Complications of a LASIK surgery

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1. Undercorrection – This happens when the refractive surgery does not produce as much as change as planned to achieve. This happens when the laser does not remove the adequate amount of tissue. This can happen inspite of using the right technique, meticulous calibration between the instrument and laser. It is most common in patients who complain of higher levels of farsightedness nearsightedness or astigmatism. Undercorrection can however be rectified by a corrective surgery.

2. Overcorrection – This happens when the laser used in the refractive surgery removes too much of the corneal tissue than the desired correction. An Overcorrection mostly gets settled on its own after a few weeks after the surgery. However, if problem still persists a patient can opt for an enhancement procedure a few months after the refractive surgery and use glasses and lenses temporarily till the overcorrection heals.

3. Too Small An Optical Zone – This occurs when the fully corrected portion of the cornea of the patient is too small in diameter for the optical needs of the patient. This is determined by the size of their pupil in good or/ and poor lighting. This could have occurred due to the programmed optical zone being too small or because the programmed optical zone was not achieved.

4. Decentered Ablation – A decentered ablation is not a very frequent complaint that the patients face after a Lasik surgery. This happens when the laser being used in the surgery has not been centered properly over the pupil of the patient. It can also occur due to the eye movement of the patient in between the procedure. It can lead to a few problems with the vision such as blurred vision, glares, starbursts and ghost images

Flap and Operative Complications

1. Dry Eye Syndrome – This situation of the eyes is also known as eratoconjunctivitis sicca where the eyes dry out and get inflamed leading to reddening of the eyes due to your eyes not do not making enough tears, or the tears that are made evaporate very quickly It need not necessarily happen to only patients who have undergone a Lasik surgery. It is however one of the most common problems faced by patients who have undergone refractive surgery.

2. Free Cap – It is also known as Free Flap that is a complication of Lasik surgery, when the flap incision during the surgery is cut all the way around so that, instead of leaving a hinge of an attached tissue, the intended flap is a free standing piece of tissue. It can occur either due to a loss of suction while the flap is being created, when the surgery is being performed on a patient who has flat corneas or when the flap maker has not been locked into position properly. It can be treated by replacing the cap and aligned well with the cornea.

3. Wrinkles in the Flap – This can occur due to using a flap of poor quality or when the doctors face problems moving the flap during the procedure. This can also happen when the patient squeezes the eyes or rubs them aggressively just a few hours after the Lasik surgery. It is important that the doctor check the eyes under a slit lamp after the surgery to look for any such complications that can lead to irregular astigmatism and other vision problems such as blurred vision and glares.

4. Lost flap – This is when the flap that was used in the surgery is broken off and cannot be replaced. This can happen due to an accident involving the eyes or a sudden blow on the eye. Since the flap cannot be replaced it has to be corrected with the help of a corneal transplant.

5. Incomplete Flap – It happens when the doctor is unable to pass through the microkeratome and the flap being used is only partially cut. It can happen due to loss of suction, malfunction of the microkeratome or any other problem that the doctor may face when trying to place the flap. It is advisable that the doctor does not continue with the procedure and ask the patient to come back after a few weeks for the surgery after laying the flap for rest.

6. Infection – This is not a very common occurrence after a Lasik surgery, though if found can be very harmful for the patients.

7. Flap melts – This happens when the flap used for the surgery begins to dehydrate, disintegrate or turn opaque in the eyes of the patient. This can occur due to inflammations, uncontrolled ocular surface disease or uncontrolled epithelial ingrowths. If the flap has melted too much the doctor may have to perform a procedure and amputate the flap. The patient may have to undergo a partial or complete corneal transplant in order to correct the vision.

Allways you should talk about complications of any kind of surgery with your Doctor.

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