What Happens If LASIK Goes Wrong?

LASIK has a high success rate, but like any surgical procedure, it is not completely risk-free. Fortunately, when problems do occur, they are usually temporary or treatable. Serious, permanent complications are uncommon, especially when surgery is performed by an experienced surgeon after thorough pre-operative screening.

Most Problems Are Temporary

Many patients experience side effects that are a normal part of healing rather than true complications.

Common temporary issues include:

• Dry eyes
• Blurry or fluctuating vision
• Light sensitivity
• Halos or glare around lights at night
• Mild discomfort or a gritty sensation

These symptoms often improve within a few weeks to several months.

Vision Is Not as Clear as Expected

Some patients may not achieve their target prescription after the initial procedure.

Possible outcomes:

• Mild residual nearsightedness or farsightedness
• Slight astigmatism remaining
• Need for glasses for certain activities

If the prescription remains stable after healing, an enhancement procedure may be recommended.

Dry Eye Symptoms Last Longer

Some patients experience dry eyes for longer than expected.

Possible symptoms:

• Burning or stinging sensation
• Fluctuating vision throughout the day
• Eye fatigue during screen use
• Frequent need for lubricating eye drops

Most cases improve gradually with treatment and time.

Night Vision Problems

Night vision changes are another possible complication.

Some patients notice:

• Halos around headlights
• Glare from bright lights
• Starbursts at night
• Reduced contrast in dim environments

These symptoms often become less noticeable as healing progresses.

Flap-Related Problems

Because LASIK creates a thin corneal flap, flap complications can occasionally occur.

Examples include:

• Flap displacement from accidental eye rubbing or trauma
• Small flap wrinkles
• Delayed flap healing

These issues are uncommon and are often successfully corrected if treated promptly.

Infection or Inflammation

Although rare, infection is one of the most serious complications.

Warning signs include:

• Severe eye pain
• Increasing redness
• Thick discharge
• Rapid decline in vision

Immediate medical treatment is essential to protect vision.

Rare Long-Term Complications

In very uncommon cases, more significant problems may develop.

These include:

• Corneal ectasia (progressive weakening of the cornea)
• Persistent visual disturbances
• Chronic dry eye requiring ongoing treatment
• Permanent reduction in best-corrected vision

Modern screening has greatly reduced the likelihood of these complications.

Can Problems Be Fixed?

In many situations, yes.

Treatment options may include:

• Prescription eye drops
• Artificial tears or punctal plugs for dry eye
• Enhancement surgery for residual refractive error
• Specialty contact lenses
• Corneal cross-linking for selected cases of ectasia

The appropriate treatment depends on the underlying cause.

How to Reduce the Risk of Problems

Patients can improve their chances of a successful outcome by:

• Choosing an experienced refractive surgeon
• Undergoing comprehensive pre-operative testing
• Being honest about medical history and medications
• Following all post-operative instructions carefully
• Attending every follow-up appointment
• Avoiding eye rubbing during recovery

Proper patient selection is one of the biggest factors in preventing complications.

Final thoughts

If LASIK goes wrong, the outcome is usually manageable rather than catastrophic. Most issues involve temporary side effects or mild residual vision problems that improve with time or additional treatment. Serious complications are uncommon, and many can be successfully treated when detected early. Careful screening, an experienced surgeon, and good post-operative care remain the best ways to achieve a safe procedure and excellent long-term vision.