Potential Complications of Lasik Surgery

Although there have been a number of improvements in LASIK technology, a large body of conclusive evidence on the chances of long-term complications is not yet in place. Also, there is a small chance of complications, such as slipped flap, corneal infection, haziness, halo, or glare. The procedure is irreversible. 

There potential complications after Lasik surgery include the following in order of probability:

• Dry Eye Syndrome and Symptoms: Dry eye syndrome is not exclusive to people who have had refractive surgery, however, it has developed into the most common complication after laser vision correction. It is estimated that dry eye syndrome affects as high as 28% in Asian eyes and 5% in Caucasian eyes
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage: has been estimated at 10.5% of cases.
• Sands of SaharaSyndrome or Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis [DLK]: occurs in an estimated 2.3% of procedures. This occurs when the tissue under the flap reacts to minute traces of microorganism toxins and causes inflamation.
• Infection: This is an extremely rare occurrence at 0.4%, although should it occur it could be devastating. It is normal practice to use antibiotics in the post operative period and this combined with most peoples natural resistance prevents this from occurring.
• Retinal detachment: The incidence of retinal detachment has been estimated at 0.36%
• Macular hole: The incidence of macular hole has been estimated at 0.2% to 0.3%.
• Choroidal neovascularization: The incidence of choroidal neovascularization has been estimated at 0.33%
• Flap Complications: Flap complications [link to flap complications post] are quite rare, only occurring in 0.244%
  • Incomplete, irregular, or decentered flap, or button hole of flap
  • Free cap
  • Epithelial (surface) abrasion at the time of flap creation:
  • Wrinkles in the flap
  • Debris under the flap
  • Displaced flap 
• Uveitis: The incidence of uveitis has been estimated at 0.18%
• The incidence of epithelial ingrowth has been estimated at 0.1%
• Other common side effects include:
  • Glare
  • Halos or starbursts around bright lights at night

Late traumatic flap dislocations have been reported 1-7 years post-LASIK

Comments

[jacqueline turner]

i had lasik surgery 18 months ago 5 relifts of the flap to cure epithelial ingrowth syndome the flap has now shrunk they have tried to stitch the flap back no luck nobody knows what to do for me now and i still have epitheliel cells under what bis left of my flap!

[Ajlouny]

Some post-operative patients have developed debilitating visual problems such as double vision, or have complained of glare halos.