Doctors perform many types of eye procedures to treat conditions that damage vision and the overall health of the eye. Some procedures, such as vision correction surgery, do not treat health conditions but may help reduce a person's dependence on prescription eye wear. Whether an eye procedure is elective or recommended by a doctor to treat eye disease, a person should weigh the pros and cons of the procedure and discuss them with the eye doctor.
Dry Eye
Some eye procedures cause dry eye symptoms, particularly procedures that create an incision in the eye or use a special lens that comes in contact with the eye. Symptoms may include surface irritation, redness and excessive watering. Lasik, one type of vision correction surgery, causes some amount of dry eye problems in many people. In most cases of eye dryness, artificial tears may help resolve discomfort. However, if severe symptoms persist, a doctor may need to insert small plugs into the person's tear ducts to encourage tears to stay in the eye, according to MayoClinic.com.
Vision
On occasion, eye procedures may cause a decrease in vision. Cataract surgery requires the doctor to remove the hardened, natural lens of the eye and replace it with a clear, new lens. If the measurements the doctor uses to select the lens to insert are slightly off, a person may experience poor vision after the surgery. However, in most cases, a new prescription for glasses will correct the problem. In a procedure such as Lasik, a person may have similar problems with vision, though some people also experience significant problems with glare. Glare problems often cause difficulties with driving at night, especially with the presence of headlights from oncoming traffic. Some people require additional treatments or procedures to reduce glare, although many continue to experience glare problems despite additional measures.
Retinal Detachment
Certain eye procedures that require surgical incision may cause retinal detachment. For example, cataract surgery may increase the risk for a retinal detachment, according to the National Eye Institute. Procedures that do not require a surgical incision in the eye also may cause a retinal detachment. The first signs of a retinal detachment may appear as floaters in a person's vision. She may also notice a gray or dark "curtain" that blocks a portion of vision. Retinal detachments require immediate treatment in order to prevent permanent damage to the eyes.
