What is the LASIK complication rate? The LASIK complication rate is less than 1%. LASIK complications include infections as well as dislocation of the corneal flap that's made during the surgery. Surgical complications from laser vision correction are extremely rare.
3% of patients have serious problems after LASIK, such as dry eyes or infection. 90% of LASIK patients experience 20/20 vision after surgery. Furthermore, 99% of patients achieve 20/40 vision. Only 3% of patients regret getting LASIK.
Up to 46% of subjects who were symptom-free before LASIK reported visual symptoms (halos, starbursts, glare, and ghosting) after LASIK. Up to 28% of subjects with no symptoms of dry eyes before LASIK developed dry eye symptoms after LASIK. Nearly 5% of subjects were dissatisfied with their vision after Lasik.
Is LASIK worth it? For most, the answer can be a resounding yes! LASIK is not a good idea for everyone, and results have been known to vary due to many factors. However, if you are indeed a strong candidate, the results can be life-changing.
Could my vision change after Lasik? As we mentioned above, the laser makes permanent changes to the shape of the cornea. This cannot be reversed; however, sometimes vision can continue to change as a person ages. In this case, you may notice changes to your vision over the years even if you've undergone Lasik surgery.
While a “lifetime guarantee” for LASIK certainly sounds attractive, the unfortunate reality is LASIK is a surgical procedure and NO surgical procedure can be guaranteed. The main problems associated with a 'lifetime guarantee” are: It's good for the lifetime of the center, not of the patient.
LASIK is a type of refractive eye surgery. In general, most people who have laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) eye surgery achieve 20/20 vision or better, which works well for most activities. But most people still eventually need glasses for driving at night or reading as they get older.
You have a thin or irregular cornea
If you have a predisposition to corneal shape irregularity, this can be made worse by laser eye surgery, and a condition called corneal ectasia may develop. This occurs infrequently and can often be treated successfully without the need for a corneal transplant.
LASIK and other procedures also can sometimes cause irregular astigmatism, with accompanying blurred and/or distorted vision. Fortunately, for most people who have a less-than-perfect vision after refractive surgery, these problems are quite mild and usually tolerable.
As a result, astigmatism is corrected and vision is improved. However, it is possible for astigmatism to return after LASIK surgery, so it is important to have regular checkups with an ophthalmologist.
Is it possible to have LASIK surgery twice? The short answer is yes, though this is usually only done 5 – 10 years after the initial treatment. However, rest assured that LASIK offers long-term vision correction, and very few people require a second session.
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
How Long Should You Avoid Rubbing Your Eyes After LASIK. When the urge is strong, you may be wondering how long it will be until you can rub your eyes. Generally speaking, you should avoid it for at least one month after surgery. Even then, rubbing your eyes is a practice that's best to avoid indefinitely.
The sun's brightness could cause discomfort after LASIK and while you recover. Also, after LASIK, going outside without sunglasses could cause your vision to become cloudy. When this happens, it's called a corneal haze.
Visual Irregularities: Some LASIK patients report seeing a number of visual irregularities for months or years after the surgery. These irregularities can include blurry vision, the appearance of ghosts or other artifacts, halos and starbursts around lights, and a significant loss of the ability to see details.
LASIK: 25-40
Generally speaking, most LASIK eye surgeons agree on 25-40 as the ideal age range for LASIK eye surgery candidacy for a few reasons. By the age of 25, eyeglasses and contact lens prescriptions have most likely stabilized. A stable prescription is one of the hallmarks of a good LASIK candidate.
We know that when patients return unhappy with their vision about 10 years after a LASIK procedure, the chief suspects are presbyopia and cataract.
Once the full healing process after Eye LASIK surgery has been completed, your optimum visual acuity will be reached. After 3 to 6 months your eyesight will have reached its optimum benefit from the surgery. In many cases 20/20 vision is achieved, but some patients find they need reading glasses for close work.
Typically, eye doctors will set their limits to +6 for farsightedness, -12 for nearsightedness, and 6 diopters for astigmatism.
Farsightedness: For farsighted patients, the LASIK procedure involves making the cornea steeper to allow better magnification. This creates a trench around your eye that will fill in with skin and potentially cause regression.
You can wear glasses or contact lenses after LASIK. If your vision is continuing to change as your refractive error returns or changes, you may find you need them again.