Is surgical treatment for myopia safe?

People often say that the eyes are the windows to the soul—through them, one can behold all the beauty the world has to offer. Many of us wear thick eyeglasses daily, and over time, this can significantly affect our appearance and impose considerable inconvenience and limitations on daily life and physical activities. So, is refractive surgery for myopia safe?

Is Refractive Surgery for Myopia Safe?

Currently, refractive surgery for myopia is considered relatively safe, as surgical techniques have progressively matured and improved. Such procedures primarily alter the method of vision correction—replacing glasses—but only address the symptom of blurred vision caused by myopia; they do not reverse or halt the underlying elongation of the eyeball’s axial length. Therefore, careful patient selection is critically important. Ideal candidates strongly desire freedom from corrective lenses, have stable refraction (with fluctuations no greater than ±50 to 100 degrees over the past two years), and are aged between 18 and 45 years. There are two main types of myopia surgery: corneal laser ablation and implantable collamer lens (ICL) intraocular lens implantation.

Laser surgery for myopia is generally safe, yet—as with any surgical procedure—it carries inherent risks and must therefore be approached with caution. Today, most laser-based myopia corrections are performed using femtosecond or semi-femtosecond lasers. These technologies precisely reshape a specific portion of the cornea—effectively creating an in situ “lens” within the corneal tissue. Prior to surgery, patients undergo rigorous preoperative evaluation—including anti-inflammatory treatment—and precise calculations of both refractive error and corneal thickness. Postoperatively, infection prevention is essential. Overall, laser surgery offers high accuracy and rapid visual recovery.

Maintain good ocular hygiene in daily life—especially when washing your hair or face—and avoid allowing contaminated water to enter the eyes, as this may lead to infection. We hope this information proves helpful to you.