What are the risks associated with refractive surgery procedures?
A. As with any surgical procedure, there exists the potential for side effects or complications. The degree and frequency of occurrence will vary from patient to patient. Early and temporary side effects include discomfort, light sensitivity, and vision fluctuation during the healing process. Infection risk is very low and, if present, is usually treated with antibiotic drops. Corneal haze may occur after surgery, but usually resolves with treatment and time. With laser correction, there is also a chance of over or under correction. Over and under corrections usually do not affect the overall vision results. High amounts of under correction or over correction are generally retreated with a no-cost enhancement procedure. Low amounts of under correction are corrected by wearing glasses as needed for activities such as night driving. In less than 2 percent of cases, best corrected visual acuity may be less than before surgery.
