LASIK eye treatment is the best known and most commonly performed laser refractive surgery to correct vision problems. Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) can be an alternative to glasses or contact lenses.
During LASIK treatment, a special type of laser is used to change the shape of the cornea. The cornea is the dome-shaped clear tissue at the front of the eye, and changing the shape, or curvature, of the cornea allows us to positively impact how well the eye sees.
In eyes with good vision, the cornea bends — or refracts — light precisely onto the retina at the back of the eye. But with nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, the light is bent incorrectly due to a cornea being slightly “out of round” and / or the axial length of the eyeball from front to back being not ideal – in short, because we’re human! This incorrect refraction causes blurred vision.
Here at The LASIK Vision Institute, our goal as your provider is to provide you, as our patient, the best vision you can possibly have without having to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses…and we’re with you every step of the way. From inquiry to consult to evaluation to treatment to follow-up, The LASIK Vision Institute wants to be your provider.
What are the side-effects of LASIK?
Of course, the most-desired side effect of LASIK is a life without having to rely on eyeglasses or contact lenses in order to have good vision…a good (great?) thing! There are other vision dynamics to consider that our clinical teams, optometrists, and / or surgeon partners will discuss with you in detail during your initial consult and evaluation. By and large, most patients eventually discover that the potential benefits of LASIK far outweigh the associated risks or side-effects.
The risks of LASIK have been studied extensively since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the surgery. According to the 2016 Modern LASIK Outcomes study, 99.5% of eyes saw 20/40 or better after LASIK.
Potential LASIK Side-effects can include:
- eye pain or discomfort
- hazy, foggy or blurry vision
- scratchiness, dryness and other symptoms of dry eye
- glare
- halos (rings) or starbursts around lights
- double vision
- decreased ability to see in low light
- light sensitivity
- small pink or red patches of blood on the white of the eye that go away over time
These side effects are usually temporary, with resolution settling in anywhere from one week to two months post-treatment. Ophthalmologists and researchers continue to study patient satisfaction and LASIK surgery outcomes. The procedure has evolved over the years to improve outcomes and reduce side-effects. A 2017 analysis of FDA data showed that the newest lasers have reduced unwanted side-effects significantly, compared to older-generation lasers. At the LASIK Vision Institute, we only use the most technologically advanced laser systems in our procedure suites.
Here at The LASIK Vision Institute, our passion is your dream to see clearly without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Schedule your free consultation today to learn more!
Find a LASIK Surgery Location Near You
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Resources:
LASIK eye surgery - Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/lasik-eye-surgery/about/pac-20384774
Facts about LASIK complications. (2024, August 9). American Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/treatments/facts-about-lasik-complications
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