LASIK Risks and Complication

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LASIK eye surgery can give fabulous results. However, like any other medical procedure, it also poses some risks which can lead to complications and unfavorable results. That's why it is important for you to understand the limitations and possible complications of refractive surgery before consenting to have one. The following is a list of possible LASIK risks and complication:

Blurriness and Loss of Vision
Almost all patients face blurriness immediately following surgery. This is however a common phenomena. Approximately 95% of the visual recovery occurs within the first several days, with the last 5% of vision improving over 3 to 6 months. Approximately, 1% to 2% of patients lose lines of vision on the vision chart that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or surgery as a result of treatment.

Develop Debilitating Visual Symptoms
Some patients develop glare, halos / starbursts, and/or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision. These conditions occur if light enters the eye around the edge of the treatment area. They can usually be corrected with an additional treatment.

The halo effect for example, is an optical effect that is noticed in dim light. As the pupil enlarges, a second faded image is produced by the untreated peripheral cornea. This effect can interfere with night driving.

Undercorrection/Overcorrection
It is impossible to predict perfectly how your eye will respond to laser eye surgery. Only a certain percent of patients achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contacts. Undercorrection or overcorrection is often temporary, but can sometimes be permanent.

Undercorrection is more common than overcorrection. These incidence varies with prescription and is more common in patients with higher levels of nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism.

Sometimes an initial overcorrection may occur and usually corrects itself in the first month or so. An overcorrection will make you temporarily nearsighted, making your distance vision somewhat blurry and your near vision rather good. Following a nearsighted treatment, an overcorrection will make your vision at close range more difficult. All these incident are usually temporary.

Severe Dry Eye Syndrome
It is normal and expected for patients to experience a sensation of "grittiness" or "sandy" feeling in the eye following LASIK because eye may not be able to produce enough tears to keep it moist and comfortable. Not only dry eye causes discomfort, it also reduce visual quality due to intermittent blurring and other visual symptoms. This condition may be permanent. Intensive drop therapy and use of plugs or other procedures may be required.

Infection or Severe Inflammation
There are chances of the cornea becoming infected after LASIK. Generally, this means added discomfort and a delay in healing. That is why it is important to avoid any contact with substances that may cause infection, such as eye makeup, hot tubs, and swimming pool water, for the first week.

Induced Astigmatism
Astigmatism can be induced following LASIK, although is rare. It will result in in blurred vision postoperatively. Small degrees of astigmatism are well tolerated and can even enhance vision in some circumstances.

Regression
Regression refers to the tendency of the eye to drift back slightly toward its original prescription. It occasionally occurs in patients with higher amounts of myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism who have undergone LASIK. If your vision regresses, you may require an enhancement procedure or a thin pair of glasses.

Flap Damage
Instead of creating a hinged flap of tissue on the central cornea, the entire flap could come off. If this were to occur it could be replaced after the laser treatment. However, there is a risk that the flap could be damaged or lost.

Night Glare
This is common in nearsighted individuals even before any refractive procedure is performed but increases almost immediately in the healing process and is more common when only one eye has been treated. Severe night glare can reduce vision in all reduced lighting conditions producing blurriness, ghosting or haloes. Patients with large pupils and severe myopia are at greatest risk for night glare.

Decrease in Best-Corrected Vision
Some patients find that their best obtainable vision with corrective lenses is worse than it was before the surgery. This can occur as a result of irregular tissue removal or the development of corneal haze.