LASIK risks

The potential benefits of laser vision correction are very compelling, especially the thought of living without contact lenses and eyeglasses. When considering laser eye surgery, you should understand not only the benefits, but also the possibility of LASIK risks, so your decision is as informed as possible.

As with any medical procedure, there is a risk for complications. In addition, patients may experience short-term side effects after surgery. More rare are conditions which may last long-term and this page details some of those risks. Laser technology and surgeon skill have advanced significantly over the 10 years that patients have been having laser vision correction, but no one can completely account for how each eye will heal once the procedure is complete.

As a result, most LASIK risks are due to the varied healing processes of individual people. Below we examine some of the risks that should be discussed with your surgeon.

Examining some LASIK Risks

• Secondary procedures: Some patients may need enhancements to further correct their vision after LASIK surgery. Occasionally patients experience changes in their vision, sometimes attributed to the eye's unique healing process, that require an enhancement or a second "touch-up" procedure.
• Reading glasses: If you currently wear reading glasses, you may need to continue wearing them after surgery. Also, as you age, you may develop the need for reading glasses. The need for reading glasses is most often due to presbyopia, a condition which LASIK surgery cannot treat.
• Lost vision: Occasionally, some LASIK patients will actually see a reduction in their best-corrected vision (referred to as Best Corrected Visual Acuity, or BCVA). In other words, you may not see as well following laser eye surgery as you did with eyeglasses or contact lenses prior to surgery.
• Reduced low-light vision: Following their procedure, some LASIK patients may not see as well in reduced light, such as at night or in foggy, hazy conditions. These patients often see "halos," "starbursts," or a bothersome "glare" around lights, such as headlights.
• Severe dry eye syndrome: In some cases, LASIK surgery may result in an inability to produce enough tears to keep eyes moist. Mild dry eye is a side effect that usually disappears in about a week, although some patients may experience symptoms permanently. When evaluating if laser vision correction is right for you, tell your doctor if you have suffered from dry eye symptoms before, are bothered by contact lenses, are going through menopause, or are taking birth control pills.

You should carefully weigh your own personal LASIK risks and benefits assessment, taking into account the benefits offered with technology like CustomCornea®. Also be sure that:

1. When you have chosen a doctor to perform your surgery, be sure to discuss LASIK and risk. You should take the time to confirm with your doctor that you are a good candidate for LASIK, and that you don't have any conditions that could cause complications.
2. Review information on risks related to laser eye surgery. The FDA's site on LASIK surgery is an excellent source of information. Another good site is the Eye Surgery Education Council.

Once you've completed your LASIK risks and benefits evaluation, you can more reasonably decide if you're a good candidate for this type of laser vision correction. Like the millions of patients who have chosen LASIK, you may decide that the long-term benefits of life after LASIK outweigh the possible LASIK risks. Once you decide to have laser vision correction, you can begin the LASIK process.