Lasik Complication Info


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Search this website for the information about Lasik and other refractive surgery complications.
If you are thinking of having Lasik or similar surgery, this website presents only a portion of the picture.
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Some thoughts about when you think you have a legal claim.
More websites where you will find additional information about complications from conventional or wavefront Lasik, IntraLasik, LASEK, PRK, CK, LTK, etc.
Use CRSQA's extensive Lasik glossary.
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Start to find the answers to your conventional or wavefront Lasik, IntraLasik, LASEK, PRK, CK, LTK, or any other refractive eye surgery technique questions by selecting your surgery.
Lasik (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) complications information.
Wavefront-guided Lasik (Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) complications information.
Wavefront-guided IntraLasik (Intralase femtosecond laser lamellar flap with Laser Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) complications information.
LASEK (Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis) complications information.
Wavefront-guided LASEK (Laser Assisted Sub-Epithelial Keratomileusis) complications information.
PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)  complications information.
Wavefront-guided PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy)  complications information.
CK (Conductive Keratoplasty) complications information.
LTK (Laser Thermal Keratoplasty) complications information.
Intacs (Intrastromal Corneal Ring Segments) complications information.
RLE (Refractive Lens Exchange) complications information.
AK (Automated Keratectomy) complications information.
RK (Radial Keratotomy) complications information.
SRP (Surgical Reversal of Presbyopia) complications information.
P-IOL (Phakic Intraocular Lens) complications information.
ICL (Intrastromal Contact Lens) complications information.
LAPR (Laser Assisted Presbyopia Reversal) complications information.
Complications information about other refractive surgery techniques and technologies.

All the legal blah, blah, that you need to take seriously.

I had refractive surgery that didn't get me to 20/20. Now my surgeon wants to do the procedure again. If my surgeon couldn't get it right the first time why should I expect better results the second time?

Every patient and refractive surgeon wants to achieve perfect vision correction with one surgical procedure. Unfortunately it is more difficult to accurately predict results with a large refractive change than with a small refractive change.  Also, we are talking about microsurgery on human tissue.  Sometimes things simply don't go as planned.

Most of the required refractive change was probably completed with the first surgery, but because the first surgery did not achieved the desire result, you now need a small amount of additional change. It is not unusual to follow with a second surgical procedure after the first has stabilized. This additional procedure is called an enhancement.  If the original surgery was Lasik, it is highly likely that the doctor will lift the original flap and apply more excimer laser energy underneath.  This eliminates the possibility of flap creation complications.

Since smaller changes tend to be easier to accurately predict, you should be able to expect a good outcome.  You do need to be patient though.  Fluctuations in vision can last several months.  You want to wait until your eyes have settled down before having an enhancement.  Most enhancements are performed between three and six months after the first surgery, but can be performed earlier and much later.

Discuss the probabilities with your doctor before you proceed.


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