Potential Complications?

Visual Recovery
Crispness of Vision
Glare / Halos / Starbursts
Dry Eyes
Overcorrection, Undercorrection & Regression

Visual Recovery
Most patients notice an improvement in their vision immediately upon completion of their eye surgery. However, patients should understand that, while fast visual recovery characterizes the operation, it can take several months before some patients achieve their final vision after LASIK or CK.
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Crispness of Vision
Some patients notice that 20/20 vision after LASIK can be different from 20/20 vision with contact lenses before LASIK, especially gas permeable contact lenses. The images seen through eyes treated by LASIK are often described as not being as "crisp" as those seen through glasses. This condition, referred to in ophthalmic literature as "loss of contrast sensitivity," will not affect your acuity as it is measured on an eye chart, but the visual experience is different enough that a new term has been coined: LASIK 20/20.

The majority of patients do adjust to this change; however some do have difficulty in the first few months following surgery. Patients should understand that these symptoms appear to dissipate within the first six months of surgery.

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Dry Eyes
Some patients experience dry eyes post-operatively. The symptoms can vary widely - from being relatively asymptomatic, to the experience of progressively worse vision during the day, to feeling the typical dry sensation, to an increase in glare and halos. When the dry eye is treated, those symptoms diminish.

Clinical dry eye is comparatively easy to diagnose and treat, with treatment options ranging from use of preservative free eye drops to insertion of punctal plugs depending on the severity of the case. If you suspect you may have post-operative dry eye, you should contact your doctor's office for an evaluation.
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Glare / Halos / Starbursts
Subjective reporting of decreased night vision has been noted widely, with descriptions and illustrations of the potential effects of glare, halos and starbursts on a patient's vision. The experience of the phenomena can range from mild to severe. These symptoms usually subside within one month to six weeks for the vast majority of patients who experience them. However, some will continue to experience them for a greater length of time.

Depending upon the cause, those patients who experience significant, persistent glare, halos or starbursts do have several treatment options. Enhancement procedures may be an option, but not everyone is eligible for an additional procedure. Eligibility for enhancements depends on a number of factors that a doctor must evaluate. Prescription eye drops to help constrict the pupil at night to reduce the symptoms of decreased night vision may be an option of a small percentage of patients. However, this pharmaceutical approach is not successful for all people, and it also can represent a significant expense over time. Diagnosis and treatment of clinical dry eye may alleviate many of the symptoms. Toric contact lenses may be prescribed for those who have astigmatism.
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Overcorrection, Undercorrection & Regression
Nearsighted patients who experience an overcorrection will become farsighted and will notice immediately that they can no longer see near objects as well. Conversely those who have been undercorrected will notice that objects in a distance are still not perfectly clear.

Farsighted patients who experience an overcorrection will become nearsighted and will notice immediately that they can no longer see objects at a distance clearly. Those who have been undercorrected will notice that near objects are still not totally in focus.

If an over or undercorrection has occurred, the ophthalmologist will discuss your treatment options. Generally, surgeons prefer to wait approximately 3-6 months to perform an enhancement to ensure that the final vision has been achieved. As that point, either a hyperopia or myopia LASIK procedure will be performed to correct the residual error, if the patient and doctor believe it is appropriate.

Conventionally, regression is defined as a shift in initial visual outcome. Regression can occur quickly, but it also can occur slowly over time. Patients who experience regression will notice their vision changing progressively (not a fluctuation during the day). Typically, the ophthalmologist will evaluate the regression to determine its etiology. Once the cause is determined, the doctor will review treatment options with the patients. Often times, an enhancement procedure can be performed to correct the residual error.
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"All patients should notify their doctor at once if they have any questions about their recovery after surgery. Only a doctor who has performed an examination of your eyes and has a complete medical history can accurately determine if your situation is within normal limits or requires care."