10 facts and myths about laser eye surgery

1. Laser eye surgery hurts

fable. Lasering your eyes sounds painful, but the treatment itself does not hurt. This is because your eyes are numbed with special drops during the treatment. You can feel certain actions, which can be annoying, but this does not hurt. The first hours after the treatment, your eyes may feel a bit irritated or sometimes hurt. This differs per type of treatment.

2. Laser eye surgery can make you blind

fable. Many people think and fear this, but it is a persistent myth. The laser that is used during the treatment treats the eyes very superficially: it does not enter the eye, so that you cannot become blind.

The laser only works on the cornea, the front layer of your eyeball. That’s where the light comes through for your eye to see. The rest of the eye – the iris, retina, optic nerve and all other parts – do not come into contact with the laser. In addition, the computer monitors all eye movements during the treatment and immediately compensates. So if you look just outside the frame, the laser will stop immediately.

3. High-strength laser eye surgery is not possible

fable. It is true that laser eye surgery can only be done up to a certain strength, but nowadays a lot is possible due to the modern techniques that are used. Laser eye surgery is possible from a strength of -10 to a maximum of +4 and cylinder deviations up to 5.

4. You can have your eyes lasered again

Fact. If the result is not completely satisfactory or if something has gone wrong (the procedure is not without risk), it is possible to have your eyes treated again. Clinics often have a five-year warranty.

5. You can have your eyes lasered for reading glasses

Fact/Fable. This is possible, but only if you also suffer from reduced vision. Are you older than 55 years? Then a lens change – replacing your own lens with an artificial lens – might be a better option. To determine which treatment suits your eyes, it is best to have an extensive preliminary examination performed at an eye clinic or hospital.

6. It is not possible to laser with dry eyes

fable. If you suffer from dry eyes, you can have them lasered. Laser eye surgery can only temporarily dry out your eyes, which means that not all treatments are suitable. This is also looked at during the preliminary examination and, together with all other results of scans and examinations, a recommendation from the ophthalmologist follows.

7. A cylinder cannot be lasered

fable. Cylinder deviations up to 5 can simply be lasered.

8. Laser eye surgery is expensive

fable. An eye laser treatment costs around 1000 to 2000 euros per eye. In contrast to the recurring costs for glasses and contact lenses, laser eye surgery is only a one-time procedure that will save costs in the long run. After a number of years you have earned back your glasses or contact lenses.

9. The recovery time is long

Fact/Fable. The recovery time from laser eye surgery is very dependent on the type of treatment, but you can usually see quite well after the first few days. On average, vision is fully restored after a few weeks to months.

10. Laser eye surgery is for life

Fact/Fable. The result of laser eye surgery is virtually permanent for distant vision, but almost everyone still needs reading glasses at a later age. You can often start to notice this around the age of 40. With this vision disorder, called presbyopia or presbyopia, you can see less and less well up close. Reading fine print, using a mobile phone or working on the computer is then increasingly difficult.