Every LASIK patient suffers extensive damage to corneal nerves during the LASIK procedure. For some patients, this nerve damage leads to chronic eye pain. Fortunately some eye doctors are trying to help patients who experience this potentially-debilitating complication.
The cornea possesses the most dense sensory innervation of the body. It has been estimated that the cornea contains 300–600 times more sensory endings than the skin and 20–40 times more than tooth pulp. Source: Belmonte, Carlos; Gallar Juana (1996). "6: Corneal Nociceptors". Neurobiology of Nociceptors. Oxford University Press.
During LASIK surgery, nerves in the anterior cornea are severed during creation of the flap, and deeper corneal nerves are destroyed by laser ablation. Medical studies demonstrate that even 10 years after the surgery corneal nerves do not fully recover. Some patients report severe, persistent eye pain after LASIK.
Neuropathic corneal pain, also known as corneal neuralgia, after LASIK is frequently misdiagnosed as dry eye. Some patients actually suffer from a combination of both, dry eyes and neuropathic pain. Confocal microscopy examinations of eyes of patients with neuropathic corneal pain reveal abnormal corneal nerves, inflammation, and/or reduced corneal nerve density. For some patients, eye pain after LASIK is incapacitating and leads to thoughts of suicide.
Study found 24% of surveyed patients (PRK and LASIK) reported mild to moderate eye pain postoperatively. Read abstract here.
Another study found that eye pain increased to 24% at 6 months after LASIK or PRK, with 11% of patients reporting persistent pain at three months and six months. Read full text here.
In another study, the incidence of neuropathic corneal pain was 13.3% and 10.5% after SMILE and LASIK, respectively. Read abstract here.
Click here to learn about treatments for post-LASIK neuropathic corneal pain/corneal neuralgia.
Patients who experience persistent eye pain or other complications after LASIK which negatively affect quality of life should file a MedWatch report with the FDA online. Alternatively, you may call FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report by telephone.
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