Common Side Effects of LASIK Surgery

If you are considering undergoing LASIK San Jose surgery, you need to be aware of possible side effects that can occur. A few of the most common side effects associated with this type of surgery include glare, halos with night vision, and dry eyes. In most cases, these side effects will go away within the first few days or months after the procedure. If your symptoms last for more than six months, you need to see your surgeon for an eye exam immediately.

One of the most commonly experienced LASIK San Jose side effects is sensitivity to light. It will be very tempting to rub or touch your eyes after the procedure because you will experience the sensation of light sensitivity. But rubbing your eyes could impede the healing process or damage your eyes during recovery. This side effect should go away after the first few days after your LASIK surgery.

When the corneal flap does not adhere correctly to the eye after it is replaced, or when the pupil dilates to a size that is larger than the treatment zone, side effects like halos, starbursts, glare, and other general vision problems can occur. These sorts of complications usually disappear within the first month after the procedure, but if your symptoms persist, additional eye treatment or glasses should fix the problem.

One of the more uncommon side effects of LASIK is the loss of visual clarity or regression. This side effect usually temporary and only lasts the first few months of recovery. Visual regression is often caused by wrinkles or folds in the corneal flap or hazing of the cornea. This problem usually resolves itself as the healing stage progresses. If you are a woman on hormone therapy, you are at particular risk for visual regression and should discuss all medical possibilities with your surgeon to avoid unnecessary complications.

Dry Eye is another common side effect of LASIK that manifests itself in the form of redness, itchiness, blurred vision, crusting, or the sensation that there is something in your eye that doesn’t belong there. Fortunately, these side effects only last up to three months after surgery, and can easily be relieved by using eye drops. Consult your physician about what kind of eye drops to use for your symptoms.

Another side effect after LASIK surgery is the loss of contrast sensitivity, or the ability to clearly discern objects. This condition is the most noticeable in low light and may affect your ability to drive at night. Most patients have reported their contrast sensitivity returning to normal at about six months after the procedure. Always consult your physician if you question whether you are a good candidate for LASIK.