Most prospective surgical patients are aware that each operation has inherent risks. LASIK eye surgery risks, but also. Although rare (occurring in about 1-5 percent of cases), some patients do experience laser eye surgery complications. If you want more information about the possible complications of LASIK surgery, please read the page bottom.

Over / Undercorrection

With LASIK eye surgery, overcorrection and undercorrection are both possible. These and other potential laser eye surgery complications can usually be attributed to the fact that corneas can vary widely from patient to patient, in relation to water, healing ability, and other variables that are beyond the control of the surgeon. While the extreme cases of over-or undercorrection May require further treatment, mild cases can be effectively addressed by wearing glasses, if necessary.

Infection

As with any surgery, the risk of infection is possible with LASIK. If left untreated, eye infections can lead to a scarring of the cornea or substantial and permanent loss of vision. However, eye infections of LASIK surgery are very rare. Antibiotic eye drops are usually prescribed after surgery to prevent infection, and patients should schedule regular post-operative visits to ensure that the eyes heal properly. To develop an eye infection, has after LASIK treatment, your surgeon will treatment options with you.

Flap Wrinkles

Small wrinkles in the corneal flap are among the most frequent complications of LASIK surgery, but the surgeon can easily detect and remove them. Even within the first few hours after the surgery, wrinkles can form in the corneal flap, when the patient closes his eyes tightly. The surgeon can correct this problem by again with the corneal flap to smooth out any wrinkles. However, flap wrinkles are a rare laser eye surgery complication and less than 1 percent of the cases.

Central corneal islands

Central corneal islands are small areas of tissue that show on the cornea, if the laser during surgery to remove tissue is not uniform. This type of complication occurs in less than 1 percent of LASIK cases, and can usually resolve itself after a few months. If the central islands, which surgeons can prescribe contact lenses to smooth surface of the cornea or a laser-Touch, if necessary.

Epithelial Ingrowths

Another risk of LASIK occurs when cells from the epithelium of the cornea start growing under the corneal flap. In some cases, this epithelial ingrowth no longer grow, die and be absorbed into the cornea. But if the epithelial cells continue to grow, they can be a significant impact on vision. To deal with this, the surgeon must lift the LASIK flap and remove the ingrown cells. However, this eye complication occurs in less than 1 percent of LASIK cases.

Corneal Ecstasia

Corneal ectasia refers to a weakened cornea that the bulge May months after LASIK surgery. This occurs when the surgeon makes too deep a cut during the flap creation of a procedure or removed too much corneal tissue during the operation. Ectasia can only be treated with a corneal transplant. If untreated, the patient may be a repeat of the short-sightedness or astigmatism. LASIK This complication is rare and can be prevented by the thickness of the cornea of the patient is measured before the surgery.

Lamellar diffuse keratitis (DLK)

Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK) is a post-operative LASIK risk that occurs when foreign bodies are trapped behind the corneal flap. May DLK patients with pain, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, or the feeling that there is something caught in their eyes. Some patients have no symptoms at all, but DLK can be detected during the follow-up examinations after surgery. Symptoms usually present themselves within a week after LASIK surgery, but DLK complications were known even years after surgery, when patients experience corneal trauma. Patients who had any kind of eye trauma should be evaluated by an eye care professional. Although DLK is one of the more dangerous post-LASIK risks, it is easily treatable with topical and oral medication, if caught in its earlier stages.

Astigmatism

In rare cases of laser eye surgery complications, a patient of the cornea can permanently warp as a result of scar formation. This may lead to astigmatism and the inability to use traditional contact lenses. Astigmatism after LASIK surgery, known as induced astigmatism, can cause blurry or distorted vision. Patients who encounter astigmatism as a result of LASIK must usually continue to use corrective action spectacles.

Presbyopia and LASIK surgery

LASIK Prospective applicants should be aware that LASIK surgery does not prevent presbyopia - the decrease in near vision as an individual in middle age. Generally thought to be by a gradual loss of flexibility in the eyes of the natural crystalline lens, presbyopia affects virtually everyone and usually requires the use of reading glasses. Learn more about presbyopia presbyopia and other treatments, such as IOLs, by checking the appropriate DocShop pages.

Reduce risk of complications after LASIK

Advances in technology offer LASIK patients with decisions which affect the risk of post-laser eye surgery complications and more precise results. With Intra LASIK, the surgeon uses a laser instead of a blade, or microkeratome, in creating the corneal flap, the flap is less liable in connection with complications. While custom LASIK surgery, a three-dimensional map of the eye is used for the excimer laser, the superior visual results and less risk of corneal irregularities and over-or undercorrection. While these methods are safer than LASIK - like any surgery - not some risks, and some do LASIK patients experience complications.