When you have poor eyesight, there are many treatment options available to you that can help you maintain a normal life with improved eyesight.

The most common option is glasses; these have been in existence in human society in one form or another since around 1268 when the glass used in the wireframes was hand carved from magnifying glasses.

Next are contact lenses, which are a bit more recent, dating to 1887, and can now be replaced daily, offering wearers much improved eyesight without the worry of their glasses falling off their faces.

Finally, there is laser eye surgery. This is by far the most recent addition to eye treatment options, starting in 1988, offering patients with eye issues from astigmatism to cataracts the chance to improve their eyesight. The treatment has come a long way since 1988, and you can now search “cataract surgery melbourne” or a similar phrase to find treatment options pretty much everywhere, no matter where you live.

So, if you are going in to undertake laser eye surgery, what do you need to know? Read on to find out!

It Is Considered Safe

Most people are not overly keen on the idea of having something go into their eye to remove a cataract, but when it comes to the best laser eye surgery available, it is totally safe. 

Of course, you should scour the web to find the most trained team to perform the surgery by looking at reviews and qualifications, but once you have found a highly specialized team that can offer aftercare, the process is highly likely to be effective and have great long-term results.

Not Everyone Is Suited to It

For many people, it is a sad day when they find out that they are not suitable for laser eye surgery. 

If you are under the age of 18, you are unlikely to be suited to laser eye surgery. If you have recently had a change in your prescription for corrective lenses, you are also unlikely to be suitable for most kinds of laser surgery. Finally, if you take medications that can cause changes to your eyesight, such as anticoagulants like warfarin, you are also not likely to be suitable for laser eye surgery.

There Are Different Types of Surgery

You may have heard of LASIK, but there are other kinds of eye surgery that you may be more suited to. 

Trabeculectomy, for example, is another type of eye surgery used to treat glaucoma. In relation to brand names like LASIK eye surgery, there is also photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), which is used to treat conditions linked to far-sightedness and short-sightedness. So, talk to your optician about the best type to treat your vision problems.

Recovery Times Vary

You may have read online that you will recover from laser surgery within a few days. However, that is an optimistic average, which will vary based on your age, the condition being treated, and any secondary complications. Yes, you will likely see an improvement in your eyesight within a few days, but the aftercare regimen should last well over a week, so be sure to stick to it!

It Will Be Itchy

One of the main side effects patients report after laser eye surgery is that their eyes are itchy. This is because the naturally occurring liquid in your eyes has been disturbed, drying the eye out. As hard as it is, refrain from itching your eyes, and use the eye drops that your surgeon has given you instead.