Does Laser Treatment Solve Most Vision Problems?

Laser: a solution for vision defects?

Vision defects are one of the scourges of the 21st century. More than 50% of adult Poles suffer from vision problems. Unfortunately, the statistics are similar for children. Doctors warn that this is a global trend, and estimates by the World Health Organization (WHO) indicate that by 2050, half of Europe’s population will be short-sighted. Already, 30% of the population suffers from astigmatism, while hyperopia (long-sightedness), which occurs somewhat more frequently, is an inherited defect that worsens with age. The incidence of presbyopia is also increasing; it develops after the age of 40.

More than 40% of Poles use prescription glasses, and nearly one million people in our country wear contact lenses. These are proven solutions that correct the most common vision defects, but they do not eliminate them permanently. That is why more and more people are opting for procedures such as laser vision correction. The opinions of patients who have undergone the procedure confirm that vision improves almost immediately.

Which vision defects can laser treatment correct?

Many people wonder whether laser vision correction will solve their vision problems. The most advanced treatment methods can correct short-sightedness up to –13 diopters, long-sightedness up to +6 diopters and astigmatism up to approximately 6 diopters. Above all, however, laser vision correction is a procedure tailored to the individual patient, and reputable clinics treat defects that often exceed the criteria listed above.

If a vision defect is very severe, the laser will not remove it completely, but it can be used to perform so-called enhancement treatment after a refractive procedure (lens replacement or the insertion of additional lenses into the eye). Laser treatment can also correct vision defects that develop, for example, after cataract surgery.

Who can undergo laser vision correction?

Laser procedures are routinely performed on people aged from 20 to approximately 50. Laser vision correction is not recommended for children and adolescents because their vision defect has not yet stabilised, and treatment would not produce the desired results. The upper age limit, on the other hand, is not fixed and may be extended if the doctor finds no contraindications.

Laser treatment solves the vast majority of vision problems, but not all of them. The procedure cannot be performed on patients with an unstable vision defect, pathological changes in the cornea, macular diseases, very severe allergies or severe tear-production deficiency.

Vision quality after laser vision correction

The difference in visual acuity is noticeable immediately after the procedure. A few days after the procedure, patients can return to work and start driving again. Patients regain full visual function within three months of the procedure.

This article was prepared in substantive cooperation with https://blikpol.pl/opinie