by Jane W. Smith

Created on: October 04, 2008   Last Updated: March 29, 2012

For many people, laser eye surgery can correct their vision so that they no longer need to rely on glasses or contacts. The surgery works by reshaping the cornea of the eye and thus changing the eye's focusing power. Only your eye doctor can determine if you are a good candidate for corrective laser eye surgery.

Laser eye surgery is not for everyone, surgical outcomes are based largely on a thorough examination of your eyes prior to surgery. You will not qualify for laser eye surgery if you have any of the following:

(1) Unstable Vision You may not qualify for correction if the quality of your vision fluctuates or is worsening.

(2) Persistent Dry Eyes You may not be an ideal surgery candidate if you have dry eyes or a condition, such as Sjogren's syndrome, that causes dry eyes.

(3) Eye Characteristics In order for laser surgery outcomes to be optimized, your eyes must meet certain specifications. The thickness and size of your cornea, degree of correction needed, pupil size, and other eye characteristics will help your doctor determine if laser eye surgery is for you.

(4) Other Factors Your doctor will determine if other factors such as immune system diseases and general health will influence the potential outcome of your surgery.

According to a study by the Mayo Clinic, more than 90% of people that undergo laser eye surgery no longer need their classes or contact lenses most, if not all of the time. But like all surgeries, there are some risks. The side effects of laser eye surgery can include the following: dry eyes, under and over correction, difficulties with seeing at night (halos and glares), and infection.

Most people will experience dry eyes, while their eyes are healing, for up to six months after surgery. Eye drops can help ease dry eye symptoms. If the laser removes too much or too little of the tissue around your eye, your correction may not be to your liking and you may require a second surgery.

Some people complain of changes to their night vision, but these symptoms can be improved with eye drops but in some cases might not go away. Also, complications can arise from the surgery itself. The eye can become infected, painful, and swollen from the procedure. The history of laser eye surgery has been relatively short, so long-term effects are not clearly known.

Health insurance programs do not typically cover the cost of laser eye surgery. Although, laser eye surgery cost has come down in recent years it still averages around $2000 an eye. For millions of people, laser eye surgery has resulted in clearer vision.

Laser eye surgery may or may not be for you and it is best to find out what your doctor recommends for you.

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