Complications

The incidence of refractive surgery patients having unresolved complications six months after surgery has been estimated from 3%[4] to 6%.[5] The risk for a patient of suffering from disturbing visual side effects like halos, double vision (ghosting), loss of contrast sensitivity (foggy vision) and glare after LASIK depends on the degree of ametropia before the laser eye surgery and other risk factors.[6] For this reason, it is important to take into account the individual risk potential of a patient and not just the average probability for all patients.[7] The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of LASIK[8][6]:Surgery induced dry eyesOvercorrection[9] or undercorrectionVisual acuity fluctuationHalos[10] or starbursts[11] around light sources at nightLight sensitivityGhost images[12] or double visionWrinkles in flap (striae)[13]Decentered ablationDebris or growth under flapThin or buttonhole flap [14]Induced astigmatismCorneal EctasiaFloatersEpithelium erosionPosterior vitreous detachment[15]Macular hole[16]Complications due to LASIK have been classified as those that occur due to preoperative, intraoperative, early postoperative, or late postoperative sources