No surgery is without risk. Great vision could be compared to climbing a mountain; the reward is getting to the top, but in order to get there, you have to take some risk. The risk of laser surgery is very small, but still exist. However, this operation is one of the safest types of eye surgery that is being performed.
Everyone has to decide for themselves the advantages and disadvantages of a laser eye surgery, compared to existing solutions, like glasses and contacts. No option is completely safe because glasses and contact lenses can also cause complications such as infections caused by contact lenses and cuts or scratches on the eye from broken glasses.
Dry eyes
It is normal for the eyes to be dry after surgery, and therefore the artificial tears must be used for at least two to three months after surgery and sometimes longer.
Swelling
Inflammatory reactions are normal after all surgical procedures. However, in occasional cases (1-5%), inflammatory reactions may be higher than usual after Femto-LASIK surgery. Sometimes we see inflammatory cells below the flap. This can cause a change in vision, but usually it is temporary. Sometimes, anti-inflammatory drops may used to decrease swelling, usually taking a few days. This happens less often after TransPRK SmartPulse operation.
Cell growth under flaps
Compared with older technology with a blade created flap, Femto-LASIK technology significantly reduces the size of the flaps and almost eliminates this complication. The Femto laser makes a finer and more accurate cut so that the flap rests firmly on the cornea again once laid back down. In a matter of hours, the cornea heals over the perimeter and closes the curvature. In absolute exceptional circumstances (0.1%), the flap should be lifted day after operation and corrected before resetting. In TransPRK SmartPulse operation, there is no flap created, so there is no risk of this complication.
Infection
Infection is a very rare complication of laser surgery and has not yet been described in this country. If infection occurs in the vast majority of cases, it can be eliminated with antibiotics.
Refractive defects after surgery
These are possible, although in most cases it is correctable.