What are the risks of LASIK? Understanding Potential Complications

Laser eye surgery is a life-changing eye procedure that offers clear vision and more freedom from glasses or contacts. While risks exist for any elective procedure, even a widely used one like LASIK, choosing a highly skilled eye surgeon and undergoing a thorough screening exam significantly reduces the chance of serious issues.

What is LASIK?

LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a widely performed vision correction procedure that reshapes your cornea to improve refractive errors including nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. By using advanced laser technology, LASIK can significantly reduce or possibly put an end to the need for glasses and contact lenses.

What eye conditions does LASIK treat?

LASIK is primarily used to treat common refractive errors, including:

Myopia (Nearsightedness): When the cornea is too steeply angled or the eye is too long, causing distant objects to appear blurry.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness): When the cornea is too flat, or the eye is too short, making close objects appear blurry.
Astigmatism: An irregular corneal shape that leads to distorted or blurry vision at all distances.

What are the risks of LASIK? Understanding Potential Complications

LASIK is considered a highly safe and effective procedure, but as with any form of surgery, it carries some risks. Choosing a highly qualified surgeon and the appropriate procedure for your eye health significantly lowers these risks. Potential complications include:

Dry Eyes: LASIK can temporarily or permanently reduce tear production, causing discomfort and blurry vision.

Flap Complications: The corneal flap that is created during LASIK can sometimes be dislodged or heal improperly, affecting vision.

Halos and Glare: Some individuals experience night vision disturbances, including halos around lights or increased glare.

Undercorrections or Overcorrections: In some cases, LASIK may not fully correct vision, requiring an enhancement procedure.

Infection or Inflammation: While rare, post-surgical infections or excessive inflammation can affect healing and vision.

Regression: Some people experience a gradual return of their original refractive error over time.

Ectasia: In rare cases, LASIK can weaken the cornea, leading to a condition called keratectasia, which may require further treatment.

While these complications are uncommon, selecting an experienced eye surgeon and undergoing a comprehensive evaluation helps minimize risk.

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Am I a good candidate for LASIK?

Not everyone is a good candidate for LASIK. A thorough evaluation by an experienced eye surgeon will determine if the procedure is right for you. Ideal candidates generally:

Are over 18 years old with stable vision for at least a year
Have sufficient corneal thickness for reshaping
Do not have severe dry eyes or corneal diseases
Are not pregnant or nursing
Have realistic expectations about the results

For those who may not qualify for LASIK, alternatives such as SMILE or EVO ICL may be better options. These procedures offer vision correction with different techniques and may be preferable for individuals with dry eyes, thin corneas or higher prescriptions.