lasik complications

---

Infection is a serious potential complication of LASIK. Sources of infectious contamination during LASIK surgery include the ocular flora, any instruments or sponges used during surgery, the surgeon’s hands, and airborne contaminants. Patients with post-LASIK infection typically present with vision loss and pain. Infection may progress to flap melt (necrosis) requiring amputation of the flap. Severe cases of post-LASIK infection may lead to intraocular infection known as endophthalmitis. Dense scarring, as shown here, results in severe visual impairment or blindness. Post-LASIK infection may require corneal transplantation.

Because the Lasik flap never heals, LASIK patients have a life-long increased risk of developing eye infections:

"A possible explanation for the presentation of delayed keratitis after LASIK is that creating the lamellar flap may induce a permanent portal in the corneal periphery for microorganisms to penetrate". (Vieira et al, 2008)

"Infectious keratitis, which occurs in approximately 1 in 500 photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) patients and in 1 in 2,000 LASIK cases, can result in permanent vision loss." Source

Problems from Lasik? File a MedWatch report with the FDA online. Alternatively, you may call FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 to report by telephone, download the paper form and either fax it to 1-800-FDA-0178 or mail it to the address shown at the bottom of page 3, or download the MedWatcher Mobile App for reporting LASIK problems to the FDA using a smart phone or tablet.