Top 6 Risks of LASIK

Top 6 Risks of LASIK
From Troy Bedinghaus, O.D.

Refractive surgery often produces great results. However, there are risks involved in any medical procedure. If you are considering undergoing laser vision correction such as LASIK, it is important to know the possible complications and limitations that may occur.

1. Vision Loss
Some LASIK patients actually lose vision after the procedure. The vision lost through the surgery cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or surgery.

2. Debilitating Visual Problems

Sometimes LASIK patients develop bothersome symptoms after the procedure including glare, halos and double vision. These conditions have a serious effect on nighttime vision.

3. Undercorrection or Overcorrection

Not all LASIK patients will achieve 20/20 vision without glasses or contact lenses. You may still need correction after the procedure. Some patients also require additional treatment that may or may not be possible. Additional laser treatments or other types of refractive surgeries may be needed to sharpen acuity.

4. Dry Eye Syndrome

Some patients develop severe dry eye syndrome after LASIK. Dry eye symptoms develop because the eye is not able to produce enough tears and moisture. Dry eye may be a permanent condition requiring treatment.

5. Diminishing Results

For some farsighted patients, the results of LASIK may not be permanent. Some amount of the vision improvement may deteriorate with age.

6. Infection or Irritation

Some patients develop infections, inflamations or irritations after LASIK. These conditions are treated with antibiotic eye drops or anti-inflammatory medication.