Refractive Eye Surgery - Risks

Although rare, there are risks associated with the implantation of a phakic lens. Those risks include:

• You may experience a loss of vision that cannot be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or another surgery. The amount of vision loss may be severe.
• You may develop debilitating visual symptoms such as glare, halos, double vision, and/or decreased vision in situations of low-level lighting that can cause difficulty with performing tasks, such as driving, particularly at night or under foggy conditions.
• You may need additional eye surgery to reposition, replace or remove the phakic lens.
• You may be under-treated or over-treated. A significant proportion of treated patients do not achieve 20/20 vision after surgery. The power of the implanted phakic lens may be too strong or too weak. This is because of the difficulties with determining exactly what power lens you need. This means that you may still need glasses or contact lenses to perform at least some tasks.
• You may develop increased intraocular pressure, which may require surgery or medication to control. You may need long-term treatment with glaucoma medications. If the pressure is too high for too long, you may lose vision.
• Your cornea may become cloudy.
• You may develop a cataract, which is clouding of the natural lens.
• You may develop a retinal detachment.
• You may experience infection, bleeding, severe inflammation, pain, redness, or decreased vision.