Risks and Common Problems of LASIK Eye Surgery

Filed in archive Risks and Problems on February 10, 2010

Eye Shot 2
Originally uploaded by drummp2

Our eyes are more than the windows of our souls, they're the main organs for one of our primary senses, sight. We rely strongly on vision to guide the processing of information, and gather input for making quick decisions, to help make associations, learn, work, and remember. So before letting the "eyes" have it, remember that as with any surgery, there are always risks. While there is only a small minority of cases where complications from LASIK occur, about 3% of refractive surgery patients having reported unresolved complications after 6 months, risk of complications should be considered before choosing LASIK over other procedures or less invasive solutions, like eyeglasses or contact lenses.

According to the FDA, some of the most common after-surgery problems experienced by refractive surgery patients are:

• Loss of vision


• Visual symptoms like glare, halos, starbursts, ghost or double vision


• Severe dry eye, which could be temporary or permanent


• The procedure was not fully effective

USAEyes, a non-profit consumer advocacy website centered on LASIK surgery offers a complete list of these complications with descriptions.