Mission for Vision- Complications of LASIK

The complications of LASIK with links to scientific articles for patients, ophthalmologists, medical students, optometrists and those contemplating the procedure.

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Friday, October 21, 2005

Complications of LASIK Surgery

Information from websites about the complications of LASIK (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis) is usually understated by LASIK surgeons. LASIK surgeons make their living (usually a very lucrative living) from the procedure as is evident from the adjacent advertisements). The information that the LASIK surgeons post, generally, trivialize the complications, and in some cases take the form of advertisement to attract paying patients to their sites. Here, we have made a concerted effort to list most of the published complications of LASIK and as you will see, it is an astonishingly long list. Unfortunately, our list is incomplete as the long term effects are just beginning to be known. If you are considering having the procedure, carefully consider the below list of published complications. Many of these are vision threatening and require corneal transplantation which may be unsuccessful. Others result in permanent loss of vision. Click on the links of the reported complications of (LASIK) include :
  1. keratectasia requiring cornea transplant
  2. corneal perforation requiring cornea transplant
  3. inaccurate IOL power calculations for cataract surgery
  4. retinal detachment
  5. optic neuropathy
  6. stromal scarring
  7. thin irregular flaps
  8. buttonholed flaps,
  9. incomplete flaps,
  10. dislodged flaps,
  11. free cap,
  12. flap folds,
  13. epithelial implantation and ingrowth,
  14. accumulation of interface debris,
  15. epithelial defects,
  16. topographical central islands,
  17. decentered ablation
  18. induced astigmatism,
  19. halos (glare)
  20. loss of contrast sensitivity
  21. dry eyes
  22. infectious keratitis
  23. sterile infiltrates,
  24. diffuse lamellar keratitis
  25. cataract formation
  26. decreased endothelial cell counts
  27. difficulty with contact lens fitting,
  28. unilateral and bilateral macular hemorrhage



References (see links above)
1. Melki SA, Azar DT, LASIK complications. Survey of Ophthalmology 2001; 145: 95-116
2. Cameron BD et al. LASIK- induced optic neuropathy. Ophthalmology 2001;108:660-665

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