Complications

The incidence of refractive surgery patients having unresolved complications six months after surgery has been estimated from 3% to 6%. The following are some of the more frequently reported complications of LASIK:

• Dry eyes
• Overcorrection or undercorrection
• Visual acuity fluctuation
• Halos or starbursts around light sources at night
• Light sensitivity
• Ghosts or double vision
• Wrinkles in flap (striae)
• Decentered ablation
• Debris or growth under flap
• Thin or buttonhole flap
• Induced astigmatism
• Epithelium erosion
• Posterior vitreous detachment
• Macular hole

Complications due to LASIK have been classified as those that occur due to preoperative, intraoperative, early postoperative, or late postoperative sources.