What are the side effects to having LASIK done?

Doctor's Answers 1

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Dr Tony Ho

Ophthalmologist

A few possible side effects of LASIK includes flap-related complications, which includes a wide gamut of complications such as flap dislodgement, flap wrinkles, Sands of Sahara, flap infection, etc.

During the flap cutting step of LASIK, multiple nerve endings will be severed and this may result in chronic dry eyes.

Other complications which are common to LASIK and other laser vision correction procedures are under/over-correction, eye infection, corneal haze, etc.

Though the above-mentioned complications are rare, you should only undergo the procedure under the hands of an experienced eye surgeon. I will always advise my patients to conduct a thorough research on the types of procedures, doctor's credentials, etc prior to committing themselves to the procedure.

Similar Questions

How can I prevent blood clots on the whites of my eyes after LASIK?

Hi Susanne In the first step of the LASIK procedure, a ‘flap’ is created using a femtosecond laser (or, in the past, a special blade called a microkeratome). During this step, the laser is ‘connected’/docked to the eye with a ring-like device that grips the white part of your eye. You can watch an animation here: There are many small blood vessels on this part of the eye, and sometimes the suction pressure providing the grip may cause some of the blood vessels to leak some blood, causing red patches after the LASIK.

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What factors should I consider in deciding whether Punctal Plugs are the right treatment for my dry eyes after LASIK?

Punctal plugs are very effective for treating dry eyes that occur during waking hours, whether or not the situation is associated with LASIK. They help to reduce the need for eyedrops, so are very useful for people who have to use artificial tears very frequently eg instead of having to use the eyedrops every 2-3 hourly, sometimes after the plugs are placed, the eyedrops might only be needed every 4-6 hourly. As long as there is no active eye inflammation (eg persistent eye redness/discharge), punctal plugs can help anyone with moderate dry eyes requiring frequent eyedrop instillation.

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