As with any surgery, LASIK eye surgery has potential side effects. Although the side effects of LASIK surgery are not life threatening, they can still affect the overall condition of the eyes and quality of vision. It should be noted that complications resulting from LASIK are less likely to occur with a highly experienced LASIK surgeon who has performed the procedure countless times.
The numbers
A study done in the late 90’s shows that almost 5% of people who underwent LASIK surgery encountered some sort of problem. Experienced surgeons, however, reported a complication rate of below 1% when candidates are selected carefully. When complications do occur, most are resolved by treating the eyes again with laser or with the use of eye enhancements. The complications of LASIK are rarely permanent or significant.
Flap Complications
The most common complication associated with LASIK laser eye surgery is a problem with the flap. The flap is created when the clear front covering of the eye, or the cornea, is cut and lifted before reshaping the eye. After reshaping is completed, the flap is replaced and serves as a bandage.
On rare occasions, lasers can cuts through the flap. This often occurs when a microkeratome is used instead of IntraLase laser. IntraLase increases accuracy of the procedure and reduces the possibility of flap complications.
If the flap is cut incorrectly, it may not adhere to the surface of the eye. It may also wrinkle if cut too thinly or thickly. These flap complications can cause the surface of the eye to be irregularly shaped, creating irregular astigmatism and vision distortions.
Dead cells can also get trapped underneath the flap. This as called Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK) or “Sands of the Sahara”. The cornea reacts to the presence of this foreign matter and leads to inflammation and scarring. This can lead to permanent vision loss if not immediately treated with antibiotics. Another way of treating it is by lifting and scraping the flap to remove the infiltrates.
Irregular Astigmatism
LASIK surgery can sometimes result in irregular astigmatism. This happens when laser correction is improperly centered. Symptoms include double vision (diplopia) or ghost images. Using enhancements or treating the eye again can remedy this. Swelling of the cornea can also cause double vision or ghost images. In this case, symptoms are likely to disappear without additional treatment once the eye heals.
Overcorrection and Undercorrection
A patient may experience a gradual decrease in visual acuity over a period of time after LASIK. The healing response of each person after surgery can determine whether or not overcorrection or undercorrection occurred. When these occur, a follow-up procedure with LASIK can alleviate the problem.
Keratectasia
If too much tissue is removed from the cornea or if the flap is cut too deeply, keratectasia can occur. This is a condition wherein the cornea bulges because it has weakened. This results in distorted vision that cannot be corrected by laser enhancement. In this case, a rigid contact is put in place to hold the cornea in place.
Related: Learning LASIK Risks, LASIK Side Effects
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