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Did you have any Lasik complications like halos or hazing?

Posted 27 Apr 2006

Wondering if anyone with LASIK eye surgery has experienced Lasik complications like hazing over. Read about this possible side effect (YIKES!).

Comments (22)

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Tom at RealSelf (Community Manager - 606 posts) 3 Aug 2006

I did a bit of research to "see" what I could find for you. According to a US FDA website page, when discussing PRK they did mention haze as a potential side effect that was not listed in the information for LASIK. Here is the quote:

In addition, many patients experienced mild corneal haze following surgery, which is part of the normal healing process. The haze appeared to have little or no effect on final vision, and could only be seen by a doctor with a microscope. Some patients experienced glare and halos around lights. These conditions, however, diminished or disappeared in most patients in six months.

Here is the US FDA website about PPK

Good luck Seema.

BluEyes (22 posts) 20 Mar 2008
I'm sure you have done your surgery since and i hope it went well. My husband just had PRK in the beginning of December '07 and he's VERY happy with the results. The first two months were kinda "hard" on him coz he had blurry vision from time to time and he was very inpatient. He's now over 3 months post-op and haven't had any vision problems in a while and his eyes are 20/15 now, while before it was almost off the chart both eyes were so bad. He went with PRK instead of the Lasik because he's doing martial arts and the dr suggested him to go that route but we've talked to several people since and they said with these days technology it wouldn't have mattered. PRK's recovery time is considerably longer than Lasik, he couldn't really do anything for several days, he was bored to tears... but now it's all in the past and he's one happy guy!
Sandy Feldman, MD (154 posts) 20 Mar 2008

Dear BluEyes The experience of your husband is quite typical. What patients tend to forget is that this a medical procedure and healing can take time. Everyone heals a little differently, some faster, some slower. In our hectic pace of life, sometimes, we as patients and doctors, should remember our mother's tales, "eat right, sleep well, have a positive attitude and be patient". Your husband has had a very typical experience of PRK which is why performing these procedures is very gratifying! To be able to give patients vision and see more than the big "E" is truly a miracle! Congratulations on guiding him!

BluEyes (22 posts) 20 Mar 2008
Thanks! We are both very pleased with the results, finally now he can get up in the middle of the night and see his alarm without having to put his glasses on! He was almost blind, his vision was so bad before. The doctor that fixed his eyes told him about the possible blurring up to 3 months so it wasn't a "surprise" but you know how some men are extremely inpatient... LOL he wanted it right and then! I kept telling him it was normal and he too knew it.... still he was constantly worrying himself. He feels much better now that all the blurring cleared up and he can see perfectly for the first time in his life! It truly is miracle to be able to give someone's vision back from being gone as far as his was!
Nancy Moreno (1 post) 8 Aug 2008
I had LASIK done last year (Jan 2007). Unfortunately, it wasn't 100% and I needed an enhancement for both eyes. They did the left eye enhancement first on 9/27/07 and when they were doing my right eye on 2/07/08, the doctor told me that my cornea is too thin to continue so they put the flap back and suggested that we do PRK after my right eye has healed. I had the PRK done on 7/22/08 and it has been almost 3 weeks now and my right eye vision is still fuzzy/blurry. In fact, my right eye vision was better before I did the PRK. I understand that that the healing proces is different with other people but is this normal or is this something I need to worry about? Thanks.
Ann, California (1 post) 26 Oct 2008
You stated the doctor "put the flap back and suggested that we do PRK" because of thin corneal tissue. This is shocking! A competent physician would have known this prior to surgery. My first consult with my doctor, I was told I had thin corneal tissue and that PRK was the appropriate procedure. My surgery was done on June 19, 2008. My vision is 20/20, however, my ability to read signs at intermediate and distance is slow in coming. From what I've read on various blogs that PRK vision recovery can be a long process. Everyone is different.
Sandy Feldman M.D. M.S. (unregistered guest) 18 Apr 2008
Dear BluEyes It is fantastic that your husband has healed beautifully and can now see perfectly and you assisted in guiding him during the healing process. His experience is normal and can be attributed to the normal healing of one's eyes. Enjoy his clear vision and cherish his Clear View of the world! Dr. Feldman
julie brown (1 post) 7 May 2008
My husband had lasik 2 weeks ago yesterday. His left eye has healed with no problems at all. He says that a "film" has been present in his right eye ever since the surgery. His vision, however in that eye is 20/25 as of his check up yesterday. He is frustrated, but I try to tell him to be patient. I'm not sure if this film is the same haze to with is referred to in these posts, and if so, is it something that could be addressed in a further enhancement surgery? Thanks.
Sandy Feldman, MD (154 posts) 7 May 2008
Dear Julie LASIK is a surgical procedure and thus, as you suggested to your husband needs to heal. Many patients report that the vision may be hazy or fuzzy and feel like wearing a dirty contact lens. There are many reasons for this vision such as a swelling of the front surface, a small prescription still left, dryness, to name a few. An enhancement may be possible should healing not address the issue and his prescription is large enough....Also, it takes time for the brain to adjust to the dramatic difference before the LASIK. Please encourage your husband to be patient, or to see or call his doctor if he is discouraged. Let him know "patience" is important. Dr. Feldman
Allison37 (37 posts) 12 Jun 2008
Julie, I had PRK - Lasik surgery in the fall of 2006. I thought I had ruined my vision as I had a film like sensation in the right eye for the longest time. What I found is that my vision would "pop" one step further along in healing as time went on. My vision and how my eyes felt improved in increments. My girlfriend who is 10 years younger had an almost immediate recovery. It took me over a year and a half before my vision seemed to be really stable. The blurred or filmy type experience seemed to correlate directly to how hard I was working my vision and how dry my eyes were. It was my ability to read small print that took the longest to return and its not quite where it was before I did the laser eye surgery. Your husband's vision will get progressively better. His eyes just need time to heal. Allison
Sandy Feldman, MD (154 posts) 12 Jun 2008
Dear Julie Allison's comments elucidate the nature of our individual healing responses. A tincture of time is often the best medicine prescribed along with patience and reassurance. Thank you Allison for your comments.
Basma (2 posts) 6 Jul 2008
Hello! It's been eight days since I had my LASIK operation on both eyes. My right eye is almost perfect but my left eye is very hazy (of course the haziness increases at night). Sometimes the haziness decreases but it's always there. My doctor says there's nothing wrong with both eyes. Do I have to worry? How much time does my eye need to be normal? will the haziness ever go?
Allison37 (37 posts) 8 Jul 2008
Hi Basma, I had haziness off and on for quite sometime in just one eye. I wouldn't worry about it (if you can help yourself) as it probably will eventually correct itself. Everyone heals differently. I thought I made a huge mistake the first couple of months after I had it done but all is well now. I found if my eyes were dry or I was tired my vision was off. Try putting in drops before you get to the point where your eyes feel scratchy. The drops really do help and you will need them for the first year or so. Allison
Basma (2 posts) 9 Jul 2008
I guess u r right. I need to be more patient. It's just getting on my nerves and making me feel worried. Thank you very much for your reply. It's relieving to find other people used to have the same experience and that it eventually turned out to be alright. Have a nice day, Basma.
LD (1 post) 2 Nov 2008
I had LASIK on both eyes at a well-known clinic in the Irvine, CA, area. While my vision was fully corrected after surgery, over time the correction "slipped" so I went back. The doctor who checked me was rather sarcastic and denied that the correction slipped, but wrote me a prescription for glasses (within months post-surgery, not happy). As the months passed, my eyesight grew progressively worse. The clinic told me I just needed to use artificial tears more often - same theory as a dirty windshield. I finally went back in and a different doctor said my correction has slipped "IF I was telling the truth" and that an enhancement was required. I had the enhancement, the correction did not hold, and I now have horrible dry eyes and have plugs in my tear ducts and use restasis. I don't know what else to say about it except that I was never told I had a dry eye problem, nor was I warned about the possibility that the correction would not take.
Sandy Feldman, MD (154 posts) 3 Nov 2008

Dear LD It sounds from your description that you have some dryness following the enhancement. It is difficult to assess whether you may also have a small remaining prescription. There may be differences in healing with the type of procedure performed, whether for nearsightedness or farsightedness. The weather in Southern California this time of year is very dry and can exacerbate the dryness observed early after surgery. Over time, the dryness most often improves. Make sure you are using nonpreserved lubricant drops, the Restasis and an ointment, such as refresh PM at bedtime. Try not to have the heat on or a fan blowing especially in a car in your face. Patience and time often help, so try to practice this as well. Seek the care of an additional eyeMD if you are not getting the reassurance you need.

gracetioh83 (unregistered guest) 29 Jul 2009
I had my lasik surgery 2 weeks ago and i got 20/20 perfect vision after went for my 2nd review. I am happy with my result and I just got a little bit haze vision due to eye dryness. I had the custom lasik with traditional knife cut flap process. Now i am just having little dryness. Before the surgery i ate a lots of carrot and eye bright vitamin to keep my eyes in healthy way, so when after the surgery, my eyes didn't get red at all, and never feel pain or sensitive. So I may advice those who wants to go for surgery, must rest your eyes well and even post surgery, you should eat something is helpful for your eyes.
BadPRK Experience (1 post) 9 Feb 2010
I had PRK enhancement done last Jan 19th. Its been 21 days and my vision is horrible. I have extreme blurred and double vision. The doctors says I need to give it more time to heal. I am concerned that this may be permanent. I haven't noticed any improvement since the surgery. Has anyone experienced this same problem?
Badlasik enhancement (3 posts) 18 Sep 2011
Yes, I have hazing in my left eye after lasik enhancement. The doctors seem to take no responsibility for this even though it is not present in the non-enhanced eye. Restasis, plugs, and dry eye drops help a bit, but since it has been almost 3 years since the enhancement, I fear it is permanent. This is horrible because this is my dominant eye for distance vision. Anyone else with these issues after an enhancement procedure?
Kurt9633 (1 post) 23 Jan 2011
The former FDA Branch Chief in charge of LASIK approval, from 1996-2000, has petitioned the FDA wo withdraw approval.
You can read more here:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/support-petition-to-withdraw-lasik-approval/
starlightoko (1 post) 8 Feb 2012
LASIK eye surgery is otherwise healthy eyes perform elective Medical surgery procedure. This makes even the slightest deviation from the full performance potential, LASIK-the surgeon and the patient dissatisfaction.

Although most patients are very satisfied with the results of LASIK surgery, the number of patients have experienced serious problems after LASIK. For this reason, many patients who are considering LASIK LASIK procedure is governed by the laws of the State-of-the-art and are concerned about the fears of the risks and complications.
lasik risks and complications
yannabanana (2 posts) 9 Feb 2012
After I underwent on a LASIK eye surgery at NNJEI I did experience some burning sensation on my eyes after the surgery but good thing though it went away the next morning. I didn't experience some hazing in any of my eyes and I'm glad that my vision was back again to normal.

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