Laser eye treatment is now a well-established procedure and as we continue to see advances in technology and treatments of this nature gain wider acceptance, so an increasing number of people are turning to laser eye surgery as an alternative to wearing glasses or contact lenses.

But what are the risks of laser eye treatment?

Although the chances of having a serious vision-threatening complication, or severe eye injury, following laser eye treatment are very small indeed, surgery is not without risk and in this brief article we will look at just some of the more frequently seen problems.

Undercorrection/Overcorrection: Each individual's eye is unique and it is not possible to predict perfectly it will respond to laser eye treatment. Consequently, you may still require corrective lenses after surgery for clear vision. In many cases, a further procedure can be undertaken to improve the result.

Excessive Corneal Haze: As part of the normal healing process, corneal haze can occur after laser eye surgery. Usually, it has very little, if any, effect on the final obtainable vision and can only be seen through a microscope by an eye doctor. Nonetheless, cases of excessive haze that interferes with vision do occur which can frequently be healed by means of an additional laser treatment.

Decrease in Best-Corrected Vision: After laser eye surgery, the best obtainable vision for some patients with corrective lenses is not as good as it was before the procedure. This may occur because of the irregular removal of tissue or from the development of corneal haze.

Regression: In the months following laser eye treatment some patients find that the effects of the procedure are gradually lost. This can be likened to the risk of undercorrection, and a second surgery will often correct the problem.

Infection and delayed healing: Although there is a chance that the cornea will become infected following laser eye treatment, the chances of this happening are less than 1 in 1,000. In most cases this causes some additional discomfort and delay in healing, with no lasting effects appearing within a period of four years.

Distorted Flap: Irregular healing of the corneal tissue flap can produce a distortion to the cornea, giving rise to a decrease in best-corrected vision.

Severe dry eye syndrome: As a result of surgery, your eye may not be able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist and comfortable. Dry eye not only causes discomfort, but may cause a drop in visual quality as a result of intermittent blurring and other visual symptoms. This problem might be permanent. Intensive eye drop treatment or further surgery might be needed.

Problems with a Perfect Procedure: Even when everything goes absolutely perfectly, laser eye treatment can produce effects that may cause some dissatisfaction. Older patients should be aware that they can't have both good near vision and good distance vision in the same eye without using corrective lenses. Some myopic patients rely on their condition (by taking off their glasses, or by wearing a weaker prescription) when they need to read. Such a patient might need to use reading glasses after the myopia is surgically corrected.

Halo Effect: The halo effect is an optical effect that is experienced when light levels are low. As the pupil opens, a second and slightly faded image is produced by that peripheral part of the cornea that is left untreated. For some patients this effect can interfere with night driving.

Flap Damage or Loss: From time to time, the tissue flap that should remain hinged to the central cornea becomes detached. In this case the flap can be replaced after the procedure, however, there is always the risk that this tissue flap will be lost or damaged.

Now at this point you've probably decided that laser eye treatment is just too risky, but we need to keep a sense of perspective here.

Though the risks mentioned here are very real risks and do appear from time to time, the chances of encountering any of these problems is very small indeed. Thousands of procedures are done daily and, in the overwhelming majority of cases, patients are very happy with the results.

This article is not designed to scare you off, but merely to support you in making a reasoned decision considering both the pro's and the con's before you embark on laser eye treatment.