As with any surgical procedure, there are risks associated with LASIK. Most patients will be able to enjoy excellent results after undergoing LASIK, without experiencing complications after surgery. A small number of patients may develop complications or experience long-lasting side effects after surgery. For most patients, any side effects they experience after surgery will be only temporary. The majority of patients that undergo LASIK find that the benefits of LASIK far outweigh the risks associated with the procedure.

One of the easiest and most effective ways in which the specialists at the Austin eye care center, Broberg Eye Care, minimize LASIK risks is by ensuring that each individual patient is an ideal candidate before surgery. A qualified, experienced surgeon will not perform LASIK on a patient that does not meet the criteria necessary to ensure a successful outcome. Certain factors such as pupil size, corneal thickness, or even a patient’s overall health may prevent a patient from qualifying for LASIK surgery. If a patient is not a good candidate for LASIK, another refractive procedure may be recommended.

What Are the Risks Associated with LASIK?

The most common risks associated with LASIK include:

  • Problems within the flap: Some patients may experience complications from the creation of the flap during LASIK surgery. Such problems may include flaps that are too small, flaps that are too thin, flaps that do not have a hinge, irregularities within the flaps, incomplete flaps, flaps that are torn, and flaps that have holes.
  • Difficulty seeing in periods of low light: After LASIK, some patients may experience difficulty seeing in periods of low light such as dusk, in fog, and at night. Patients may experience glare, double vision, and halos. These side effects can make it difficult for some patients to see while driving at night.
  • Dry eye: One of the most common risks associated with LASIK is dry eye. Patients that have experienced dry eye in the past, or those who have an increased risk of dry eye, may benefit from other types of refractive surgery. Most, if not all, patients will experience some degree of dry eye after LASIK. For most patients, dry eye will only be temporary and will improve with the use of eye drops during the recovery process. Patients affected by dry eye that does not respond to eye drops may require other treatment such as punctal plugs.
  • Undercorrection: Another possible risk of LASIK is undercorrection. Patients that have higher prescriptions are more at risk for undercorrection than patients with lower prescriptions. Enhancement surgery may be recommended to patients experiencing undercorrection after undergoing LASIK.
  • Overcorrection: The risk of overcorrection is greater for patients with higher prescriptions than those with lower prescriptions. In the majority of cases, overcorrection is caused by the way the patient heals after surgery. Like undercorrection, overcorrection may be corrected through enhancement surgery.
  • Wearing glasses or contact lenses: Some patients may still have to wear glasses or contact lenses to achieve excellent vision, even after LASIK. The majority of patients that undergo LASIK will be able to achieve 20/40 vision or better, which will allow them to be able to perform most activities without having to wear glasses or contact lenses.

Learn More about LASIK Risks

To learn more about the risks associated with LASIK, please contact Broberg Eye Care today.