Do you understand possible side effects and complications?

Complications that result in a loss of vision are rare. However, certain side effects, including dry eyes and temporary visual changes, are fairly common. But these usually resolve after a few weeks or months, and very few people consider them to be a long-term problem.

• Dry eyes. LASIK surgery causes a temporary decrease in tear production. For the first six months or so after your surgery, your eyes may feel unusually dry as they heal. Even after healing, you may experience an increase in dry eye symptoms. Your eye doctor might recommend that you use eye drops during this time. If you experience severe dry eyes, your doctor may recommend additional management steps.
• Glare, halos and double vision. After surgery you may have difficulty seeing at night. You might notice glare, halos around bright lights or double vision. This generally lasts a few days to a few weeks, but it also can become a long-term problem.
• Undercorrections. If the laser removes too little tissue from your eye, you won't get the clearer vision results you were hoping for. Undercorrections are more common for people who are nearsighted. You may need another refractive surgery, called an enhancement, within a year to remove more tissue.
• Overcorrections. It's also possible that the laser will remove too much tissue from your eye. Overcorrections may be more difficult to fix than undercorrections.
• Astigmatism. Astigmatism can be caused by uneven tissue removal. It may require additional surgery, glasses or contact lenses.
• Corneal ectasia. Corneal ectasia, a condition in which the cornea is too thin and weak, is one of the more-serious complications. The weakened cornea tissue is unable to maintain its shape, which can lead to cornea bulging and worsening vision.
• Flap problems. Folding back or removing the flap from the front of your eye during surgery can cause complications that could affect your final outcome. Complications include:
  • Inflammation.
  • Folds in the flap, which can result in the need to re-lift and replace the flap.
  • The outermost corneal tissue layer, called the epithelium, may grow abnormally underneath the flap during the healing process.
  • The flap does not maintain its normal strength and has a very rare chance of being lifted with trauma.
• Infection. In all types of refractive surgery there is a chance your eye could become infected, which could lead to poor visual outcomes despite appropriate treatment.
• Vision loss or changes. Rarely, you may experience loss of vision due to surgical complications. Some people also may not see as sharply or clearly as previously.