LASIK eye surgery is a sight correcting operation that can be used to help people with sight problems but would like to live their lives without the bother of contact lenses or eyeglasses. While this may be good news to such people, this operation is delicate and not all people are suitable for it. Like in any other operation, there are some risks involved and the complications that may develop may sometime be very severe. For this reason, you need to carefully consider if you actually need this operation before going for it.

Here is a summary of what the procedure entails to help you understand the risks involved better. The operation takes a short time of about fifteen minutes. However, there are several tests that are conducted before the actual operation to determine the necessity of the operation and the required degree of reshaping. It is done on the corneal, the transparent outer layer of the eye ball. A thin flap is made on the corneal then the specialist uses laser technology to shape the eye lenses into a given shape according to the diagnosis. Satisfied that the lenses are shaped as they should, the ophthalmologist then places the flap back in place and the patient can then leave.

If the patient rubs his eyes before the flap completely heals, it may fold or wrinkle leading to distorted vision and eye discomfort. Other complications related to the flap may also develop especially if the flap is too small or too thin. Such complications are best corrected by another operation which should take place after a period of six months after the first one.

Infections may also take place as the patient heals. Infections may cause the most severe complications. People who have had blisters or sores caused by the herpes virus around the eye area are particularly advised against LASIK eye surgery. This is because they may suffer permanent blindness if the virus attacks the healing eyes.

The operation may at times fail to produce the results that were required. In such a case, there develops a complication that can be referred to as under correction. This correction can be corrected by another surgery after a given period of time when the patient completely heals from the first operation. There are times when the correction may exceed what was intended leading to over correction. This complication is however rare and less serious and may correct itself naturally after sometime.

Dry eyes are another lasik complications that may also develop after the operation. This causes the patient to have an irritation in the eyes which may be very uncomfortable. This is a problem that normally corrects itself after a short period during which the patient may just use lubricating eye drops. If the problem goes beyond six months after the operation, ophthalmologists advise the blocking of tear ducts to keep tears in the eyes for a little longer.

Night haloes and blurred vision may also develop after LASIK eye surgery. Abrasion of the corneal tissue may be one of the causes of the blurred vision but over correction or under correction are more likely causes. These are less severe complications that also disappear often without any treatment. However, a second operation sometimes may be necessary.