LASIK Vision Correction Complications

San Francisco, Oakland & San Jose, California

Like any surgery, LASIK vision correction has certain complications and post-operative side effects that patients should examine and understand before they sign consent forms for surgery.

Although the incidence at most high quality vision centers is rare, LASIK complications sometimes occur. Fortunately, the majority of problems are treatable and can be resolved shortly after surgery. Vision-impairing complications are even more rare - the Eye Surgery Education Council released guidelines stating that less than one percent of LASIK patients have experienced vision-threatening complications.

Potential LASIK vision correction complications include:

Dry Eyes

LASIK patients should expect some dryness following the procedure, and soothing eye drops can be used to help rehydrate the eyes. In very rare cases, severe dryness can open the door to infection and/or scarring. If you experience prolonged dryness, it should be reported to Dr. Kawesch.

Over/Under Correction

More commonly seen in high prescriptions, over or under correction occurs when eyes heal at a rate differently than expected, tweaking the expected prescription to a higher or lower degree. The refractive error resulting may cause a patient's vision to lean a bit nearsighted or farsighted. Over or under correction may be resolved with a LASIK enhancement.

Glare and Halos

Glare and halos are to be expected immediately following LASIK vision correction surgery. Caused by corneal swelling and adjustment, the majority of glare and halo cases will last no more than a few weeks. If glare and halos persist, it may be caused by under- or over-correction and may be resolved with a LASIK enhancement. Patients who experience ongoing night vision difficulty should contact their LASIK surgeon.

Flap Folds

Flap folds refer to wrinkling in the corneal flap. While most incidences of flap folds are harmless, a very small percentage of patients experience vision impairment due to this complication. Potentially dangerous flap folds may be resolved by having the surgeon reposition the flap.

Epithelial In-growth

This condition occurs when the cornea's outer layer grows under the corneal flap instead of over. The majority of epithelial ingrowth cases will have no serious consequences, although in a small number of cases, surgical intervention is needed to lift the flap and remove the cells. This problem can lead to vision loss if ignored, so it is important to attend all post-operative check-ups.

Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK)

This complication refers to inflammation under the corneal flap that can lead to vision loss if left untreated. Most cases of inflammation can be resolved with prescription eye drops and careful monitoring. For persistent cases of DLK, your LASIK surgeon can reach up under the flap to remove the material causing the inflammation.

Decentered Ablation

This complication occurs when the laser target is off even a small degree on the cornea. Although this can happen when patients have trouble focusing their eyes during surgery, advanced lasers that use eye-tracking technology may significantly reduce this risk.

Keratectasia

This is a condition of the cornea that occurs when too much corneal tissue is removed or the corneal flap is too thick. The result is a weakened cornea and distorted vision. The condition is more common in patients with very thin corneas and may be resolved with contact lenses.

Epithelial Erosion

Epithelial erosion occurs when the cornea's outer layer detaches from the eye, causing stinging, burning, or discomfort. Fortunately, this problem is temporary as the epithelium is able to regenerate itself, sometimes in just one day.

How can you minimize your risks and increase your chances of getting complication-free results? By choosing your LASIK vision correction provider very carefully. Two integral factors should be considered when choosing a surgeon to trust your eyes to: LASIK experience and LASIK technology.

A physician who has performed thousands of procedures may be better prepared to deliver truly customized LASIK. By choosing a center that offers the most advanced state-of-the-art LASIK lasers, you may be significantly reducing your risk of complications and increasing your chances of having perfect vision. Today's best lasers are unparalleled in precision, accuracy, and utilize features like Wavefront-mapping and eye tracking. Read more about LASIK lasers.

Also, minimize your risks by attending all of your post-LASIK sessions. Most LASIK side effects will not become serious unless left undetected, so it is extremely important to return for all Post-operative appointments.

For more in-depth information about LASIK and other vision correction alternatives, contact Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley in the San Francisco Bay area today.