Complications of Lasik Eye Surgery

Lasik eye surgery is widely known and the most routinely performed laser refractive surgery to correct problems with your vision. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis the acronym for Lasik is an alternative for eyeglasses or contact lenses.

When performing plastic surgery the eye doctor near you uses a unique cutting laser to precisely change the dome-shaped clear tissue in the front of your cornea by changing its shape to improve your vision.

If you have normal vision the cornea retracts light at your retina precisely at the rear of the eye. Unfortunately if you have myopia or nearsightedness or hyperopia or farsightedness the light bends incorrectly resulting in blood vision. Although glasses and contact lenses correct vision problems reshaping the cornea provides the necessary refraction.

Why Is Lasik Surgery Performed?

Lasik eye surgery in Glendale is an option for the correction of one of the following vision problems.

• Myopia (nearsightedness): if your eyeball is larger than average or when your cornea curves sharply light rays will focus in the front of your retina to blur distant vision. You face challenges seeing objects that are far away but you can see them when there close.
• Hyperopia (farsightedness): when you have a shorter than normal eyeball or flat cornea that focuses behind the retina instead of on it. The flat cornea makes near and distant vision occasionally blurry.
• Astigmatism: if the cornea flattens or curves unevenly it results in astigmatism disrupting focus of near and distant vision.
• You probably wear glasses or contact lenses if you consider Lasik eye surgery. Your eye doctor will discuss about whether Lasik surgery or other similar refractive procedures are an option suitable for you.

Complications of Lasik Surgery

Rarely do complications resulting in vision loss occur with Lasik surgery. However certain side effects of this procedure like temporary vision problems and dry eyes are fairly common. The adverse effects of Lasik surgery subside after a few weeks or months and a minute number of people consider them as a long-term problem.

Risks of Lasik Surgery

• Dry Eyes: Lasik surgery can cause temporary reduction in tear production. Your eyes may feel dry during the healing for six months after the procedure. Dry eyes also reduce the quality of your vision. In such cases your doctor recommends eyedrops to alleviate the discomfort. If you have severe dry eyes you can consider another procedure to prevent your tears from draining away from your eyes surface.
• Under Corrections: if the laser does not remove sufficient tissue from your eyes you will not benefit from clear vision as you hope. Under corrections are familiar in nearsighted patients. In such cases you will need another Lasik surgery within a year to remove excess tissue.
• Over Corrections: the laser can remove excess tissue from your eyes making the problem more challenging to fix than under corrections.
• Vision Loss of Changes: surgical complications can rarely result in vision loss. Some patients may not see sharply or clearly as earlier.
• Astigmatism: laser surgery can result in astigmatism caused by uneven tissue removal. The problem requires additional surgery besides eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• Regression: regression is when your vision gradually reverts back to your original description although the problem is less common.
• Flap Problems: folding or removing the flap from your eyes front during surgery can result in complications including infection and exist tears. The outermost layer of the cornea may grow abnormally beneath the flap during your recovery.

Eye doctors will not recommend laser refractive surgery for eye care if you have conditions like autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, a compromised immune system by immunosuppressive medications or HIV, recent vision changes due to medications, hormonal changes, pregnancy, and breastfeeding or aging and inflammation of the cornea, eyelid disorders or injuries, or eye diseases like herpes simplex affecting the eyes besides glaucoma or cataracts.

In addition laser eyes surgery is not advised if you have eye diseases causing your cornea to thin or bulge or you have a genetic history of it, have relatively good vision, severe nearsightedness, large pupils or thin cornea besides age-related eye changes causing less clear vision or participate in contact sports associated with impacts to the face.

When considering Lasik surgery it helps if you discuss your questions and concerns with your doctor to understand the complications of this procedure. The doctor will provide you a clear view of whether you are a suitable candidate for the procedure will benefit from other similar procedures.

If considering Lasik eye surgery discuss the process with Glendale Eye Medical Group with your questions and concerns. The medical group specialists will advise you on your candidacy after examining your eyes to determine whether the procedure is suitable for your needs.