What are the side effects of Lasik eye surgery?

Lasik eye surgery is known to treat high myopia or short-sightedness which is an increasingly complex problem in the new world. Studies now claim that 30% of the total population in the world is myopic and that by the end of 2050, this per cent will go up to 50%.

With increased sophistication in the eye care segment, the procedures have become simple and the success rates have also gone up.

Like in any other surgery, unforeseen situation and complications cannot be ruled out. By choosing skilful and experienced surgeons, you can reduce the risk of the surgery significantly.   The level of risk varies with the different types of surgeries like LASIK, LASEK and PRK.

Lasik eye surgery can be an alternative to your contacts or glasses. The results could be tempting with the process being done in minutes, a faster recovery rate. 

Traditionally, glasses and contacts bend the light rays into your retina correcting the blurred vision. In Lasik surgery the cornea itself is reshaped thereby correcting the necessary vision.

So, if you are considering Lasik surgery it is best that you consult your eye care practitioner. Your doctor will talk to you about the Lasik surgery or another similar refractive procedure that will work best for your eyes.

Lasik surgery is a safe option and wouldn’t lead to loss of vision. However, it can create some short-term risks for you. Dry eyes, temporary visual disturbances, like flashes and halo are fairly common for the first few months. People tend to overcome such problems with time and it is rarely considered as a problem.

Here is a list of a few risks associated with Lasik operation.

Dry eyes:

Lasik surgery can make your eyes feel excessively dry for the first six months or so. You eye doctor might prescribe an eye drop for you to use during this period.  You can also enable special plugs in your tear ducts to prevent excess tears from draining out.

Double vision, glare, flashes and halos:

Not all these problems occur at the same time in a person. There is a possibility that might find your vision decreasing in dim light, finding unusual halos, glare etc., around bright objects or maybe double vision too.

Undercorrection:

Undercorrection occurs when too little tissue is removed from your eye. In such a case, you might have to undergo another Lasik surgery within a year.

Overcorrection:

Overcorrection happens when you remove too much of tissue from the eye. It is more difficult to fix than an under-correction.

Astigmatism:

Uneven removal of tissue from the cornea can also lead to astigmatism. It will then have to be corrected by additional surgery, glasses, or contact lenses.

Flap problem:

If the flap of the eye were folded back or removed during the surgery that would lead to complications, like infection or excess tears post-surgery.

Besides the above reasons, your doctor might not suggest Lasik surgery to you if you have diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, or a weakened immune system caused by immunosuppressive medications or HIV. You can’t opt for Lasik surgery if you have unstable vision due to hormonal changes, pregnancy, breastfeeding or age-related diseases, keratitis, glaucoma, cataracts, eyelid disorders or injuries.   

Now that you have weighed in the cons and pros of the surgery, it is strongly advised that you consult an eye care specialist at a reputed clinic like Apollo Spectra to eliminate or decrease the post-surgery complications.