Laser Eye Treatment
	• Lasik Risks for Laser Eye Treatment

When it comes to good vision many guys feel the way I do about glasses and contacts – they’re a big pain in the ass. They’re always either getting lost or broken or are just too much hassle first thing in the morning.

 

Today many people look towards Lasik surgery to improve their vision. They are easily swayed by TV ads that all but guarantee perfect vision and a pain free experience. First off we need to understand what Lasik is.

Lasik stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis. It’s a procedure that uses a laser to permanently change the shape of the cornea, the clear covering of the front of the eye. A laser or a tiny blade is used to cut a flap in the cornea. A hinge is left at one end of this flap. The flap is folded back revealing the stroma, the middle section of the cornea. Pulses from a computer-controlled laser vaporize a portion of the stroma and the flap is replaced.

And while Lasik surgery is an incredible technology for correcting millions of people’s vision problems, there are risks associated with the procedure that the brochures and TV ads usually don’t tell you about.

 

The most common problem that arises from Lasik is with the flap. Once the re-shaping of the cornea is done, the flap is folded back and left to act as a natural bandage.

 

However, on rare occasions, the flap is cut completely through, cut too thin or too thick, which prevents it from healing properly. Other complications arise if a wrinkle is left in the flap when it’s put back in place. These mistakes cause the surface of the eye to distort, which leads to astigmatism and other visual anomalies.

 

During Lasik surgery the laser must be perfectly centered on the eye. If not, the result can be double vision or ghost images. In addition, the cornea can sometimes swell after the surgery, which also leads to double vision.

 

Generally these problems can be easily treated through the use of enhancements or by another go-round under the laser.

This condition occurs when the corneal flap is cut too deep or if too much tissue is removed during the procedure. This results in a weak cornea that bulges creating distorted vision. Usually, additional Lasik surgery can’t repair the damage and a rigid contact is used to hold the cornea in place.

 

Some patients report severe dry eye after having had Lasik. Other problems involve halos and glares around objects when lit at night. Most often, these problems are easily fixed with enhancements and medications.

 

The good news is that only about 5% of people who have had Lasik experienced any problems, and of those, most were fixed by a follow up visit to their Lasik surgeon. Experienced surgeons keep problems to a minimum by carefully screening people to ensure they’re able to benefit from the surgery.

Every surgical procedure involves a certain level of risk, even if it’s deemed routine. Your best bet is to learn what you can about the procedure and talk to your surgeon about the risks that might face you. Only then can you make the best decision.