It's normal for night vision to be reduced for several nights after undergoing LASIK surgery. Many people experience temporary night vision problems after the procedure, which can last for days, weeks, or even months. This is part of the healing process and usually goes away within the first six months. The duration of this side effect may vary from patient to patient, as the healing experience is different.
Some patients may have night vision problems for a few weeks, while others may experience them for a few months. Up to 30% of people who have LASIK surgery report having night vision problems such as glare and halos. The most recent research on the procedure takes a closer look at the side effects of LASIK, including the visual symptoms of night vision, such as glare, halos, ghosting and star bursts, as well as dry eyes after LASIK. If you notice that your night vision is too poor to drive safely at night, be sure to arrange transportation.
While most LASIK patients find that dry eyes, discomfort, and glare go away within the first month or a year, 5% will continue to be sensitive to nightlight. Patients who have night vision problems after LASIK should submit a MedWatch report to the FDA online. In a survey of patients dissatisfied with the results of refractive surgery, 43.5% reported that glare and altered night vision were the reason for their dissatisfaction. Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor.
You may be prescribed a low-potency medication to sharpen your vision at night. A meta-analysis of the safety and efficacy summaries of the twelve lasers approved between 1998 and 2004 revealed that six months after LASIK, 19.3% of patients report having nighttime driving problems that are worse, much worse, moderately severe or severe. The following video illustrates how a LASIK patient with night vision problems can see the road at night. During the normal recovery period after LASIK, people may experience sensitivity to light, including visual symptoms of night vision.
According to a new study, nearly a third of patients who underwent laser eye surgery using the LASIK method reported having problems seeing at night. The LASIK industry refuses to recognize the serious impact of night vision disorders on the quality of life of patients after LASIK. They have radically reduced the rate of LASIK side effects related to the visual symptoms of night vision and, in fact, have improved the quality of vision for most people. Regardless of how representatives of the LASIK industry downplay this topic, it is true that night vision alterations after LASIK occur frequently and can be permanent and disabling.
