Treatment/correction (without further surgery) for LASIK side effects/complications (scleral contact lenses, RGP lenses, hybrid lenses, soft contact lenses, glasses)
LASIK, along with other laser eye surgeries, has a high success rate and an excellent safety record. However, like every procedure, complications might occur and rarely result in complete or partial loss of vision and several side effects can occur.
LASIK common side effects include dryness, glares, halos, blurring of vision, double vision, loss of contrast and other visual disturbances.
Treatment of common LASIK complications
LASIK complications and side effects due to LASIK failure can occasionally be resolved with additional surgical procedure, however this can often worsen the symptoms instead of solving them.
Non-surgical treatment of common LASIK complications includes using various lenses and glasses.
Rigid Gas permeable contact lenses
For mild to moderate irregularities in cornea following LASIK surgery, gas permeable contact lenses are recommended. RGP or GP contact lenses are made of material that is permeable and allows gaseous exchange, so that the lens doesn’t stick to the underlying cornea. This helps in fixing the blurring or irregularities in vision due to irregular cornea. They are also helpful in fixing excessive glare in complicated post LASIK surgery vision.
Scleral contact lenses
If the corneal surface is bulged or inappropriate for conventional lenses as in keratoconus, the specialist might recommend scleral contact lenses.
Soft contact lenses
Soft contact lenses are recommended for people whose vision gets normal with gas permeable or scleral lenses but they can’t wear them because of their rigidity. These lenses are custom made for the patient and can also be worn for night or dim light environments.
Hybrid contact lenses
Hybrid lenses are large diameter lenses with rigid central gas permeable zone, surrounded by a soft peripheral zone.
Hybrid contact lenses are helpful for irregular shaped cornea. They are helpful in not only correcting errors in post LASIK complications but also in normal eyes. They are used for correcting nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism.
Toric contact lenses
Toric contact lenses are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable materials. They are recommended for people with high degree of astigmatism, which isn’t completely solved with LASIK surgery.
Glasses for LASIK complications
Those patients who can’t use contact lenses, or probably don’t like wearing them can use glasses for the temporary or permanent post LASIK side effects. Glasses help to improve vision in patients experiencing disturbed vision, farsightedness, nearsightedness, glare, etc.
Management of post LASIK complications is possible but it’s important that you consult the expert in this field and discuss the best available option for your situation. Contact Dr. Irwin Azman today for a Free Consultation.