LASIK Eye Surgery: Risks, Safety & What to Know

LASIK is considered a relatively safe procedure and has improved many people's vision. Over a 1 year period, 12 million people underwent LASIK surgery. Only 140 of these people filed complaints with the Food and Drug Administration. In the late 1990s, 5 percent of the people who had the LASIK procedure experienced complications. New patient screening techniques and lasers have reduced that number to fewer than 1 percent. LASIK is, however, a surgical procedure and does involve some risks. It is important to be aware of these risks when deciding if LASIK surgery is right for you.

Dry Eye

• Many LASIK patients experience severe dry eye after the procedure. This common side effect often goes away on its own within 6 months, but some people require surgery to correct the problem.

Double Vision

• Although they achieve 20/20 vision after LASIK surgery, some patients suffer from permanent double vision in 1 or both eyes.

Glare

• Night driving can become a problem for a small number of LASIK patients who see halos around lights and have severe problems with glare.

Blindness

• Although it is extremely rare, some people's vision gets worse after they undergo LASIK surgery. Blindness has also been known to occur.

Depression

• Poor LASIK outcomes can cause or aggravate depression in some people.