Brussels Eye Center

COMPLICATIONS OF REFRACTIVE SURGERY

Particular complications to each surgical procedure :

Radial keratotomy :

  • Visual fluctuations
  • Photophobia and night halos
  • Secondary or progressive hyperopia
  • Theoretical weakening of the eye

PRK – Trans PRK

  • Post-operative pain from 2 to 3 days
  • Late healing of the epithelium
  • Haze or sub-epithelial cicatrisation inducing a blur vision which decreases over time: 1% to 2%
  • Night halos if high myopia, high pupillary diameter or haze
  • Low risk of postoperative infection: 1/4000

Lasik surgery. – Femtolasik

  • Decentration of the corneal flap during first post-operative days: patient must wear an eye-cover at night during 2 weeks after surgery
  • Dry eye: regular use of artificial tears is necessary during the first post-operative month
  • Epithelial ingrowth in the interface under the corneal flap (0.1%) avoided by rinsing
  • Inflammation under the corneal flap (0.5%) requiring anti-inflammatory treatment or rinsing the interface
  • Night halos if high myopia or large pupillary diameter
  • Extremely low risk of postoperative infection: 1/5000
  • Ectasia or irregular astigmatism: Exceptional complication occuring in late post opérative follow up, especially in keratocone or Frust keratoconus not appearent preoperatively or in thick flaps or deep ablation of the cornea.

Aberrometry

  • Customized wavefront treatment with aberrometry by Lasik or PRK:
  • Same complications reported in Lasik.
  • Less regression and retreatment (2%-3%). Usually, a retreatment free of charge is necessary in 4 to 5% of cases. Less Glare and night halos.

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