Taylor Swift's LASIK Eye Surgery Was Successful, But Is It Right For You? The Possible Health Risks

Taylor Swift has clearly been able to see the benefits of LASIK surgery. The world first learned that the pop star had undergone the surgery, which uses a laser to reshape the cornea and correct vision problems, during her 2019 appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon." However, Swift couldn't discuss the positives of the procedure because Fallon moved on to playing a humorous clip of her recovering from surgery that had been submitted by her mom.

By the time Swift appeared on the "New Heights" podcast in 2025, though, she had already experienced a major benefit of LASIK. After admitting that one of her favorite parts of the Eras Tour was looking out into the crowd and seeing people from different age groups become friends, she said, "It was like, the most incredible feeling in the world. Because I can see all that. I've got LASIK. I have incredible vision." Over the years, we've heard countless people gush about how the surgery has benefited them. With all that positive feedback, it can be easy to overlook the fact that LASIK surgery comes with plenty of potential risks. 

After the procedure, some may experience decreased vision that cannot be corrected with contact lenses, glasses, or even surgery. According to a 2024 article in Expert Review of Ophthalmology, around 20% to 30% of LASIK patients see visual distortions or phenomena (like halos, glares, or starbursts). For most people, these vision issues, which can especially affect nighttime vision, will cease once the eye completely heals a few weeks or months post-surgery. However, in rare cases, they may persist longer or even become permanent.

In some cases, LASIK may undercorrect or overcorrect the vision issues of patients. A 2002 article in the Indian Journal of Ophthalmology noted that a patient is far more likely to face an undercorrection (an estimated 5% to 51% of cases) than an overcorrection (between 3% and 7%). Some patients who experience either may have to revert to wearing glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes, it may not be possible to treat either error. 

Additionally, while there are plenty of surprising side effects of LASIK surgery, one that is commonly experienced by patients is dry eyes. Per a 2018 study in the Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science Journal, about 50% of patients report having dry eyes after the procedure. The symptom likely occurs because the eyes produce fewer tears after LASIK due to sensitivity issues or because the surgery irritates the surface of the eye. Fortunately, most patients only have dry eyes for a few weeks or months.

In rare cases, dry eyes might persist for a year after the surgery, and it can be made worse if you rub your eyes after getting LASIK. What's more, rubbing your eyes after surgery can make a flap move out of place, which can subsequently damage the cornea and vision. Ultimately, these risks can be mitigated by talking to your doctor about getting LASIK and figuring out whether you're an ideal candidate for the procedure.