The LASIK complication rate is extremely low. As a premier Kansas City provider of LASIK, the surgeons at Durrie Vision understand patients are concerned about complications. Fortunately, less than one percent of LASIK patients experience surgical complications.
There is a reason LASIK is the most commonly performed laser refractive surgery for vision correction. Let’s look closer.
LASIK complications vs. side effects
First, it is important to know the difference between side effects and complications. Side effects after your LASIK eye surgery in Kansas City are expected. Those include dry eye, glare, halos, and double vision. These temporary setbacks clear up within a few weeks to a few months. Complications are more serious issues that are not considered normal or expected after your procedure, though they can often be addressed with additional treatments or medications.
What is the LASIK complication rate?
The LASIK complication rate is only about 0.3%. The most commonly reported LASIK complications are infection or dry eye that persists for more than six months. Other complications include:
- Undercorrections occur when the laser removes too little tissue. Though rare, this does occur more often in patients with a higher prescription than those with a lower prescription. If an undercorrection is diagnosed during one of your follow up exams, an enhancement may be needed to get you to your vision goals.
- Overcorrections happen when the laser removes too much tissue from the eye. Like undercorrections, an overcorrection may be addressed through an enhancement surgery.
- Regression occurs when vision slowly changes back to the original prescription. This is not to be confused with the natural aging process of the eye, which will result in dim, yellowed vision due to cataract formation. Regression is one of the most rare LASIK complications.
Schedule a free consultation today
At Durrie Vision, you are our top priority every step of the way. We give truly individualized options to any patient who comes to us to enhance their vision. We will make a fair assessment that puts your long term best interests in mind. Because we have the technological options, you can trust you’re getting a straight answer rather than being pushed toward a certain procedure. Find out if you’re a candidate for refractive lens exchange or LASIK.