LASIK surgery is all the rage. If you don't already have it you probably know someone that does, and you are here to find out how you can take advantage of technology without harming your health, right? Great!
While LASIK surgery provides patients many benefits, it is not without risk. As with any surgery, the complications or risks of LASIK surgery should be weighed against the benefits of surgery. Before getting involved with any surgery, you should educate yourself about the risks. This is true of LASIK, IntraLase, PRK and all other types of LASIK surgery available today.
Among the more commonly reported complications of surgery are flap complications. Flap complications occur in the hinged flap covering the front of the cornea. Usually patients undergoing traditional microkeratome LASIK are more at risk for flap complications than are patients undergoing other more precise procedures including bladeless LASIK. With traditional LASIK procedures, doctors typically lift the corneal flap they created to reshape and/or resize the cornea then replace this flap. Basically, the flap serves as a bandage or covering that protects the cornea following surgery.
One of the risks associated with cutting the flap using a microkeratome is abrasion. This means the flap may be cut incorrectly or scratch the surface of the cornea, or have "rough" outer edges, all of which may result in visual disturbances following surgery. While some of these will go away with times, others may be permanent or result in permanent problems, including haloing or the need to wear glasses even after surgery!
Here is a list of some other complications associated with LASIK:
* Keratectasia - This condition results when a surgeon cuts the flap too deeply or removes too much tissue during surgery. This results in weakening and bulging of the cornea. Distorted vision may be permanent.
* Dry eye - Dry eye is a much more commonly reported side effect of LASIK surgery. This can contribute to inflammation and infection, but is typically resolved using artificial tears. While most people will not experience dry eye permanently, it can become a long-lasting complication of LASIK, especially if you have dry eyes before surgery. You should make a point to ask your doctor about dry eye and assess your risk for it before agreeing to surgery.
* Infection - Some patients will develop infections following surgery. Fortunately the risk of infection is relatively low. Some doctors prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection.
* Night Vision Problems - These are more common when surgeons use traditional LASIK procedures. They may also result when the surgeon treats too small of an area surrounding the pupil. This often happens, so you should make a point to ask your surgeon if he or she can assess your risk for this. It won't help you much if you see well during the day, but can't drive alone at night. Night vision problems may include seeing halos or lights around objects, making it difficult to drive. You may also find you see glares that impair your ability to see well. Sometimes these symptoms do not resolve. The more experienced your surgeon, and the healthier you are, the less likely you are to suffer from side effects as this.
* Over or under correction - This can result in blurry vision or minor visual disturbances. Many times patients will have to wear contact lenses or glasses to resolve the problem. Some people become quite upset when they find they still need glasses to read after undergoing LASIK surgery. The whole point for most people is to avoid having to wear glasses. Ask your doctor what your risk is for this side effect, and then get a second opinion. Know that re-treatment with the laser is often possible and can sometimes correct the under or over correction. While it sounds a bit funny, if you suffer from this you will not feel like laughing, so be sure to talk with your doctor thoroughly before you go under the knife.
* Slow healing or complicated infection - People with compromised immune systems including those with chronic autoimmune disorders or those taking an immunosuppressant are more at risk for complications following surgery, often because their bodies take a lot longer to heal than others. You should always mention any health conditions you have before surgery. Your doctor may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or administer them during surgery to help reduce your risk of infection.
* Permanent vision loss - Sometimes LASIK doesn't work; if this happens you may find your vision worse than before surgery, and you have no choice but to wear even stronger glasses than before. While this is rare, it is something to ponder. Make sure you find out whether you are at risk for this, and what your surgeon's policies are should something like this happens to you.
While LASIK surgery provides patients many benefits, it is not without risk. As with any surgery, the complications or risks of LASIK surgery should be weighed against the benefits of surgery. Before getting involved with any surgery, you should educate yourself about the risks. This is true of LASIK, IntraLase, PRK and all other types of LASIK surgery available today.
Among the more commonly reported complications of surgery are flap complications. Flap complications occur in the hinged flap covering the front of the cornea. Usually patients undergoing traditional microkeratome LASIK are more at risk for flap complications than are patients undergoing other more precise procedures including bladeless LASIK. With traditional LASIK procedures, doctors typically lift the corneal flap they created to reshape and/or resize the cornea then replace this flap. Basically, the flap serves as a bandage or covering that protects the cornea following surgery.
One of the risks associated with cutting the flap using a microkeratome is abrasion. This means the flap may be cut incorrectly or scratch the surface of the cornea, or have "rough" outer edges, all of which may result in visual disturbances following surgery. While some of these will go away with times, others may be permanent or result in permanent problems, including haloing or the need to wear glasses even after surgery!
Here is a list of some other complications associated with LASIK:
* Keratectasia - This condition results when a surgeon cuts the flap too deeply or removes too much tissue during surgery. This results in weakening and bulging of the cornea. Distorted vision may be permanent.
* Dry eye - Dry eye is a much more commonly reported side effect of LASIK surgery. This can contribute to inflammation and infection, but is typically resolved using artificial tears. While most people will not experience dry eye permanently, it can become a long-lasting complication of LASIK, especially if you have dry eyes before surgery. You should make a point to ask your doctor about dry eye and assess your risk for it before agreeing to surgery.
* Infection - Some patients will develop infections following surgery. Fortunately the risk of infection is relatively low. Some doctors prescribe prophylactic antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection.
* Night Vision Problems - These are more common when surgeons use traditional LASIK procedures. They may also result when the surgeon treats too small of an area surrounding the pupil. This often happens, so you should make a point to ask your surgeon if he or she can assess your risk for this. It won't help you much if you see well during the day, but can't drive alone at night. Night vision problems may include seeing halos or lights around objects, making it difficult to drive. You may also find you see glares that impair your ability to see well. Sometimes these symptoms do not resolve. The more experienced your surgeon, and the healthier you are, the less likely you are to suffer from side effects as this.
* Over or under correction - This can result in blurry vision or minor visual disturbances. Many times patients will have to wear contact lenses or glasses to resolve the problem. Some people become quite upset when they find they still need glasses to read after undergoing LASIK surgery. The whole point for most people is to avoid having to wear glasses. Ask your doctor what your risk is for this side effect, and then get a second opinion. Know that re-treatment with the laser is often possible and can sometimes correct the under or over correction. While it sounds a bit funny, if you suffer from this you will not feel like laughing, so be sure to talk with your doctor thoroughly before you go under the knife.
* Slow healing or complicated infection - People with compromised immune systems including those with chronic autoimmune disorders or those taking an immunosuppressant are more at risk for complications following surgery, often because their bodies take a lot longer to heal than others. You should always mention any health conditions you have before surgery. Your doctor may prescribe prophylactic antibiotics or administer them during surgery to help reduce your risk of infection.
* Permanent vision loss - Sometimes LASIK doesn't work; if this happens you may find your vision worse than before surgery, and you have no choice but to wear even stronger glasses than before. While this is rare, it is something to ponder. Make sure you find out whether you are at risk for this, and what your surgeon's policies are should something like this happens to you.
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