Benefits and Risks of Lasik Surgery

What kind of vision can I expect after refractive surgery?

No guarantees can be made as to the results of any kind of surgical procedure whether it is done on your big toe or your eye. However, I think it is safe to say that the vast majority of patients have at least 20/40 vision without glasses after surgery, and many of them have 20/30 to 20/20 vision after surgery.

In general, patients with lower degrees of correction are somewhat more predictable than patients with higher degrees of correction. Patients with higher degrees of correction may require more than one procedure, but through a variety of techniques, the goal of much improved vision without glasses can be achieved in almost all cases. Dr. Denman will inform you if he feels there are any unusual circumstances which could prevent you from obtaining a good result.

What are the complications of AK?

Like any surgical procedure, AK can be associated with side effects or complications. Serious complications or sight threatening complications such as infection or perforation of the eye, are fortunately rare. However, minor side effects such as seeing halos around lights at night, seeing a star burst effect when looking at lights, and having fluctuations in vision throughout the day are somewhat more common, though they tend to disappear in most people after a few weeks. A full description of the complications of RK and AK is available through our office.

What are the complications of PRK and LASIK?

Sight threatening complications are fortunately rare with refractive surgery, and PRK is no exception. However, PRK tends to be a process that heals slowly, allowing visual recovery to be more slow than with Lasik procedures.

On the other hand, LASIK procedures are more technically complex and can have complications related to this. A full list of side effects of these procedures is available from Dr. Denman's office.

The AK Procedure... (Astigmatic Keratotomy)

1. The patient relaxes in a reclining chair. The patient is prepared for surgery and the eye is anesthesized so there is no pain.

2. A microscopic incision is made on both sides of the the cornea.

3. As the incisions heal, the corneal curvature is changed and the astigmatism reduced.

The RK procedure...

1. From one to eight microscopic incisions are made in the cornea in a radial pattern like the spokes of a wheel.

2. As in AK surgery, when the incisions heal, the cornea is flattened by the healing process.

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3. The surface of the cornea changes in order to correct myopia or nearsightedness.