However, as with any surgery, there is always the risk of complications. The following list highlights some of the most common risks associated with LASIK. It is important to discuss these risks with your LASIK surgeon before deciding whether to undergo surgery:
- Dry Eye Syndrome - Some LASIK patients have difficulty producing tears following LASIK. This can be treated with eye drops or punctal eye plugs.
- Under or Over-Correction - LASIK surgery uses a laser to reshape your cornea, enabling light to properly focus on your retina. Occasionally, this corneal reshaping either over-corrects or under-corrects for your refractive error. This can generally be fixed with a touch-up procedure.
- Imperfect Vision - Not all LASIK patients end up with 20/20 vision following surgery. If you have a very strong prescription, it is likely that while your vision will be vastly improved, you may still need glasses following your surgery.
- Higher Order Aberrations - Some LASIK patients experience higher order aberrations such as glare, halos, or starbursts during night vision.
- Inflammation and Infection - As with any surgical procedure, there is always the risk of inflammation or infection. Your LASIK surgeon will give you careful instructions regarding follow-up care to reduce this risk.