Lasik risks are real says the FDA

Doctors and clinics performing LASIK surgery should consider themselves warned: properly inform consumers of the risks associated with the Lasik.

As reported by Reuters, the US FDA warning comes on the heels of a meeting held over a year ago on the topic where a number of Lasik patients came forward with complaints related to their laser eye surgery. Side-effects detailed included double vision, blurriness, and depression. 

While 87% of RealSelf community members consider their LASIK "worth it", some of the Lasik reviews highlight downsides: 

• I feel like they took my money and ran. Now its almost been a year and my eyesight is back to where it started but worse. I cant see at night. - A, New  York City

• I can not see properly indoors during the day, and i have bad vision indoors in the evenings due to significant loss of contrast sensitivity. I find it very difficult to drive at night due to significant starbursting and halos around all lighting sources. I can not enjoy many of the leisure activities that I used to. - Little-Tiger, Alberta, Canada

• I now have very dry eyes. Especially in the right eye. My eyesight was farsighted, now I cannot read without glasses. I had to get glasses anyway because of nearsightedness and farsightedness now. - Keninpa, Pittsburgh, PA

Regardless of this warning, trustworthy Lasik doctors should always explain in detail the risks of LASIK which can, at worst, cause blindness.

Photo: Cary Silverman, MD

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