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What are the risks?

Laser eye surgery with an Excimer laser was first performed on humans in 1987. Since that time, it is estimated that over 16 million people around the world have had laser eye surgery.  Medical research has demonstrated that laser eye surgery is a very safe and effective procedure.  However, as with any type of surgery, complications can occur. Most of these potential complications either resolve by themselves or are treatable.

What is the chance of developing a severe complication?

Serious complications are very infrequent, and the risk of blindness or significant loss of vision from LASIK is extremely small.  Some complications can delay full recovery of the eyes for several weeks or months, but it is highly unlikely they will result in serious or permanent loss of vision.  At Vision Laser there has never been an incidence of blindness as a result of laser eye surgery.  Less than 1% of patients experience serious problems that have the potential to significantly harm the vision.

What side-effects and complications can occur?

Use the table below to find out about certain complications that can occur, and how they can be treated.  This list is intended as a guide only and is not intended to be a complete list.  Fortunately, most side effects and complications resolve within three months of surgery and they do not result in long-term vision problems.

Possible Complications

Treatment
Under-correction or over-correction –- blurry vision persists

After undergoing laser eye surgery, about 2% of patients feel they need to use glasses occasionally. The chances of this occurring for a particular patient will depend largely on the magnitude of the treated prescription.


• Glasses or contact lenses when needed

• It may be possible to have laser eye surgery again (called an enhancement), but not in all cases.


Reduced “best visual acuity” -- less crisp vision than with glasses or contact lenses


Your best vision, with glasses or contacts, may not be as good after surgery as it was before.  This means that your “best-aided visual acuity”, which is the highest level of vision you can currently achieve with your glasses or contact lenses, may be diminished after surgery.



• It may be possible to undergo laser eye surgery again, (called an enhancement) but not in all cases.










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Corneal flap complications


Corneal flap problems occur in about 1% of LASIK procedures. This could prolong eye recovery, and reduce best visual acuity.

 In some cases it may be advisable to undergo a second procedure the day following surgery, or some weeks later to rectify the flap complication.
Glare and light sensitivity

You may experience greater sensitivity to sunlight and glare than usual.

• Wait for your eyes to settle and adjust, usually within a few days.
Starburst or night haloes

You may experience a halo effect, or rings, around street lights and car lights at night.

• Wait for your eyes to settle and adjust.  The starbursts or night haloes will decrease with time, although they may not disappear completely in some cases.
Discomfort, dryness, and fluctuation in vision.

You may experience watering eyes and swollen lids during the initial post-operative period.  This is not uncommon.

You may feel some pain initially after your procedure, although this is unusual.  In the first few weeks after surgery your eyes may feel dry.
You may experience fluctuation in your vision. This is normal during the first month of the healing process.

• Wait for your eyes to settle and adjust.

• You may find taking pain tablets helpful.  These will be provided to you.  Use as instructed.

• Lubricant eye drops (artificial tears) are given to reduce the feeling of dryness.
Infection –- red, oozing, or painful eyes

The chance of getting a serious infection seems to be no higher than with long-term contact lens wear.  The risk is highest in the first 48 hours after surgery.

• You are given antibiotic drops during surgery, and for the first week after surgery to minimise the risk of infection.

Unknown long-term side effects. Injury.

The long-term side-effects of laser eye surgery are unknown for certain. We are not aware of any reports of serious late-onset complications since the first laser cases were performed in 1987.
Experience and evidence indicate that, once the eye has healed from laser eye surgery, it is no more susceptible to injury or infection from normal activities than an untreated eye.















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Presbyopia –- need for reading glasses or bifocals

You may need reading glasses or bifocals in the future, as a result of developing presbyopia.  This condition reduces the eyes' ability to focus on near objects, and it will occur around age 45 whether you have laser surgery or not.

 You will require reading glasses or bifocals, unless you opt to have a monovision correction at the time of laser surgery.