What might be the risks of getting LASIK surgery?
This common eye surgery can restore 20/20 vision in most people. Find out what the benefits and drawbacks may be — and who it may be best for.
LASIK eye surgery, which may also be referred to as laser vision correction, might be a game-changer for people who may want sharper eyesight. (LASIK stands for laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.) During the procedure, an ophthalmologist uses an ultraviolet laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea, which is the clear covering on the front of the eye.1,2 (An ophthalmologist is a type of eye care provider who has a medical degree and may perform eye surgery.)
LASIK is designed to correct vision problems that make it harder to see clearly. This includes people who may be nearsighted (objects appear blurry at a distance), farsighted (objects appear blurry up close) or have astigmatism (objects appear blurry either at a distance or up close).
The procedure has a high success rate: About 90% of people who have LASIK surgery may end up with vision between 20/20 and 20/40 — and they may be able to stop wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses for good.1
But LASIK may not be for everyone. It comes with risks of certain side effects and complications. Here are some things to be aware of about LASIK surgery before getting it.
What might happen during LASIK surgery?
During the procedure, the eye care provider will use 2 different types of lasers, says Masako Chen, M.D. She’s an ophthalmologist, cornea surgeon and an assistant professor in ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in New York City.
“The first laser creates a flap in the cornea that the surgeon lifts manually. And the second laser is used to sculpt the cornea in a different shape,” Dr. Chen says. “The surgeon will then put the flap back, give the patients some eye drops, and they’re good to go.”
During LASIK surgery, the patient’s eyes are numbed. That way, the person may not feel pain, though they may feel a little discomfort from the speculum — the object that keeps their eyes open during the surgery, explains Dr. Chen. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes, with 10 to 15 minutes spent on each eye.
After the surgery, the doctor will send the patient home with eye drops that may help prevent inflammation and infection. Patients may put them in for anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks, says Dr. Chen. Other things people may expect, notes Dr. Chen:
- Patients may be sensitive to light and have some pain the night after the procedure. But the next morning they should be all right to drive or walk over for their follow-up visit with the surgeon without wearing their glasses.
- The first day, an eye care provider will have people wear protective clear patches or special glasses, so that they don’t rub or accidentally scratch their eyes.
- “There may be dryness, fogginess or the feeling like something is in the eye. But this will clear up each day during the first month,” reports Dr. Chen.
But if the eyes don’t feel normal after the surgery, it’s a good idea to schedule a follow-up appointment with an eye care provider.
What might be the risks after LASIK surgery?
It’s possible for some people to experience side effects after the procedure. These issues usually subside over time, but there’s a chance they may not go away.
Here are some possible temporary or even permanent risks of LASIK surgery:2,3
- Blurry, hazy, foggy or double vision
- Seeing halos, starbursts, glare or ghost images
- Light sensitivity
- Trouble with night vision and/or driving at night
- Infection of the cornea
- Small pink or red patches of blood on the white of the eye
- Scarring of the cornea or permanent problems with the cornea’s shape
Serious complications are rare, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.3 “With the new lasers, side effects are minimal,” adds Dr. Chen.
For some people, it may take up to 3 to 6 months before their vision stabilizes and they see clearly.2 Also, LASIK can’t correct or prevent presbyopia, the age-related loss of being able to focus on near objects. People may still need their reading glasses or expect to need them once they become middle-aged.1,2
Who might be at the greatest risk of complications from LASIK surgery?
There are some medical conditions or circumstances where a person may be more likely to develop complications from LASIK. These include:4
Certain eye conditions or diseases
Certain medical conditions
- Autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. An autoimmune disease may make a person more prone to infection or make it harder for them to heal.
- Diabetes, which may put a person at risk of diabetic retinopathy. (This serious eye condition may be a complication of diabetes.)
Someone who’s vision may still be changing
- If a person’s eye prescription changed much in the last year
- Teenagers or young adults, who still frequently need a new or stronger prescription
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding (hormones may change vision temporarily)
What might make someone a good candidate for LASIK surgery?
One of the main reasons a person may decide to get LASIK is that they want to see clearly without having to wear glasses or contact lenses. “People who make good candidates are those who have glasses but don’t ever wear them, are intolerant of their contacts or have trouble keeping up with proper contact hygiene, such as sleeping in them,” says Dr. Chen.
However, an eye care provider will have to determine if the person qualifies for LASIK. “A person needs to meet certain medical requirements. And that’s determined through a dilated eye exam,” says Dr. Chen.
Besides a dilated eye exam, the eye care provider may also take eye measurements and a picture called a corneal topography. “Those are done to make sure the cornea is healthy, since that’s the part of the eye where the surgery is done,” Dr. Chen adds.
No matter what, if someone may want LASIK surgery, it’s important to discuss it with an eye care provider. “The biggest thing is to have an evaluation with your doctor to make sure you’re a good candidate,” says Dr. Chen.
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