Understanding LASIK Risks

While LASIK surgery is extremely safe and incredibly effective, as with any surgical procedure, there is still some risk involved. The truth is, LASIK risks are rare and typically mild when they do occur. When LASIK risks do occur, the majority of side effects either go away on their own or are easily fixed through a follow-up procedure.

Potential LASIK surgery risks include:

Eye Infections – Like all surgical procedures, LASIK carries a small risk of infection. However, eye infections following LASIK are rare. If the procedure is performed using sterile lasers throughout, the surgeon can avoid any physical contact with the eye and thus minimize the chance of infection. Patients can also reduce the risk of infection by avoiding swimming pools and facial products for a short period of time following surgery.

Dry Eye – Because LASIK temporarily stops the eye from producing tears, patients may experience dry eyes during the first six months following surgery. This is a relatively common side effect of surgery and may be treated with eye drops. The symptoms include dry, itchy, red eyes. Dry eye can sometimes cause eye pain and the feeling of something in the eye.

LASIK Flap Complications – Problems associated with the flap created in the cornea during the LASIK procedure may affect between 0 and 4% of patients. The effects may be short or long term and, in some instances, a second procedure may be required to alleviate symptoms.

In addition to the LASIK risks outlined above, it is normal to experience some temporary side-effects following the procedure. Patients may experience blurred vision, glare and halos or starbursts around lights during the healing process after LASIK surgery. These symptoms are quite common in the first few weeks and they almost always improve over time as the eye heals.

Interested in learning more about potential LASIK risks? Contact The Eye Clinic Surgicenter at 406-252-6608 or theeyeclinicsurgicenter.com to schedule your LASIK consultation in Billings today to start your journey to clear vision!