Risks of LASIK

LASIK (Laser Assisted In Setu Keratomileusis) is a type of laser eye surgery performed by an opthalmological surgeon for the treatment of several eye diseases, including astigmatism, myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). Risks of LASIK surgery are very rare. Approximately 1 percent of patients experience serious complications, but they do include double vision, seeing halos at night or dry eyes. Most complications can be corrected by a further surgery.

How LASIK Works

• The opthalmologist performs LASIK surgery by first marking your cornea with an ink marker to determine where he will cut a thin circular flap in the cornea. After cutting the cornea he folds back the flap and using a laser light, he corrects and reshapes the cornea. This procedure works for astigmatism, and for nearsighted and farsighted vision correction.

LASIK Surgery

• LASIK is performed as an outpatient surgery. The procedure is painless, and requires no anesthesia (although the surgeon may apply a mild anesthetic drop into your eyes). Depending on the advice of your opthalmologist, you may have LASIK performed on both eyes the same day, or the left eye one week and the right the following (or vice versa). Whatever the circumstances of your surgery, the LASIK procedure lasts less than five minutes, and you are released shortly after you've rested for a while. You must have someone accompany you to the surgery to drive you home.

Warning

• Sufferers of frequent drying of the eyes should tell their doctor first. Dry eyes should be treated before LASIK is performed. Your opthalmologist will also ask a series of detailed health history questions and perform a full eye examination to ensure you will be a successful candidate for the surgery.

Health and Vision Risks

• Risks are minimal and rare for LASIK candidates. There is a risk (although a small one) of the cornea flap becoming displaced, which can be painful and requires more healing time. It is important that you rest your eyes and do not do any strenuous activities for one week after LASIK is performed. Other complications (which can be treated with medication and/or corrective surgery) include night glare, double vision, blurred vision, dry eye or eye infection. Rarely a patient will experience regression (meaning that the surgery made her vision better for a short time, but as time progresses she experiences a worsening of vision). This can be corrected with a repair surgery.

Studies

• In an online study performed by Harris Interactive in 2003, 93 percent of LASIK surgery patients were pleased with the overall results of their LASIK surgery. Of those, 73 percent expressed that they wished they'd had the surgery sooner. Further studies of LASIK surgery complications indicate that they are very rare. A 2006 by the American Journal of Opthalmology indicated that a cornea displacement occurs about 0.3 to 5.7 percent of the time.