Laser eyes

Lisa Vogel studied departmental journalism with a focus on medicine and biosciences at Ansbach University and deepened her journalistic knowledge in the master's degree in multimedia information and communication. This was followed by a traineeship in the editorial team. Since September 2020 she has been writing as a freelance journalist for

More posts by Lisa Vogel All content is checked by medical journalists.

Some people have their eyes lasered if they are nearsighted or farsighted, for example. The doctor uses a laser to remove tissue in order to change the refractive power of the eye so that ametropia is permanently compensated for. How exactly does laser eye correction work? What methods are there? And what does laser eye surgery cost? You can read the answers here!

What is laser eye surgery?

With laser eye surgery, the doctor uses a laser to remove tissue from the cornea of ​​the eye. This changes the refractive power of the eye in such a way that an existing ametropia (such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism) is permanently compensated or at least significantly improved. After the eye surgery, the patient is no longer dependent on glasses or contact lenses in the best case scenario.

The success of laser eye surgery depends largely on the surgeon's skills and experience.

Laser eye surgery is non-contact. In most cases, the eye laser used is a so-called excimer laser. This works with an accuracy of 1/1000 millimeter. In some procedures, a so-called femtosecond laser is also used.

Laser eye surgery falls under the field of refractive surgery. This specialist area includes all eye operations that change the refractive power of the eye.

Laser eye surgery: requirements

When it is possible to have your eyes lasered initially depends on the type of ametropia. In principle, laser eye surgery can be performed in the following cases:

• Farsightedness: The doctor removes tissue from the edges of the cornea, so that the curvature of the cornea increases.
• Myopia: Tissue is removed from the center of the cornea so that the cornea becomes flatter.
• Curvature of the cornea (astigmatism): During laser surgery, the irregular shape of the cornea is compensated for.

In individual cases, the severity of the ametropia also plays a role in laser eye surgery. The treatment area for laser eye surgery varies from clinic to clinic. Many eye clinics correct myopia up to -10 dioptres and farsightedness up to +6 dioptres. A corneal curvature should not exceed +6 diopters if laser eye surgery is desired.

Another prerequisite is stable eyesight: the ametropia should not have changed in the two years before the laser eye surgery.

You are not allowed to wear soft contact lenses for one week before the operation. Hard contact lenses must be removed three weeks before the laser correction.

Before the procedure, you will be prescribed special eye drops by the ophthalmologist. You need to use these drops three times a day three days before the operation.

On the day of the operation, you can take meals and medication as usual. However, do without:

• smoking
• Perfume
• deodorants containing alcohol
• Make up
• Jewellery

In the clinic, you will be given more eye drops to prepare for surgery and drops to numb your eyes. The duration of the operation depends on the type of procedure. An experienced doctor needs about five to 15 minutes per eye.

After the laser surgery

After the treatment, you will remain in the clinic or practice for around 20 to 30 minutes. In the beginning, the lasered eyes are a bit sensitive to light. You should therefore bring sunglasses with you to the surgery appointment and wear them afterwards as required.

Dry eyes are a common complaint after laser treatment. In many patients, the eye also increasingly tears directly after the eye laser. On the other hand, pain is not to be expected. Already one day later you should have almost normal eyesight, which can fluctuate a little over the next few weeks.

The healing time after laser eye surgery varies from patient to patient. Eyesight usually stabilizes within four to six weeks after the laser procedure.

Follow-up care and rules of conduct

After the laser eye surgery, your doctor will give you eye drops with precise instructions on how to use them. Stick to it - this is important for the eye to heal.

At certain intervals after the laser operation, you should visit the ophthalmologist for follow-up examinations: The first check-up is carried out on the day after the eye correction, the second one week after the operation. One month after the laser, the third and final follow-up examination is due.

In the further course, regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist are advisable, about once a year.

If you have symptoms after the laser eye surgery, you should always consult your doctor immediately and not wait for the scheduled examination appointments.

In the first two days after the procedure, you should take care of your eyes and avoid watching TV, working on a screen and long car journeys. You can usually go back to work and exercise after three days.

If the treatment goes without complications, you will see better for a lifetime after the laser eye treatment.

It seldom happens that you see poorly again after the eye laser. This can affect patients who had very high diopter values ​​before the laser treatment. Natural presbyopia occurs from around the age of 45 - the lens of the eye is less elastic and eyesight deteriorates. This also happens to people who have had laser treatment.

Laser eye surgery: risks

Like any surgical procedure, laser eye surgery involves certain risks. The eye surgery can be associated with the following complications:

• Limitations of vision at night / at dusk (with the perception of shadows or halos)
• Over or under corrections
• Infections
• Dry eyes
• Deterioration of eyesight
• Perforation of the eye

The following complaints are possible, especially with the LASIK procedure:

• Dry eyes after the operation
• Tissue ingrowth
• Destabilization of the cornea
• Paresthesia in the treated area
• Eye pain

However, these consequences of eye surgery are usually easy to treat and do not lead to permanent damage.

Laser eyes: costs

The costs for laser eye surgery differ considerably depending on the method used, the individual case and the clinic or doctor's practice. In general, the treatment costs between 800 and 3000 euros per eye. Pre- and aftercare is included in most clinics / practices.

Are you planning to have your eyes lasered? It is best to clarify the costs in advance during your consultation with the ophthalmologist.

Laser eye surgery: does the health insurance company pay?

Laser eye surgery is an individual health service (IGeL). This means that neither the statutory nor the private health insurances pay for the treatment. The procedure is not considered medically necessary - similar to cosmetic surgery. The patient has to bear the costs for the laser eye surgery himself.

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