What is LASIK Eye Surgery? LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) is a surgical procedure that can reduce a person's dependency on glasses or contact lenses. The procedure permanently changes the shape of the cornea, which is the delicate clear covering on the front of the eye. In order to have clear vision, the eye's cornea and lens must bend (refract) light rays properly, so that images are focused on the retina. If light rays are not clearly focused, blurry vision can result. LASIK eye surgery is performed most often on people who have nearsightedness (myopia). LASIK is an outpatient surgical procedure that normally takes 10 to 15 minutes for each eye. LASIK Precautions Your healthcare professional should screen for the following conditions or indicators of risk before undergoing LASIK eye surgery: - Blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids with crusting of the eyelashes)
- Large pupils
- Thin corneas
- Previous refractive surgery, such as LASIK, RK, or PRK
- Dry eyes
LASIK Health Risks While most patients are pleased with the results of LASIK or other refractive surgery, there are risks involved. The following are some of the risks that should be carefully weighed against the benefits of undergoing LASIK: - Some patients lose lines of vision.
- Some patients develop debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, haloes, and/or double vision that can seriously affect nighttime vision.
- You may be under-treated or over-treated - you may still need glasses or contact lenses after surgery
- Some patients may develop severe dry eye syndrome - when the eye is not able to produce enough tears to keep the eye moist, it may cause discomfort and reduce visual quality.
- Results are generally not as good in patients with very large refractive errors of any type.
- For some farsighted patients, results may diminish with age.
- Long-term data is not available, since LASIK is a relatively new technology - the long-term safety and effectiveness of LASIK surgery is still unknown.
LASIK - Getting Legal Help While the use of instruments for surgical procedures have certain anticipated risks, a manufacturer has a duty to make its products and instruments as reasonably safe as possible, and to inform the medical community and the public of known risks associated with its products. If a manufacturer fails to do so, it can be held legally responsible if patients are injured as the result of inadequate warnings or the unreasonably dangerous nature of the product, under a legal theory called "product liability." |
