How to Recognize the Risks of LASIK Surgery

There are very few risks associated with LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Sit Keratomileusis) surgery. Most patients experience improved vision immediately with few complications. However, it is important to be familiar with possible risks and to understand the symptoms of these side effects in order to be able to recognize them as you recover from LASIK surgery.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Be prepared for discomfort caused by dryness. Severe dryness is a common side effect of LASIK surgery. This includes dry, itchy or scratchy eyes, often with redness and a feeling that there is something in your eye. Ask your doctor for eye drops to help ease the pain. People with severe dry eyes prior to surgery could experience more serious complications from the LASIK surgery and should not proceed with the procedure.

2. Pay close attention to your vision as your eyes begin to heal. If your vision is blurry or seems less than perfect, the corrections to your eyes may be incomplete. Overcorrection and undercorrection means the surgery did not hit your target vision. Patients who experienced overcorrection or undercorrection usually wear contact lenses or glasses to help them see well. This can sometimes be temporary. If the problem persists for 6 months after your initial surgery, an enhancement surgery might be necessary to fix the problem.

3. Recognize the signs of Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis, more commonly called "Sands of Sahara." This causes a painful, dry-eye condition and possibly impaired vision. It is caused by cellular debris that appears underneath the LASIK flap and causes inflammation. It is typically treated with eye drops, but sometimes requires further surgery. This is considered a serious complication because permanent vision loss can occur without prompt treatment.

4. Recognize the signs of an irregular astigmatism which occurs when the corneal surface is less than smooth or when the laser correction is not centered properly on the eye. Common signs are double vision or ghost images. The eye may need to be re-treated.

5. Examine your eyes frequently after LASIK surgery for signs of infection. This includes redness, oozing of eyes and sometimes pain. This normally requires eye drops or oral medication.

6. Understand the probability of an additional change in your vision later in life if you undergo LASIK at an early age. It is likely that your reading vision will decline naturally at around age 40. LASIK does not cause or prevent this from happening. Cataracts may also develop as you age.

Tips & Warnings

• Conduct thorough research when choosing a surgeon. Meet with surgeons, ask for references and inquire about the surgeon's experience level. Selecting the right surgeon, one who is experienced and credible, is the single most important thing you can do to reduce risks associated with LASIK. Review the LASIK Directory for suggested questions to ask a potential surgeon (see Resources below).
• Do not consider LASIK eye surgery if you are pregnant or have diabetes as this can affect how well your eyes heal.
• Avoid LASIK if you have naturally large pupils. In dark conditions, the pupils could expand beyond the area of the eye that was treated.

Resources

• LASIK Directory for a list of questions for a potential surgeon

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[cicy35]

on 2/15/2009 Very good article. I would love to have this but fear keeps me away. Don't want to be one of the unlucky ones