Lasik Surgery Complications

Lasik Complications | Lasik Eye Surgery Risks

When LASIK complications occur, they may be associated with the creation of a hinged flap in the clear front covering of the eye (cornea), which is lifted for laser re-shaping of the eye. The flap then is replaced to form a type of natural bandage.

If the LASIK flap is not made correctly, it may fail to adhere correctly to the eye's surface. The flap also might be cut too thinly or thickly. After the flap is placed back on the eye's surface, it might begin to wrinkle.

These types of flap complications can lead to an irregularly shaped eye surface. But problems also often are resolved through re-treatment or enhancements of the eye.

Studies indicate that flap complications occur in from .3 percent to 5.7 percent of LASIK procedures, according to the April 2006 issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology. But inexperienced surgeons definitely contribute to the higher rates of flap complications. Again, remember that you can improve your odds of avoiding LASIK risks by selecting a reputable, experienced eye surgeon.

Some problems associated with LASIK flap complications include:

• Irregular astigmatism can result from a less than smooth corneal surface. Irregular astigmatism also can occur from laser correction that is not centered properly on the eye. Resulting symptoms may include double vision (diplopia) or "ghost images." In these cases, the eye may need re-treatment or an enhancement.
• Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK), also nicknamed "Sands of the Sahara," can occur with the appearance of cellular debris that can create inflammation underneath the LASIK flap. In the first week, the cornea then reacts to the presence of foreign matter, causing inflammation that in rare cases leads to scarring. Potentially permanent vision loss can occur without prompt treatment with therapies such as antibiotics and topical steroids. The flap also might need to be lifted and rinsed for removal of inflammatory cells and to prevent tissue damage.
• Keratectasia or keratoconus is bulging of the eye's surface that can result from a flap that is cut too deeply, when too much tissue is removed from the cornea during LASIK, or when the cornea was initially weakened as evidenced from cornea topography mapping prior to LASIK. Resulting distorted vision likely cannot be corrected with laser enhancement, and rigid contact lenses or implants (Intacs) may be prescribed to hold the cornea in place.

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