Lasik Results - The Risks

In most cases, lasik eye surgery results in improved vision but there are some risks associated with lasik results. Your doctor can discuss whether you're a good candidate for lasik surgery, and they should to a thorough examination to determine if you're a good match for the surgery. You should ask your doctor about their experience and their surgical results, but you should know there are some risks associated with lasik surgery, too.

The Risks of Lasik Surgery

For the most part, patients report excellent lasik results from their surgeries. Their vision improves, they no longer need glasses or contacts, and they are pleased with the results. However, there are some risks associated with any eye surgery, and lasik is no exception. Here are some of the risks you should know about.

• Some people lose their vision. They cannot read below certain levels on a vision chart, and corrective lenses or additional surgery cannot correct the condition. In addition, some patients have symptoms like glare, halos, and double vision after the surgery, especially at night.
• Not every patient achieves perfect vision. Some need additional treatment, and sometimes that treatment doesn't work. You may still have to have glasses or contacts to achieve perfect vision after the surgery. If you have major refraction errors, your results may not be as good as other patients, and you may still need corrective lenses even after the surgery.
• You could develop severe dry eye syndrome. Dry eye is uncomfortable, but it also often reduces the quality of your vision because it can cause blurring and other symptoms. After lasik surgery, some patients find their eyes are not able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist, and this can be a permanent problem, too. They may have to use special eye drops to correct the condition for the rest of their lives.
• If you're farsighted, your surgery results may get worse as you age. Vision can decrease as you get older, even if you had good initial results from the surgery.

Remember that lasik surgery is a relatively new procedure, and there aren't a lot of studies over the long term to understand its affects. The first lasik laser was approved here in 1998, so the surgery is still relatively new and safety over years hasn't been studied. Before you elect to have lasik surgery, know the risks, talk about them with your doctor, and understand some of the risks of lasik results.