LASIK surgery is a state-of-the-art corrective eyesight laser procedure that is becoming more sophisticated every day. There are thousands of LASIK success stories, people who are thrilled with their new ability to see clearly without the need of glasses or contacts. However, what happens when LASIK goes wrong? Like any surgery, LASIK can have side effects and risks. It is important to know the possible complications that can occur before you proceed with this surgery. 

Mild Side Effects
One major failing of this surgery is that it may not live up to your expectations. Certain vision impairments, such as severe nearsightedness or severe farsightedness may be undercorrected or overcorrected by eye surgery. These issues can also be fixed with an additional surgery, or may go away after some time. Having a realistic outlook and consulting a licensed doctor and LASIK professional will help you to understand what the surgery can and will do for you.

Another risk of LASIK surgery is the possibility of induced astigmatism. Astigmatism can cause blurriness in eyesight and may be corrected with an additional enhancement procedure. In some cases, however, some slight cases of astigmatism can be endurable or even help eyesight.

Dry eyes can become a problem for some patients following a LASIK procedure. Dryness will subside after a few months and can be treated with the use of eye drops. If the issue persists, further measures can be taken to help eyes stay moist.

Glare, halos and islands are a common side effect of LASIK but go away after a short time. These are more annoying than problematic and are simply slight vision impairments that occur under certain circumstances, such as low lighting.

Serious Risks
A very serious side effect of LASIK eye surgery is called corneal ectasia. This is a bulging of the cornea due to pressure buildup and can occur months to years after a LASIK procedure. In severe cases of corneal ectasia, an additional laser surgery would only worsen the effects. A corneal transplant must take place in order to restore proper eyesight. Fortunately, a doctor can assess the likelihood of corneal ectasia and will not perform surgery if there is a possibility of it occurring.

Retinal hemorrhaging or damage to the optic nerve can occur when suction is applied and pressure is increased during surgery to the eye. Both of these can result in permanent loss of vision, but tend to be extremely rare, as the suction only lasts for a brief amount of time.

Infection can occur after LASIK if proper measures for healing aren’t taken. Infection is very rare but can result in corneal scarring and permanent vision loss.

As with any surgery, look into the risks and possible side effects before proceeding. Talk to your doctor about your options and personal expectations to get the best possible LASIK experience.