Safety vs LASIK in Dubai

For patients the single most important factor guiding their decision to have LASIK in Dubai, is the safety factor. While they fear that there could be complications, this is a common dilemma that patients face, says the Eye Surgeon in Dubai at the Ebsaar Eye Surgery Center. Having the right information can dismiss unnecessary fear factors associated with LASIK treatment. This article addresses some of the useful considerations and information about the safety of LASIK for prospective patients.

 

LASIK has been around since 1991 and has been performed over 25 million times, around the world. Though a vast majority of LASIK patients has been very satisfied with their results, there are patients who have  complained that their laser vision correction results were unsatisfactory. Many of these complications and unsatisfactory results are due to the use of older vision technology, less experienced and less careful surgeons and patients who don't make ideal candidates for LASIK treatment. The potential LASIK problems and complications typically fall into the following categories,

·         Dry Eyes - This occurs from a temporary reduced corneal nerve sensation or other ocular surface conditions. The good news is that this is treatable and preventable for many  patients.

 

·         Night time vision - Nighttime side effects such as glare, halo, star-bursting and decreased contrast sensitivity,  results in a reduced quality of vision at night. This is most due to a historical problem, having been substantially resolved by advancements with newer vision treatment options and technology. Side effects associated with night time vision  were more common in patients with nearsightedness that were treated with conventional technology. However, a recent study found that patients are ten-times more likely to see better at night after undergoing the latest treatment for LASIK at  the Eye Clinic in Dubai.

 

·         Accuracy and Enhancement - The whole idea about having LASIK is to eliminate an individual's complete dependence on eyeglasses or contact lenses. For most patients this is a very realistic goal. After undergoing LASIK, if a patient still has some residual near-sightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, a re-treatment procedure can fine-tune the individual's vision, if possible and is appropriate. All objective data reveal that the possibility of a LASIK re-treatment ranges from 2% to 10%. There is a higher chance of needing a re-treatment, for patients who have a larger and a far more complicated correction, use standard  LASIK technology, or use an eye surgeon who is inexperienced. Currently, in Dubai the re-treatment rate with standard LASIK ranges from 5-10%. Though standard LASIK has a long track record of being effective and restores perfect vision, the latest LASIK treatments have improved the accuracy of LASIK, and reduced the possibility of a re- treatment by about 2% to 5%. In reality, LASIK has a high level of success and there is no other surgical procedure that can rival the accurate results of LASIK.

 

·         Problems with the flap - An irregular flap during surgery or shifted flap after surgery can cause many problems and affect the success of the treatment. However, with improved LASIK technology and an experienced surgeon the possibility of this issue is very rare.

 

·         Infection - This is very rare, statistics show that infection occurs only in 1 patient out of 10,000 surgeries.

 

·         Corneal Inflammation after LASIK can be prevented with timely follow-up care and the appropriate use of anti-inflammatory eye drops.

Patients should make sure to gather as  much information as possible before opting for LASIK as it's an integral part of having realistic expectations and it is prudent to adopt a healthy amount of caution. As expected, the safety profile and vision results are far better with today’s modern LASIK treatment as opposed to the '1991-style' LASIK. Having said that, some LASIK eye surgeries have crossed the line with unacceptable medical standards and neglecting to give patients realistic expectations, thereby falling short of proper care for patient post surgery.