What Are the Possible Risks and Complications of Refractive Surgery?

Refractive eye surgery is the lamp of hope for those seeking freedom from glasses or contact lenses. Surgical procedures using techniques such as LASIK and PRK have changed millions of experiences around the world. Like other surgical interventions, refractive surgery is also input with potential risks and possible complications that must be carefully considered and infield decisions made upon meaningful information.

What do you understand by Refractive Surgery?

Refractive eye surgery reshapes the cornea—the clear front part of the eye—to redirect the appropriate focusing of light onto the retina, correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reducing or eliminating the need for corrective lenses. This is where the pledge for clearer vision and a more enhanced quality of life can be hard to resist.

Laser refractive eye surgery is generally safe and effective for correcting vision. However, like any surgical procedure, it carries potential side effects and risks that patients should be aware of. Some of the side effects associated with laser refractive eye surgery are mentioned below:

Possible Risks and Complications

• Dry Eyes: This is supposed to be one of the most common disturbances experienced by individuals after refractive surgeries. It is essentially caused due to reduced tear production or changed tear composition that turns the eye uncomfortable, irritated, and blurred in vision.
• Under correction or Overcorrection: Getting the required visual outcome is not easy. Under-correction or over-correction means too much correction, which may require a person to wear glasses or contact lenses to get a clear vision.
• Regression: In some cases, the eye may revert partially to its previous refractive state over time, necessitating retreatment or the continued use of corrective lenses.
• Visual Aberrations: Halos, glare, starbursts, and problems with night vision may appear in some people, especially under low light conditions. These symptoms decrease significantly over time but can be rather irritating at first
• Infection: Any surgical intervention bears a risk of infection. Proper pre-operative screening and post-operative care minimize this risk.
• LASIK Flap Complications: The most common complications associated with LASIK generally have to do with the thin flap made in the cornea, which may periodically dislodge or cause epithelial ingrowth—when cells begin to grow underneath the flap—both of which require additional treatment.
• Corneal Ectasia: This is a more severe and rare complication that causes the cornea to progressively thin and bag. In some cases, it may lead to blurred vision and then clear by itself; however, on other occasions, it may resort to a corneal transplant.
• Problems with Healing: In some cases, delayed epithelial healing or continued discomfort can affect recovery.
• Glare and halos: Glare, typically symptomatic at night, haloes around lights, or starburst patterns are experienced by some people. Most of these symptoms are transient and fade as the eyes heal.
• Ingrowth: During the LASIK procedure, a thin flap is created on the cornea and then replaced after the underlying tissue has been reshaped. Sometimes epithelial cells can start to grow under the flap and require additional treatment to prevent problems with the patient’s vision.
• Persistent Discomfort: This involves lingering discomfort, dryness, or irritation long after the surgery. It is often alleviated by lubricating eye drops and other medications.
• In the days or weeks immediately after surgery, patients’ eyes are sometimes light sensitive. In most cases, this irritation fades away as the eyes adjust to their new size and clarity

Reducing the Risks

Although the risks and complications associated with refractive surgery are potential, they are relatively low when performed by experienced surgeons using modern techniques and equipment. To reduce such risks prospective patients should:

• Consult a Qualified Specialist: A prospective patient should get in touch with a reputable ophthalmologist who has performed several hundred refractive surgeries.

• Be assessed for a Comprehensive Pre-Operative Evaluation to evaluate the general health of your eyes and whether you are suited for surgery.

• Instructions after Surgery: Take good care of your operated eye and follow your surgeon’s instructions about medication, eye care, and follow-up appointments.

• Realistic Expectations: Know that perfect vision without glasses or contact lenses cannot always be achieved and that additional enhancements or glasses/ contact lenses may be required at times.

Who should not have laser eye surgery?

Laser refractive surgery, either LASIK or PRK, is a safe and effective vision correction for most people. Some patients are not suitable candidates for the procedures because of some eye conditions, health factors, or even lifestyle considerations. Some of the criteria that may contraindicate laser refractive surgery are as follows:

• Anyone who has had a change in their eye prescription within the past 12 months

• Any person taking medications that may be causing changes in vision

• Individuals in their 20s or younger although some experts recommend not be under 18 years

• have thin corneas. Such are not stable after laser surgery

• are pregnant or nursing

What is the cost of LASIK?

LASIK eye surgery costs may vary based on many factors such as location, technology, and patient requirements. The average LASIK eye surgery cost is about 25000 to 30000 per eye.

The time duration for a laser eye surgery, like LASIK or PRK, usually varies according to factors, such as the case complexity, the technology used, or even the surgeon’s technique.

This is an overview of how long each stage of the surgery usually takes:

1. Preparation: Before performing the actual surgery, the patient is properly examined and prepared. It involves numbing the eye with the help of eye drops and cleaning areas located around the eyes, and all this preparation takes approximately 15-30 minutes on average.

2. Surgical procedure: The procedure generally lasts 10-15 minutes per eye in LASIK. A surgeon will create a thin flap during the surgery on the outer layer of the cornea using a femtosecond laser, fold it back, and use an excimer laser to reshape the underlying corneal tissue. The flap is then returned into place, where it settles naturally without any stitches.

3. Post-operative care: After the procedure, the patients are generally followed up for a short time, like 15-30 minutes, for monitoring purposes to check for no immediate complications and to deliver OPD instructions.

Though the laser treatment takes only some minutes per eye, overall preparation and postoperative care may run to about 30-60 minutes per eye.