Potential Risks of LASIK Eye Surgery

As with any surgery, LASIK has its risks along with its rewards. LASIK, or Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, is a relatively new procedure and is still being studied for any long-term adverse effects. Many changes have taken place over the years since LASIK was first performed in the United States in 1991. A new all-laser surgery, along with new "custom" LASIK procedures, have made this eye surgery safer, though the risk of complications still sits somewhere between 1% - 6%. Following are some of the more serious complications that can arise during or after the LASIK procedure.

Flap complications: Trouble with the flap created on the surface of the cornea is among the more reported complications arising from LASIK surgery. The flap could accidentally be cut completely off, it could wrinkle up during the procedure and not adhere correctly to the cornea when replaced, or it could be torn off by the patient after surgery during rubbing of the eyes. In rare cases, an infection could develop between the flap and the resurfaced cornea, and an additional surgery may be warranted.

Halos, starbursts, or ghost images: Most common at night, halos occur when the pupil dilates past the resurfaced area, those this is becoming less common as new technologies are introduced to LASIK surgeons. Starbursts and ghost images (a faint double image) are also being reported less, and while most will gradually disappear, in some instances these complications can be permanent.

Under or over correction: The surgeon may miscalculate how much resurfacing needs to be done to the cornea, creating a situation where you may still need to where glasses or contacts after the procedure. With the new "wavemapping" that surgeons are using, this risk should be greatly reduced, as surgeons can more accurately calculate the area to be ablated, or resurfaced.

Loss of "best visual acuity:" When a patient loses their best visual acuity, this means they will lose the ability to read lines on the eye chart that previously were no problem. The ability to correct vision to its previous abilities is impossible with contacts or glasses. The patient's vision is permanently worsened. This is a worst-case scenario for the LASIK procedure, and the risk is relatively low.

Grittiness, blurring, and dry eyes are some of the more common, and minor, risks. Dry eyes can usually be controlled with Restasis(r), a prescription tear replacement, and treatment with this drug has been shown to help reduce inflammation and other irritations in the eye. Drops may need to be continued permanently, as the surgery could impair your ability to produce natural tears.

It is important to remember that incidences of complications go down with the use of more experienced surgeons, and also with the right LASIK equipment. Your surgeon should give you literature on the machine they use; make sure it is FDA-approved and manufactured by a reputable company. In addition, choosing an experienced surgeon with a high quality standard can bring the risk of complications down to a little as 1%.