Lasik Surgery Risks and Complications

LASIK surgery is a form of refractive eye surgery in which an instrument, usually a laser, is used to reshape the cornea. It is done by cutting a flap in the cornea or the tissue around the iris (the colored portion of the eye). After cutting the flap in the cornea, a bandage or cover is placed on the eye to protect it from infection and further damage. LASIK can correct any vision problems including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), and astigmatism ( blurred vision).

Like any surgical procedure there are risks associated with LASIK surgery. The main risk associated with the procedure is the risk of the corneal tissue being damaged. When a flap is created in the cornea without infection or any external force, but with dry eyes, then these dry eyes can cause the corneal tissue to become inflamed, which may require additional treatment that includes a new surgery or wearing eye drops. A small percentage of patients experience dry eyes after lasik surgery, typically because of the use of anesthetic and a slow healing process.

Another risk associated with lasik surgery is that the procedure can cause dry eye disease. This is not usually a problem unless the eyes are used to something where they become used to a specific wavelength of light. If dry eye disease occurs, then it can be corrected by using eye drops similar to those used to treat dry eye syndrome. There are other treatments available for refractive eye problems, but lasik surgery has been found to be the safest treatment for vision problems.