The cornea helps the eyes focus light to create an image on the retina. Along with the lens, the cornea uses refraction, or the bending and focusing of light, to produce an image. Individuals who have a misshapen cornea experience imperfections in refraction, such as blurred or distorted images. LASIK surgery uses a special laser to reshape the cornea and fix the imperfections. LASIK complications do occur, but most of these complications resolve relatively quickly after surgery.
Flap Complications
LASIKEyeSurgeryCorrection.com indicates flap complications as the most commonly reported complication of LASIK eye surgery. Flap complications occur in the hinged flap covering the front of the cornea. Doctors lift the flap to re-shape the eye and then they replace the flap so that it serves as a bandage. An incorrectly made LASIK flap, such as one cut too thinly or too thickly, fails to adhere to the eye's surface, reports AllAboutVision.com. The flap may also wrinkle as it's placed back on the eye's surface. Flap complications can lead to an irregularly shaped eye surface. Retreatment of the eye with enhancement surgery usually resolves most flap complications.
Dry Eyes
According to AllAboutVision.com, reduced sensitivity of the eye's surface immediately following LASIK eye surgery can cause the eyes to feel dry. However, most dry eye complaints disappear after about six months to a year or when complete healing of the eyes occurs.
Eye Infection
Some people may develop an eye infection following surgery, notes LASIKEyeSurgeryCorrection.com. Eye infections occur more frequently with the use of a bladed instrument called a microkeratome, reports AllAboutVision.com. The surgeon creates a corneal flap with a microkeratome by manually cutting the tissue. A laser uses a beam of light to cut the corneal tissue. A laser appears to create more of a sterile environment, thus reducing the chance for acquiring an infection.
Under-correction, Over-correction or Regression
Under-correction, over-correction or regression occurs when the eyes do not respond to surgery with the desired outcome. AllAboutVision.com points out that an inaccurate diagnosis or incorrect setting programmed into the software that guides the laser during eye surgery may contribute to a less-than-optimal outcome as well.
Under-correction and over-correction of the eyes result in visual disturbances, such as blurred vision. Regression occurs when the eyesight deteriorates over time. Contacts, glasses and additional laser vision correction or other refractive surgery methods usually correct under-correction, over-correction and regression.
