The Risks of Lasik Surgery

The first Lasik eye surgery was performed in 1998; so long term data on the effects of Lasik eye surgery are not available. While Lasik eye surgery has been marketed as a quick and painless way to improve the vision of those afflicted with nearsightedness, Lasik eye surgery may do more harm than good if performed negligently.

Lasik eye surgery procedures are meant to correct faulty or myopic vision, sometimes this procedure has tragic results. To lose your vision as a result of the negligence of a medical professional is a very serious thing.

The Pros and Cons of Lasik Eye Surgery
Undoubtedly, thousands of Americans see better because of Lasik eye surgery - but this procedure is not necessarily right for everyone. Anyone considering Lasik eye surgery should always consult their Lasik eye doctor about the benefits and possible complications of a Lasik procedure. It is important that a potential Lasik patient receives all the information available to make an informed decision.

Lasik is a fairly new procedure for vision correction. It involves surgery of the cornea. A knife, called a microkeratome, is used to cut a flap in the cornea. This flap is lifted out of the way and the doctor reshapes the corneal tissue with a laser. The flap is replaced and quickly adheres to the eyeball. There are no stitches involved. A shield, either plastic or metal, is placed over the eye to protect the flap.

While thousands of people have had Lasik, It does not necessarily mean you will have perfect vision. You may have to return in the future for additional surgery to fine tune your vision. It is also important to remember that there can be serious side effects associated with Lasik eye surgery.

The possible negative side effects of Lasik eye surgery include:

- Loss of lines of vision on a vision chart. - Debilitating visual symptoms, such as glare, halos and double vision. - You may develop severe dry eye syndrome where the eye doesn't produce enough tears to keep the eye moist. - For far sighted patients, your results may diminish with age.

Don't forget that there are no guarantees in medicine, so it is important to make an informed decision in choosing a Lasik eye center and a Lasik eye doctor.
by T. Daniel Frith, III