Laser eye surgery guidance issued

The guidance does not recommend that laser eye surgery should be offered to patients routinely on the NHS, as for most people eye problems can easily be corrected by wearing spectacles or contact lenses Advice to clinicians indicates that those wishing to undertake laser eye surgery should ensure that patients understand the benefits and potential risks of the procedure.

Risks include failure to achieve the expected improvement in unaided vision, development of new visual disturbances, corneal infection, and flap complications.
These risks should be weighed against the risks and any possible inconvenience of wearing spectacles or contact lenses. NICE also advises clinicians to audit and review clinical outcomes of all patients who have laser eye surgery. Further research will be useful and clinicians are encouraged to collect longer term follow-up data.