Kinds of LASIK complications

Sunday, March 7th, 2010 at 1:11 am Post in Vision Surgery

Even if performed by experienced surgeons, LASIK may cause rare complications. In fact, LASIK is only one of the refractive surgeries. Others include LASEK, PRK and implantable lenses. Since inappropriate candidates carry higher risks of LASIK complications, it is overwhelmingly necessary to take a candidate evaluation. On the other hand, experience and skill of the surgeon are also importance in decreasing risks.

LASIK procedures are still gaining more popularity. Besides the public, military soldiers also have increased confidence in LASIK. As we know, eyeglasses and contact lenses are not allowed in active duty, so that some military personnel are more urgent to eliminate the dependence on corrective eyewear. Since 2000, more than 45 studies have been conducted to figure out the effectiveness of refractive procedure. Results show that most soldiers who have received LASIK or other surgeries have recovered 20/20 vision or better and complications occurred in very rare cases. Another study of US aviators who experienced wavefront LASIK reveals that the percentage of 20/20 uncorrected vision recovery reaches 100%. And 95% of those aviators are satisfied with the visual result.

Even although LASIK complication rates were higher in the past, currently experienced surgeons can control the rate of serious complications below 1%. In addition, something unintended could occur. For example, patients who get 20/20 uncorrected vision after LASIK may still have symptoms such as double vision, unresolved dry eyes and low night vision. Another critical factor in ensuring low complication rates is the health condition of candidates. Existing conditions such as diabetes and dry eyes may affect the healing effects, so that pre-operative exams are needed to potentially exclude certain candidates. There are standard LASIK criteria for candidate assessment. Patients should know that remedies such as LASIK enhancement are also available in addressing undesired outcomes.

Many LASIK complications are associated with the thin flap created and lifted during the procedure. Incorrect cut flap may cause irregular eye surface, which can bring some visual problems. It is also true that inexperienced surgeons bring up the rate of flap-related complications, but the overall incidence is estimated to be fewer than 5.7%. Most of the flap-caused complications can be cured by re-treatment or an enhancement.

Irregular astigmatism can be caused by unsmooth corneal surface or improperly centered laser correction, resulting double vision. LASIK flap may also cause inflammation under it. While some inflammation is harmless, Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis requires external interference such as inflammatory cell removal. Keratectasia or keratoconus may result from too deep flap cut. If too much tissue is removed, the eye may bulge and bring vision distortion. Keratectasia can be corrected with laser enhancement, corneal implants or corneal collagen cross linking with riboflavin.

Besides flap-related complications, there are several common complications that may occur after LASIK. Dry eye after LASIK occurs quite often among patients in the first six months. These people can get help from artificial tears or prescription dry eye medications. In some cases, significant undercorrection, overcorrection or regression may occur after LASIK. Reasons for these imperfect outcomes involve the patient’s eyes, inaccurate diagnosis or incorrect settings of computer software. Eye infection or irritation are also possible but can be treated with eye drops and anti-inflammatory medications. These problems are more frequently associated with bladed instruments for flap creation.

Presbyopia in people over 40 is common, which affects near vision. This vision problem is not one of the LASIK complications. Similarly, cataracts are also unrelated to LASIK surgery.