When should you opt for Lasik lasers for eye glass removal? When should you avoid it? Can you again become myopic after LASIK lasers? Read to find out:-

These days Lasik lasers is promoted as one stop shop for eyeglass removal. The complications of Lasik lasers are highly underplayed due to commercialization of healthcare. Big hospitals are even using models for promotional activities. One should be aware of the contraindications of Lasik laser surgery as surgery done on wrongly selected patient may ruin the patients' vision for life and he may suffer irreparable damage. He may become unfit for various jobs, may not able to drive a car at night, suffer from irritation in eyes. Read below to know more.

Doctors may ( should ) not recommend laser surgery in certain situations like those stated below:

Autoimmune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis, SLE etc( doctor must be aware of the contraindications and must get ANA done).

Persistent Dry eyes(I have seen lasik lasers being done in such patients)

Immunodeficiency conditions caused by immunosuppressive drugs or HIV.

Unstable vision ( so ideally should not be done before 21 years), hormonal changes like pregnancy and lactation. Your myopia may return if your power is stable even after LASIK.

Any eye infection like herpes ( risk of reactivation) , diseases like keratoconus, keratitis, uveitis, never in glaucoma, cataracts, eye injuries or lid disorders

LASIK may NOT be advisable if you:

  • Have fairly good overall vision
  • large pupils or cornea thinner than the recommended thickness
  • planning for a job in army, railways where lasik laser operated patients are not selected
  • participate in sports where injury to eye is quite likely like boxing,  
  • age-related eye changes (presbyopia).

Complications of LASIK lasers surgery:-

Glare, halos & double vision and difficulty in night vision. Your vision at dusk or fog may be reduced to a greater extent after the surgery than before the surgery, endangering your life.

Vision returning to pre-surgery vision- Your myopia can return to after LASIK lasers, something which the doctors rarely tells you now a days. With time, your eyes may slowly return to the level of vision you had before surgery. This may happen due to certain conditions, such as abnormal wound healing, hormonal imbalances or pregnancy or presbyopia after 40 yrs of age. I have seen a lot of such cases.

Dry eyes- Decrease in tear production specially in first 6 months leading to burning sensation.

Undercorrection- If the laser removes too little tissue from your eye, it's seen in people with nearsightedness

Overcorrection-  If the laser removes too much tissue from your eye. It's quite difficult to fix.Visual loss or changes- 

Rarely, you may experience loss of vision due to surgical complications like corneal ectasia.

Astigmatism- Astigmatism can be caused by uneven tissue removal. It may require additional surgery, glasses or contact lenses.

Flap problems- Folding back or removing the flap from the front of your eye during surgery can cause complications like infections, excess tears & inflammation. The corneal tissue layer may grow abnormally under the flap during the healing process.