What Is Considered A Lasik Eye Surgery Complication?

As with any surgical procedure, there can be risks and issues involved. Some patients have documented a Lasik eye surgery complication. In this brief outline, I will discuss some of the known complications and shed some light on the nature of a Lasik eye surgery complication.

What complications can arise?

In order to understand the complications, there has to be a simple understanding of the procedure of Lasik eye surgery. Lasik eye surgery involves the cutting of a small flap in the front covering of the eye or cornea. The flap is lifted so that the eye may be reshaped by the laser and then the flap is replaced as a type of bandage.

The flap is cut using a type of bladed instrument called a "microkeratome" or else with a laser. This depends on the surgeon one visits as to what technology is used. The usage of the laser to perform this portion of the procedure allows for more precision and, therefore, fewer complications are likely to arise.

Now, if the flap is not cut correctly it may fail to form properly to the surface of the eye. The flap might also be cut too small or thin, which would cause wrinkling upon the attempt to adhere the flap to the surface of the eye. These complications can lead to an irregularly shaped eye surface and in time may lead to astigmatism or blurry vision.

Another type of Lasik eye surgery complication is known as "epithelial ingrowth". This complication results in visual aberrations, meaning the patient starts to see glares, has problems with light sensitivity, experiences double vision, or experiences a loss of contrast sensitivity. This complication is normally either treated with an eye drop or with a simple laser retreatment to correct the problem area.

"Diffuse lamellar keratitis" is another Lasik eye surgery complication which occurs with the arrival of dead cells under the flap of the eye. The eye naturally reacts to the presence of the dead cells in the form of inflammation and scarring. Steroids and antibiotics are the traditional treatments to "DLK" and it should be noted that treatment must be sought out immediately as permanent blindness is a potential result.

As with any surgical procedure, there are a variety of complications. Care must be taken to select the right Lasik eye surgeon for your specific needs and also to decide of Lasik eye surgery is the right procedure for you.

It's imperative that you get all the Lasik eye surgery information you can find before you have the surgery. Try to talk to someone who has had the surgery. As important as it is to read all about the procedure, there's no substitute for the first-hand experiences of someone who has been there.

Your doctor should be willing to answer all your questions and provide literature about the procedure and the risks and benefits. If your doctor says you may not be a candidate for Lasik eye surgery, ask him about alternative laser surgeries. You may find that another type of laser surgery would be more beneficial to you.

There is a lot of Lasik eye surgery information available on the internet. The National Eye Institute maintains a website that has a lot of information regarding different types of eye problems and the corrective procedures associated with them. You can access their website at nei.nih.gov. The American Optometric Association also has a website containing information you may find useful You can access it at aoa.org.

Take into consideration that you must be in good general overall health in order to have this type of surgery. You can't have a disease that could slow healing such as diabetes or lupus. There are other criteria of which you may not be aware so discuss these with your doctor. You may think of other questions to ask your eye surgeon after searching for Lasik eye surgery information. As you think of them, write down your questions so you'll be prepared for your next appointment.

You'll need to arrange for some time off from work. In most cases, it is just a couple of days. You'll need to make sure you have a ride to and from the procedure. Discuss with your doctor ahead of time if he'll be giving you a Valium or something to relax you during the surgery. Of course, you're not obligated to take any medication but for some people, it helps them to relax and not be so frightened.

Make sure whoever takes you to the appointment listens to and understands the aftercare instructions, especially if you have had a sedative as you may not remember all the instructions. Ideally, they'll be written down and you'll be given some post-op literature to read. Keep the Lasik eye surgery information regarding post-op procedures handy.

Whatever you do, once you've made the decision to have Lasik surgery, don't let anyone scare you into not having it. The pain, if any is minor and the discomfort only lasts for a few days. If you and your doctor have decided that you would make a good candidate for this type of surgery, don't listen to someone else who probably is scared herself. The overwhelming majority of those who have had Lasik eye surgery are happy with the result and you, most likely, will be too.