Risks and complications in Lasik Eye Surgery

With many successful years behind it, Lasik eye surgery seems a simple procedure that guarantees complete satisfaction.  However, you should be aware of some rare but possible complications which may be hazardous and permanent. After all, no surgery can be 100% safe. One important factor in minimizing the risk is to understand possible complications. Here are some ways to do it.

First, you should sit down with your doctor and discuss the whole procedure with him. Your doctor should explain the risks, side effects and complications that may result from the operation. He should give you the precautions you should follow before and after the procedure. You should also be aware of the percent success of the procedure and the percentage of having any complication.

One of the Lasik surgery’s possible risks is over or under correction of vision. This can be solved by using glasses, contact lenses (in this case the vision is slightly improved and the glasses or contact lenses are different from the ones used before the surgery), or enhancements. Sometimes a minor adjustment is required to achieve perfect results.

Other possible complications include corneal scarring, irregular astigmatism, and corneal infection. The latter can occur after surgery and is always due to lack of hygiene or the patient’s carelessness. The inability to wear contact lenses is also a risk for those who undergo the Lasik procedure.

Some people suffer from night blindness or problems driving at night. In this case, they usually wear glasses when driving. Some patients do not see as well as they did before surgery. This might be due to the loss of the best-corrected visual acuity.

Some patients report a decrease in contrast sensitivity or sharpness. This is when the patient has 20/20 vision but he cannot see clearly and objects appear fuzzy. There is also a probability of developing some flap problems, like irregular, incomplete, entirely cut off flaps, or even the growth of cells under the flap.

Patients may experience some side effects but they usually disappear in time. Only in extremely rare cases do they become permanent. These side effects are discomfort, pain, blurred vision, irritation, dryness, light sensitivity, double vision, and glowing haloes around light sources at night. Small red patches on the white area of the eye may occur.

All of these risks and complications are rare. What's more if you're only likely to experience one, not many of them. You have be prepared to accept that risks can happen however unlikely.

To be on the safe side, you should read about any possible complication that may occur.