Lasik Side Effects

10 questions to ask before deciding on LASIK

Like every other surgical procedure, LASIK carries the risks of unwanted side effects. Unfortunately, many potential patients blithely disregard them and regard the eye procedure as a 'miracle cure' for their vision problems.

A recent case, in which the High Court ordered that a prominent eye surgeon and his clinic pay damages to a patient who ended up with blurred vision after his LASIK procedure, illustrates the need for patients to be well-informed of their condition, as well as whether they are suitable for any kind of elective medical procedure.

Potential LASIK patients also have the responsibility of assessing - to the best of their ability - their doctors and to ask  questions which may help them decide whether or not LASIK is suitable for them.

Dr Lee Sao Bing, medical director of Shinagawa LASIK Centre, shares with AsiaOne Health the questions that every LASIK patient should ask their doctor before agreeing to the procedure.

1. Will you be the doctor managing my pre- and/or post-operative care?

The answer should be yes. Ideally, the same doctor should walk you through the whole procedure from start to finish to ensure that each detail of your eye condition is well tracked.

2. Do all the post-operative visits include a consultation with the doctor?

The answer should be yes. Side effects after LASIK are very, very low, but it is always good for a doctor to examine your eye and be there to formulate your post-operative treatment plan. One example would be to treat dry eyes, which is a common post-op concern.

3. What should I expect my vision to be like for the first few weeks after surgery?

Your doctor should provide you with an explanation on minor fluctuations, regression, minor halos, minor 'starbursting', etc. These side-effects may occur, but will resolve over time, with some side effects lasting only a few weeks and others lasting about 3 to 4 months.

LASIK with Glaucoma History in Family - LASIK Surgery & Laser Eye ...

Answer: To be a good candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery requires more than just a certain degree of correction. Good LASIK candidates have an appropriate corneal shape and thickness, healthy and sufficient tear film, generally health eyes, stable prescriptions, do not have any systemic illnesses that might impact healing and the results, are not taking medication that might impact healing and tear film integrity and most importantly have realistic expectations. The fact that you have a strong family history of Glaucoma means that you must be carefully watched for Glaucoma, however if you do not currently have a diagnosis of Glaucoma this should not preclude you from having LASIK. You should seek consultation with the best LASIK Surgeon in your area and be sure to advise them of the family history of Glaucoma. Partner at Medical Mangement Services Group, a physician practice mangement company, that works with cataract surgeons and refractive surgeons to develop successful practices through utilization of patient education web portals, such as http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com and http://www.seewithlasik.com. Ms. Carlisle is the Managing Member and a founder of Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C., the developer, operator and owner of http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com. Prior to my engagement with Medical Management Services Group I held positions in the eye care field with LCA-Vision and Refractive Centers International Inc., in the areas of clinical quality assurance and physician credentialing. I hold a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts.

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