Are LASIK Eye Surgeries Safe?

I’m currently doing some research on LASIK (Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis) surgeries, and this includes related procedures too.

I’d love to know from any readers who have done such surgeries, so please leave a comment below or contact me via email. I’d really appreciate your thoughts as I am considering having this procedure done myself.

The post serves as a handy place for me to record the research I’ve done so far.

There are millions of people who have been treated over the past 25 years or so that the technique has been in use to correct myopic vision (and similar conditions).

I’ve used lenses since I was 16 and by and large, am fine wearing them. The only major discomforts are the wintertime when it’s dry and windy, as my eyes feel dry very easily in those conditions. And of course, you’re always aware that your ability to function is wholly dependent on these delicate items you have in your eyes. I’ve never had any accidents with lenses, but still, the sense of dependence on them is not great. I know that without my lenses or glasses I would not be able to perform any of my daily activities, and I don’t like that feeling. From that perspective, surgery like Lasik would indeed be life-changing, and that is what I keep reading on forums and other outlets from people who had successful outcomes.

Now that I have kids, I also have much closer contact with them (hugging, playing etc) and glasses are a major nuisance in those situations. I also feel psychologically much better without glasses, but there are situations where they don’t perform as well as having good vision, for example while working at a computer.

Types of Refractive Laser Surgery

The Risks

While I’ve always heard that it is a fairly safe procedure, I also know that many optometrists and ophthalmologists don’t take undergo the surgery themselves, so I wanted to really dig a bit deeper to find out what the risks are and how many people are affected.

What I uncovered is that pretty much every country has its own associations of people who have come forward to share that they have had issues after undergoing the surgeries (see the one in Spain, or the one in the USA), some of them having quite horrific side effects, and some even being driven into depression and suicide. I feel deeply for people who have tried to improve their lives through surgery, only to bring on themselves a heap of misery. I’ve gone through similar experiences myself and I totally understand the despair and regret that can eat you from the inside in such situations.

The websites of such associations are a good place to start, however, they are not the best place to obtain a balanced opinion on the subject. Reading through such websites will inevitably leave you depressed and doubtful about the surgery. You can find such websites about many other types of surgeries, and I’ve even encountered several websites

Now I’ve seen many dubious clinics offering refractive surgeries here in Spain, and with those, you’re really asking for trouble. They usually don’t have the latest machinery and you might get operated on by someone who has only been recently trained.

Sure, they might have a special offer in place, or just be significantly cheaper than other centers, but do you really wanted to be cheap when it’s your eyesight you’re gambling?

The lack of experience comes into play in the pre-operative consultancy phase. A good surgeon will be able to identify which patients he should operate and which don’t meet the pre-requisites for LASIK and should be directed to other methods of vision correction, or even dissuaded from doing any surgery. Unfortunately, some don’t have the experience needed to make these judgment calls, while others are just happy to operate on even those that are obvious 50/50 cases if it means pocketing a few more thousand euros.

So far, from my research, it definitely seems like this is a surgery that has risks, like any other surgery. These risks are compounded by the fact that the eyes are some of the most sensitive parts of the body, and are deemed absolutely essential to one’s quality of life.

I find it very believable when patients say that they have not been given full information before undergoing procedures. I’ve been to many doctors in my life and had my fair share of serious surgeries, and it’s a rare case when you find a doctor that really walks you through what they will actually to do to you, why, and also go through the possible side effects. The latter is the point most doctors ignore, in my opinion. Regulation is not always a good thing.

Yes, we can add more pages to a form explaining all the potential risks, but whenever I tried to read those consent forms, I always felt that things were overboard to the point that you just sign and hope for the best. That’s what happens when more emphasis is given to the legal side of things than common sense. The EU cookie policy comes to mind, as well as the terms and conditions of companies like Google and Facebook.

According to a 2009 study that the FDA conducted to understand the potential risks of severe problems that can result from LASIK, up to 46% of patients reported at least one visual symptom (like glare or blurred vision) at three months post-surgery. Up to 28% of patients reported dry eye symptoms, and less than 1% experienced “a lot of difficulty” with or inability to do usual activities because of side effects from their surgery.

There’s also a risk of infection after laser eye surgery. One recent study shows that this risk is somewhere between 1 in 15,000 and 1 in 30,000. The risk of infection from contact lenses, by comparison, is about 1 in 400. About 2% of people who undergo these procedures may require a second procedure.

On the other hand, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 90% of LASIK patients see their vision improve to somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40.

The most vocal anti-LASIK doctor worldwide is Morris Waxler, although he ends up jeopardising his position through obvious conflict of interest, given that he runs a clinic aimed squarely at helping those who claim to have been injured by LASIK procedures. His claim to fame is that he was on the FDA committee that approved the procedure in 1996, and is now calling for it to be banned.
At the end of the day, like many other things in life, it’s a question of risk. If you’re happy wearing glasses and lenses, and have a small amount of myopia, I see no reason to risk it.

On the other hand, if your level of myopia is such that you are 100% dependent on having a pair of glasses around or using lenses, plus you have a problem wearing either of those and the condition is affecting your enjoyment of life (sport can be a pain with lenses or glasses, for example), then you are more than justified in seeking a solution like LASIK.

My questions

• What technique is best suitable for me and why? What about the newer Smile technique vs Lasik?
• I have a big fear/reflex of anyone holding my eyes open and putting drops in, will this be a problem?
• Is there any test to determine whether I have dry eyes and whether this could be an issue that would make me not a good candidate for the operation?
• Which are the best machines for LASIK and does the center have them?
• What side effects or potential complications should I be wary of and when should I be worried about them?
• Will the treatment last forever?

Additional Reading

• The FDA’s page on LASIK
• Informative video on LASIK – Dr. Jennifer Ling