Anyone who is considering a LASIK eye surgery procedure should be aware of the accompanying risks. All surgeries come with some type of health risk, and here are five of the most significant post-operative risks associated with LASIK.
- Flap Issues
The LASIK surgical procedure is done by cutting a "flap" that the doctor lifts in order to shave the cornea. Once the procedure is completed, the flap is allowed to settle back in place for the healing process.
There are two issues that can occur at this point. First, the flap may not fit properly when it has healed, causing vision problems such as blurred vision. If this happens, a cornea transplant may be required to fix the issue.
The second problem that might occur is called diffuse lamellar keratitis, or DLK. This occurs when dead or damaged cells are left under the flap, causing irritation. Many times, the irritation will continue until the dead cells are surgically removed.
- Vision Issues
There is always the danger of over-correction or under-correction. Under-correction is easily fixed with an additional refractive surgery, but over-correction is a larger problem. Also, improperly performed procedures can leave the patient with an unwanted astigmatism or double vision that may require additional surgical procedures to correct the issue.
- Dry Eyes
Some patients come out of Lasik surgery with perpetually dry eyes. The condition can go on for days or months, requiring constant use of eye drops.
- Keratectasia
This is a serious condition caused by an errant cut to the flap. It can result in permanent distorted vision. There are some surgical procedures, such as a cornea transplant, that can fix the problem.
- Sensitivity to Light
This is the most common issue reported by patients. Eye sensitivity can last a few days or, in rare cases, be permanent. The doctor might prescribe an anti-inflammatory to help cut down the sensitivity.
