What you need to know about the side effects, limitations and complications of laser refractive surgery. This information is to balance the benefits of laser surgery with known and unknown risks. It is impossible to operate without risk. Here's the risk of refractory eye surgery you must know:
Infection
There is a risk of INFECTION with all laser refractive surgery. But the risk of serious infection is much lower in LASIK than in the CRP. Risk is reduced fivefold from about 1/100 with PRK to 1/5000 with LASIK.
Refractive
Refractive problems that may be encountered include too many corrections, too little correction, prescription imbalance between eyes, aggravation of muscle imbalance issues or loss of effects of regression. LASIK and PRK may lead to more than correction and under correction due to variability in the patient's healing pattern and other surgical variables, leaving the patient nearsighted, nearsighted, or with astigmatism. It may or may not require the patient to wear glasses, contact lenses or undergo further surgery.
Pain
There is a risk with all laser refractive surgery, the risk of pain is much lower in LASIK than in PRK. Generally the patient will feel like, light sensitivity, tearing, mild redness and swelling after surgery.
Night Glare
Glare nights are often found in those who are nearsighted even before the refractive procedure is performed but it soon increases in the healing process and is more common when only one eye is treated. Usually, 6 months after both eyes are treated, only 2% of patients are still experiencing significant night glare that seriously disrupts their night driving.
Regression
If your vision is regressed, you may need a pair of thin glasses. In many cases, the regression experienced is very minimal and taken into account when planning your procedure. In some cases, night-vision goggles may be all that is needed by patients who have regressions.
Many patients experience discomfort within the first 24 to 48 hours after the CRP operation, and almost all experience light sensitivity. Other side effects may occur are, Dry Eyes, Infection, Glare.
While long-term side effects may occur, Loss of vision is best achieved with glasses, Seeing a small glare that can be permanent, depending on the size of the patient's pupils in the dim light