Lasik Laser

Now that you know just what happens during a LASIK Eye Surgery, let’s look at the complications that could arise from LASIK Eye Surgery. Do remember that all these problems have a very, very low chance of actually happening to you, but it’s good to at least know what to ask your doctor in terms of risk assessment during the surgery.

There are three categories of LASIK Eye Surgery complications. The first is Intraoperative Complications, or the complications that could crop up during the surgery itself. Early Postoperative Complications are those that come just after the surgery, and Late Postoperative Complications happen at least a year or so after getting LASIK. Let’s get to them:

Intraoperative Complications:

Flap complications are the most common to happen during the surgery (happening at around 0.244%). However, these complications are easily remedied, as they’re usually just things such as flap repositioning and cause no long-term damage whatsoever. There’s also the danger of the flap drying out and refusing to ‘bond’ with the rest of the cornea, but all it takes is more sleep and extra use of the sleep goggles to prevent the flap from being disturbed.

Early Postoperative Complications

The two most common complications that could happen directly after surgery is Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis and Dry Eye syndrome. Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis, more commonly known as the Sands of Sahara syndrome, is what happens when foreign objects or debris get underneath the flap. This causes the patient’s vision to worsen, and the cornea to be opaque, much like cataract. This is easily remedied. The other complication, Dry Eye syndrome, is pretty much what it sounds like: your eyes seem a bit more drier than usual. This is remedied by regular application of eye drops and moisturizers.

Late Postoperative Complications

Late postoperative complications are very rare, and tend to show up a few years or so after the procedure itself. Some of the more common complications in this stage is the occurrence of glare, as well as halos or starbursts around bright lights at night. There have also been reports of the flap suddenly dislocating itself a year or so after LASIK.