While LASIK has been performed successfully on millions of people all around the world, prospective patients should be very aware that it is a surgical procedure and, therefore, does have some potential risks associated with it. Especially when it is performed by experienced professionals such as the eye surgeons of Chicago Cornea Consultants™, Ltd., LASIK is one of the safest and most predictable surgeries in all of medicine. Nevertheless, at our laser eye surgery center, we provide our patients with detailed education about the procedures they are considering, including all known risks, so that they can make the most confident choices about their treatment.
One of the most common risks associated with LASIK is glare, especially at night. At our laser eye surgery center in Chicago, LASIK glare and other risks are rare and generally temporary; in the unlikely event that glare becomes a long-term issue, retreatment may be necessary. Ultimately, however, our experience and state-of-the-art technology significantly reduce the risk of glare other than perhaps as a short-term side effect.
For further information about LASIK and its risks, not to mention its many benefits, please contact Chicago Cornea Consultants™, Ltd., today.
What Causes Post-LASIK Glare?
Although you may indeed be able to achieve “perfect” vision as a result of LASIK, your eyes are accustomed to your current, flawed vision. For the most part, temporary side effects such as glare can be attributed to the “breaking-in” period your eyes will need to adjust to your clearer, crisper vision. For most patients, glare will subside gradually in the days and weeks after surgery, although for some patients it can last for months.
Patients with larger pupils are more likely to experience post-surgical glare than those with average-sized pupils. During the screening process, our doctors will carefully examine your eyes to determine your risk for side effects based on the physical traits of your unique eyes.
Another common cause of glare at many practices is complications with the corneal flap through which LASIK is performed. The hinged flap is created during the first phase of LASIK surgery; traditionally, it is made using a blade device called a microkeratome. Although the microkeratome is highly precise, we offer a bladeless variation on LASIK that dramatically reduces the risk of corneal flap complications. By using the advanced IntraLase® laser to create a flap of uniform depth and virtually perfectly smooth edges, our doctors are able to minimize the possibility of flap-related glare and other visual anomalies.
In some cases, patients simply continue to have some degree of refractive error after their LASIK surgery. This is particularly true of patients who underwent traditional LASIK, as opposed to wavefront-guided custom LASIK. In any event, LASIK retreatment is a possibility for most patients. By treating the remaining flaws in the cornea, visual errors such as glare can usually be reduced or eliminated.
Learn More about LASIK Glare
If you have any concerns about LASIK glare or would like to schedule a consultation at our practice, please call or email Chicago Cornea Consultants™, Ltd., today.
