Surface ablation is the best option when the cornea is thin. Laser surgery for the thin cornea is not suitable. During the new LASIK surgery for thin corneas, the surgeon cuts the cornea flap, detaches it, and uses a laser to cut the tissue and reshape it. After this procedure, the flap is replaced and starts getting healed. For some patients, the corneas may not be thick enough to be cut and may lead to a weak eye.

Laser eye surgery, or LASIK eye surgery procedure, is one of the safest eye surgery procedures. The risk of developing complications is significantly less in this procedure. As per FDA standards, the best LASIK treatment has less than a 1% complication rate. However, complications such as temporary visual problems such as glare and dry eyes may occur.

Retinal detachment is one of the side effects of LASIK surgery, especially in patients with high myopic conditions. Bilateral retinal detachment is associated with a large retinal tear, and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment is associated with LASIK. However, retinal detachment can be managed by cryoretinopexy, scleral buckling and vitrectomy methods. Every year, the incidence of retinal detachment in myopic people ranges from 0.015% to 0.075%.

The common disadvantages of LASIK include problems that might arise when the doctor constructs the flap. Some rare problems may cause permanent vision loss. Other risks include:
- Undercorrection
- Regression
- Astigmatism
- A dry eye results in a decrease in tear production
- Temporarily you might have problems with vision at night which might last a few weeks to days
- Halo, glare, and double vision
- Infection

Patients with HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus are ineligible for laser eye surgery. Autoimmune diseases can cause dry eye syndrome, which may pose a risk of post-LASIK infection. Also, laser eye surgery is not recommended for people who take prescription drugs for acne or any other disease because the outcome may be affected.