HEALTH

Understanding the complications that can arise out of Lasik surgery

Potential Lasik complications include mild inflammation; dry eyes; epithelial looseness or ingrowth; and shifted, dislodged, or wrinkled flaps. There are also some possible complications that are more serious, although rare, such as serious infection, detachment of the retina, and thinning of the cornea. Although Lasik complications are a possibility, laser surgery is overall a safe and reliable procedure.

Lasik surgery is a safe and predictable means of lessening or removing a person's dependency on corrective lenses. It is safe enough that it is routinely performed on both eyes at the same time. However, Lasik is a surgical procedure and, therefore, there are some possible complications or risks associated with it, both minor and major.

Minor Lasik complications

Minor Lasik complications are, in most cases, temporary and are often easily treated by your healthcare providers. They include, but are not limited to:

Mild inflammation

Dry eyes

Epithelial looseness or ingrowth

Shifted, dislodged, and/or wrinkled flaps

Major Lasik complications

Major complications are the rarest complications associated with Lasik. These complications occur in less than 1 in 100 cases. Major Lasik complications may include, but are not limited to:

• Severe infection
• Severe bleeding
• Flap complications
• Inflammation
• Detachment of the retina
• Thinning of the cornea

• Decentration (when the laser is not properly centered on the eye)
• Under- or overcorrection
• Mechanical equipment failure
• Perforation or a hole in the cornea

Depending on the individual situation, a major complication may require a repeat surgery or lead to overall poor vision quality including:

• Astigmatism
• Blurry vision
• Glare
• Halos
• Starbursts
• Double vision

In extreme, very rare cases, complications may lead to a corneal transplant or permanent loss of vision.

It may be that in your doctor's practice, none of these Lasik complications have happened - or have occurred only rarely. However, it is important for you to know and understand the possible Lasik complications, so that you are fully informed before your procedure.