Lasik Side Effects

Most people who have the Lasik procedure have favorable outcomes. Before having Lasik surgery, however, it is important to be aware of all of the potential side effects.

While the healing and recovery period following Lasik procedures is fairly speedy, there are potential side effects that prospective patients should know about before having this eye surgery done. While Lasik helps many, it is not perfect and there are some short-term side effects you can expect and other more serious difficulties that might occur.

Common Problems

Most patients report blurred vision, light sensitivity and dry eye side effects after Lasik surgery. Most of these conditions only last for a short period of time or until the eye heals. The surgeon may instruct patients to restrict night driving because of blurred vision or halos seen around lit objects during the night. Patients are usually advised to protect their eyes with good sunglasses in sunlight to help minimize the sensitivity to light. A prescription is typically given to patients to reduce the feeling of dry eye. In addition, an eye shield is suggested for patients to wear while sleeping to help prevent scratching or possible damage to the eye. Refraining from rubbing the eyes will also help reduce these side effects.

Most patients who have Lasik surgery have only low to moderate side effects, which last a few hours to a couple of days. There are side effects however, that are more severe and can linger for months. These can include lost or worsened vision, reduced low-light vision, infection and severe dry eye syndrome.

Reduced Low-Light Vision

Having difficulty seeing at night is a fairly common side effect of Lasik. This also usually corrects itself over time. After surgery, some patients report seeing halos around lights at night. Typically, patients report this condition goes away after 3 to 4 days following their surgery. In rare instances, poor night vision can continue for as long as 6 months before clearing.

Severe Dry Eye

Dry eye arises when the eye needs additional moisture. People who chronically suffer from dry eye are not recommended for Lasik. For others, dry eye may affect them from a few days to several months. To help dry eye, patients are given eye drops.

Infection

Infection is the most common side effect of the Lasik surgery. Following basic post-surgery instructions can greatly lower the risks of infection. These include not wearing make up, facial creams or lotions for at least 3 days prior to having surgery while perfume and cologne shouldn't be applied on the day of the surgery. These can contaminate and increase the risk of eye infection. Most Lasik surgeons will cancel the surgery if they find make up or lotions are on the face on the day of the surgery.

Enhancement Surgery

Some Lasik patients may require a second Lasik procedure a few months after the first surgery. These are often called enhancement surgeries or retouching. Sometimes, if the surgery is under-corrected, a second surgery will be required. The patient will need to wear some sort of glasses or contacts for a time after the initial surgery. Surgeons will usually wait 3 to 6 months before performing a second procedure and will closely observe the recovery.

Loss Of Or Reduced Vision

In very rare cases Lasik patients can experience a loss of or reduced vision following the procedure. It is estimated that 3 percent of all Lasik patients report this outcome. These problems often self-correct, but it can take several months.

Lasik vision correction surgery is a popular decision for people with moderate to low vision problems who would like to improve their eyesight. Most doctors who perform the Lasik procedure feel that patient education is an important component of the surgery. Much of the disappointment people have with the surgery outcome can be avoided with adequate education prior to having the procedure done. That includes being informed about any and all side effects. Your doctor should fully discuss all of the risks and complications before you consent to the surgery.