The latest trends in corrective eye treatments uses an excimer laser in surgical eye procedures that is performed to correct one’s eyesight. One great benefit from such treatment would be the reduction or elimination for the need of wearing eyeglasses and contact lenses.
LASIK as it is often called is Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis is a surgical eye procedure that permanently changes the shape of the cornea, the clear covering in front of the eye, using an excimer laser. The goal of the treatment is by reshaping of the cornea to correct the refractive error and achieve vision improvement.
As with any elective medical procedure, the possible complications should be considered prior to treatment. It is best to do extensive research by receiving as many objective inputs from friends who have had the procedure and due diligence in evaluation of the professionally qualified doctors who perform the surgery, but ultimately the important decision should be your own.
Many possible complications can be avoided with proper testing and screening to ensure that one is a good qualified candidate for LASIK eye surgery. Careful selection of an experienced eye surgeon who has performed hundreds or thousands of procedures also increases your chances of a successful surgery.
The various types of laser eye surgery complications include:
Visual Aberrations. Symptoms include glare, double vision, ghosting, halos, starbursts, loss of contrast sensitivity, and problems with low-light or night vision. Symptoms often disappear as the eyes heal. Treatment includes eyedrops or an enhancement procedure (further laser treatment). Sometimes caused by oversized pupils, when the pupils are wider than the treatment zone.
Dry Eye. Symptoms are dry, itchy eyes, often with redness and the feeling of having something in the eye, and sometimes pain. Symptoms often disappear as the eyes heal. Treatment includes artificial tears or punctual occlusion (blocking the tear ducts).
Infection. Symptoms include eye redness and/or oozing, sometimes pain. Treatments include eyedrops and oral medications.
Incomplete Correction (undercorrection, overcorrection, or regression). Symptoms will be blurry, less-than-perfect vision. Possible treatments include glasses or contact lenses, eyedrops, or an enhancement procedure (further laser treatment).
Irregular Astigmatism. Symptoms include double vision or ghost images. May be caused by an irregular corneal surface or when the laser correction is not properly centered on the eye. Possible treatment requires an enhancement procedure (further laser treatment).
Flap Folds or Wrinkles. Minor instances of folds or wrinkles in the corneal flap do not require surgical treatment or affect vision, but some cases affect vision and further treatment is required to reposition the flap. Possible causes include malposition of the flap (laying it down in a different position from where it was lifted) or rubbing the eyelids before the flap has had a chance to bond.
Keratectasia. A condition that occurs when the corneal flap is cut too deeply or there is excessive removal of corneal tissue which causes the weakened cornea to bulge. This results in distorted vision which usually cannot be corrected with further laser enhancement. Rigid contact lenses may be prescribed to hold the cornea in place.
Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis (DLK). A unique and rare condition that occurs with the appearance of dead cells underneath the corneal flap, causing inflammation and scarring. Prompt treatment with antibiotics and/or topical steroids is necessary to avoid potentially permanent vision loss. It may also be necessary to lift and scrape the flap to remove the dead cells.
Epithelial Ingrowth. A rare condition in which epithelial cells, which normally cover the surface of the cornea, grow beneath the flap. Most epithelial ingrowth does not affect vision or need further treatment. Sometimes eyedrops may be prescribed. Some cases require surgery to lift the flap and wipe the cells off. If left untreated, however, some cases can cause vision loss.
I know of a friend who has recently undergone such surgical procedure and experienced severe complications but was the result of negligence on his part. The week after the surgery, he went sailing on his yacht and this has caused his eyes painful swelling, discomfort and vision complications.
As continuing research improves the development of more quality precision excimer lasers, it is my honest assessment to best postpone the decision for delicate eye surgery until such time when the technology has already reached a certain degree of perfection.
But when the potential vision benefits are urgent and the need to avail of laser eye surgery is immediate and a priority to the patient, it is most important to conduct extensive personal research on the procedure and the professional qualification and experience of the prospective surgeon so as to minimize the possibility of surgery related complications.
For more important related information on LASIK laser eye surgery, please visit All About Eye Surgery. In contrast, I also recommend reading this site LASIK Disasters as useful comparative analysis on the disadvantages of such delicate surgical procedure.
What about you, do you think the end benefit are worth the risks? Would you have laser eye surgery performed on you?
FaithfulDisciple posted on Sep 09, 2006
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Comments
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ninibud92 said on Sep 09, 2006....
Even though I work in this field, I don't think I would have it done. Just my personal preference. There are many qualified surgeons out there but I wouldn't mess with my eyesight. I enjoy seeing the colors of the world in clarity, even if that means I have to wear glasses!
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FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 09, 2006....
Well said ninibud. I have considered this option for some time now, but as the eye experts say it's best to wait until the technology has been perfected.
IMHA, in the end it's your eyes and vision that's at stake. Any errors that could have transpired during the surgery are your personal tragedies to bear for life. So I really would think about it a lot before I undergo it.
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scalywag said on Sep 09, 2006....
I plan to have it done. I've been wearing glasses/contacts for 34 years, and it's getting old.
for me, it's only a matter of time. I'll have two kids in college for the next 4 years, and if I can't get it done before then, I certainly will at that time.
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quidnunc said on Sep 09, 2006....
I have a few relatives and friends who underwentlaser eye surgery and, thankfully, they all had successful ones.
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secretlife said on Sep 09, 2006....
I would have had it done, but then my eye doctor told me I would be needing bifocals real soon (he's a peach!).
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Morden said on Sep 10, 2006....
IIRC, the gov' back home has a program where you can get it done for free if you fit the requirements.
I think I do, and when I move back I'm going to see if it's still running.
The benefits are worth the risk.
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FaithfulDisciple said on Sep 12, 2006....
LASIK is permanent in the sense that the cornea of the eye is ideally shaped by an eye expert using excimer laser to correct near sightedness or far sightedness.
Thus, there is a possiblity of human error as the delicate procedure is dependent on human judgment and experience of the surgeon.
I would therefore suggest that you avail yourself of the services of a very qualified and well trained expert eye specialist if one is really decided to undergo laser eye surgery.
Since the errors that may result from the procedure if any, will need to be corrected with subsequent enhancement procedures.
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anime28 said on Sep 20, 2006....
I've been thinking of doing it years ago but was afraid of the complication. This year the thought came back and was glad to read a blog about it. Planning to do it during the school holidays so I can stay home and not expose to the sun. Couple of my friends who have gone thru it , some have excellent eye sight , some short sighted problem came back and its worst than before, one of them her short sighted is prefect now but it turn into long sighted. So still end up wearing glasses. Risk is the word , like what Morden said. its true. Its all abut risk.