during the preliminary examination.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Risk factors  <\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The risk factors for complications during laser eye surgery vary.<br \/>\nThe treating doctor will find out about your state of health, carry out preliminary examinations and then be able to make an individual risk assessment.<br \/>\nGeneral risk factors include  <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Severe visual impairment<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Low corneal thickness<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pre-existing corneal disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scarring of the cornea<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Old age<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Reduce the risk of complications<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To a certain extent, you can help to reduce the risk of complications yourself.<br \/>\nYou should bear the following aspects in mind: <\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Attend a preliminary meeting<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insist on a detailed preliminary examination<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use prescribed eye drops regularly after surgery<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Perception of the follow-up examinations<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">     <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Observe precautionary measures (no sport, make-up or sauna)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With the help of these measures, complications after laser eye treatment can be avoided or detected and treated in good time during the follow-up examination.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Frequently asked questions and answers  <\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>How high is the risk of laser eye surgery?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Serious complications rarely occur.<br \/>\nThe likelihood of a complication also depends on the method chosen.<br \/>\nThe LASIK method has a particularly high success rate and a low complication rate of less than 1%, while LASEK treatment is the older method and is associated with more risks.  <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>What can happen during laser eye surgery?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If a complication occurs, it is often an inflammation as part of the healing process, which can be treated well with eye drops.<br \/>\nRarer complications include keratectasia or refractive over- or undercorrection of defective vision. <\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Who is laser eye surgery not suitable for?<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Good general health is an important prerequisite for laser eye surgery.<br \/>\nReasons for exclusion may include pregnancy, breastfeeding, insufficient corneal thickness, severe defective vision or diseases such as neurodermatitis, rheumatism or various autoimmune diseases.   <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Laser eye treatments are performed all over the world for a variety of reasons &#8211; in general, it is a&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":22244,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-augenlaser-en"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27971\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/22244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/eyelaser.at\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}