Can laser eye surgery cause blindness?

If you’re considering laser eye surgery to improve your vision, it’s natural to have concerns and questions about the procedure’s safety and potential risks. One question that often arises is, “Can laser eye surgery cause blindness?”

At IVISION LASER, we understand that the risk of blindness may be troubling you, and we’re here to address it directly.1 Saragoussi JJ, et al. Quality of life after LASIK: part II. Quality of life and satisfaction of a population of patients treated with LASIK [in French]. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2011;34:294–302. Rest assured, we value your vision as much as you do, and we want to provide you with accurate information to ease your fears.

The safety of laser eye surgery

Laser eye surgery, also known as refractive surgery, is an advanced and well-established procedure that has helped millions of people worldwide achieve clearer long term vision without glasses.2 Saragoussi JJ, et al. Quality of life after LASIK: part II. Quality of life and satisfaction of a population of patients treated with LASIK [in French]. J Fr Ophtalmol. 2011;34:294–302. We offer popular laser eye procedures such as LASIK surgery (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) and SMILE Pro.

It is essential to understand that laser eye surgery is considered safe and effective for most people.3Blum, M. et al. (2016a) Five-year results of small incision lenticule extraction (Relex Smile), British Journal of Ophthalmology.

Indeed, an extensive study involving 200 patients revealed remarkable results regarding postoperative vision. Astonishingly, 99% of the eyes in this group achieved 20/40 vision or better after the procedure. This demonstrates the exceptional efficacy of laser eye surgery in enhancing vision and reaffirms its extremely safe success rate. 4https://solomoneye.com/vision-reviews

Potential complications and their frequency

Like any surgical procedure, laser eye surgery does carry some risks, but severe complications leading to blindness are exceedingly rare5https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/laser-eye-surgery-and-lens-surgery

To put this into perspective, the chance of going blind from LASIK is about 1 in 5 million, making it safer than falling out of bed6https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/scientists-calculate-odd-ways-die-282884

To put your mind at ease, here are some potential LASIK complications, or side effects, and their frequency:

  1. Vision fluctuations: Some patients may experience temporary dry eyes, halos, glare, or double vision after the surgery. However, these issues are usually mild and tend to resolve within a few months.7https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.2147/OPTH.S106731
  2. Undercorrection or overcorrection: In some cases, the desired vision correction may not be fully achieved, or the correction may be slightly overdone. Enhancement procedures can address these issues if they occur.
  3. Infection or inflammation: The risk of infection or inflammation after laser eye surgery is rare8https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0039625704000281 and can usually be managed effectively with appropriate medications.

Importance of a qualified surgeon and thorough evaluation

The key to minimising risks and maximising the benefits of laser eye surgery lies in choosing an experienced and qualified surgeon. At IVISION LASER, Dr. Aanchal Gupta and her highly qualified team are dedicated to optimising your vision through personalised attention and state-of-the-art technology.

Before the procedure, we will evaluate your eyes to ensure that you are a suitable candidate and to identify any factors that may affect the outcome.

While all surgeries carry some risks, severe complications leading to blindness are extremely rare. By choosing a qualified surgeon and by following post-operative instructions carefully, you can significantly reduce the already minimal risks associated with the procedure.9Ekktet Chansue et al, Efficacy, predictability and safety of small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE),2, Article number 14, Published: 31 August 2015

Your eyesight is precious, and we understand your concerns. We hope this has provided you with the information you need to make an informed choice about laser eye surgery. To take the first step and free yourself from wearing contact lenses or glasses, book a free assessment with us.

We are here to support you on your journey to clearer vision.

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The best way to find out if laser eye treatment is right for you is to have a free assessment. We’ll examine your eyes and you’ll get a clear answer from our team on your suitability and laser vision correction options.

Hi, I’m Dr Aanchal Gupta, a specialist laser eye and cataract surgeon in Adelaide.

For more than 15 years, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of patients achieve clearer vision and greater freedom from glasses and contact lenses, having performed more than 15,000 eye procedures.

Vision correction requires precision, experience and sound clinical judgement. Achieving consistently excellent outcomes depends not only on advanced technology, but also on the expertise of the surgeon using it.

I understand that choosing eye surgery is an important decision. Every person’s eyes—and visual needs—are different, so treatment should be carefully tailored to your eye health, lifestyle and goals.

Your complimentary initial assessment is an opportunity to explore your suitability, learn about the options available and have your questions answered without obligation.

I look forward to welcoming you to IVISION LASER in Adelaide and helping you discover what may be possible for your vision.

Dr Aanchal Gupta

MBBS, M.Med. (Ophth. Sci.), Grad. Dip. (Refract. Surg.), FRANZCO, FWCRS&VS
Specialist Laser Eye and Cataract Surgeon