LASIK Eye Surgery Risks: What You Need to Know

LASIK is safe and effective for most, but carries risks that must be weighed.

Potential Complications

Dry eye: Temporary (months) due to corneal nerve severing; may persist, requiring lubricants or punctal plugs.
Visual disturbances: Glare, halos, starbursts—especially at night; usually improve over 3–6 months.
Fluctuating vision: Transient blur during healing.
Undercorrection/overcorrection: Residual refractive error; enhancement possible after stabilization.
Flap complications: Dislocation, folds, epithelial ingrowth, inflammation (rare with femtosecond lasers).
Infection (infectious keratitis): Rare (<0.1%); prevented by sterile technique and postoperative antibiotics.
Regression: Gradual return of myopia/hyperopia/astigmatism over years.
Corneal ectasia: Progressive thinning/bulging—screened pre-op with topography/pachymetry.

Thorough preoperative screening (corneal thickness, topography, tear film, pupil size).
Experienced surgeon, modern femtosecond/excimer platform.
Strict postoperative compliance (drops, protection, follow-ups).

Discuss your individual risk profile with a corneal/refractive specialist.