LASIK Risks/Side Effects - What to Know

LASIK is the most common type of eye surgery performed, next to cataract surgery. There are less sight-threatening complications and side effects with LASIK than with most other surgeries, and these are very rare.

Complications

Most LASIK complications are due to the creation of the hinged cornea flap that is created during surgery. When a flap is not made properly, it may not stick to the surface of the eye correctly and will cause wrinkling called corneal striae. This can cause irregular shaped surfaces of the eye, but can be fixed by retreating the eye with surgery. Contact your eye doctor if you are experiencing any of these complications. 

Side Effects

Astigmatisms are seen due to a less than perfectly smooth cornea surface. This can also be caused by laser correction that is not performed centered on the eye. This can cause double vision and can be repaired by enhancement or retreatment of the eye surgically. DLK or diffuse lamellar keratitis is also seen as a side effect, where there is inflammation under the flap. There is a small amount of inflammation that is common with this surgery, but if left uncontrolled can cause permanent damage. DLK can be repaired with antibiotics and steroids, as well as relifting the flap and rinsing inflammatory cells from the tissue. Keratocomus or keratectasia is the bulging of the surface of the eye, and occurs when the flap is cut too deep or when too much tissue is removed from the cornea. Distorted vision due to this cannot normally be fixed with laser enhancement, but can be repaired using Intacs to hold the cornea still.

Risks

Under or over correction of the vision can be a risk of this type of refractive surgery. It can cause less than perfect vision that can be treated with glasses, eye drops or retreatment. Off centered ablations will cause visual problems that can generally be treated with eye drops and laser treatment. Pupils that are wider than the treatment area are another risk, and can be repaired with laser or eye drops. Haze over the entire line of sight can also be treated in the same way. Dry eye is normally seen after surgery, but can go on for extended periods of time. This can be treated with prescription medications, artificial tears and flaxseed oil.