Lasik is highly successful laser eye surgery, with very higher percentage of success. However, just like any other surgery, it also undergoes operation at certain site over the human body. Eventually, side effects, complications and risks are quite common, though are very less, compared to the regular surgeries. And LASIK eye surgery leaves much reduced side effects or complications, when operated with bladeless technology, compared to the surgery with blade.
Basic LASIK Procedure
During the eye surgery of LASIK, a flap is created in the cornea. Cornea is a dome-shaped transparent surface over the eye and it accounts for larger part of the refracting or bending power of eye. Reshaping is performed with a laser towards correction of the problems associated with the refraction in the eye.
Side Effects After LASIK
Though, the side effects are much reduced because of usage of laser rather than sharp blade during the procedure, after the procedure. the possible side effects and risks are the following.
- Dry Eyes
The basic procedure of LASIK causes reduction in the production of tears, temporarily. This unusual dryness condition is continued at least for six months post the surgery. It may reduce quality of vision and to prevent this problem, medical eye drops are recommended by your surgeon. In case the patient has dry eye problem, even before the surgery, usually, other procedures are preferred, which includes special plugs to use in the tear ducts that helps the tears to prevent from draining away from the eye surface.
- Halos, Glare and Double Vision
After the surgery is finished, there may be difficult to see during the nights. Quite often, you may notice double vision or halos, glare around brighter lights. This condition may continue for a few weeks. Your vision may deteriorate in dim light, like in fog or dusk, post the surgery than prior to before the surgery, though good visual results are measured and found under standard conditions of testing.
- Flap Problems
During the surgery, either removing or folding back the flap from the front part of the eye may cause certain complications technically and risks may include excess tears and infection. Epithelium or outermost tissue layer of cornea may grow underneath the flap, abnormally, during the process of healing.
- Overcorrections
Laser is supposed to remove the tissue from the eye and it is possible that the same is removed with an excess amount. Technically, complications and risks become more prominent with overcorrections compared to the undercorrections.
- Undercorrections
Laser removes lesser amount of tissue than needed according to the prescription, in cases of undercorrections. Eventually, the vision results are not clearer as expected and this risk is more for the nearsighted patients. The solution can be removing more tissue in further LASIK procedure and should be performed in just one year.
- Astigmatism
When the tissue is removed unevenly or not according to the requirements, additional surgery may be required. Alternatively, contact lens or glasses may be required.
- Changes or Loss of Vision
Though it is rare change of vision or even loss of vision is possible, technically, because of complications during the surgery. When the surgery is not successful, vision may not be clearer or sharper as expected.
All these complications and risks are quite possible technically. However, when the right procedure is selected and performed successfully, following apt post surgery care all these can be minimized or nullified.