After your LASIK surgery, you will receive a postop kit that contains everything you need


	The ALZ post-op kit

Risks and complications

As with any medical procedure, there is always some risk involved.

The chances of your vision being worse after the surgery than it was before are very low. For example, the risk of complication with the LASIK procedure is less than 1%. We will assess your individual risk during the preoperative examination and consultation.

Generally, our patients are more than happy with their treatment: They are finally freed from dependency on corrective lenses in everyday life. However, we feel that it is our obligation to inform each individual patient, prior to surgery, about possible complications.

One of the most important factors in a successful treatment is the strict observation of all instructions given by our physicians, including the conscientious use of all prescribed medication. After your surgery you will receive our “ALZ post-op kit” which contains eye drops, protective sunglasses, your doctor’s phone number and more. See What to Expect After Surgery

Immediately after surgery, corneal sensitivity will be reduced. This may lead to a decrease in tear production (dry eye). This is commonly experienced as an increased foreign body sensation – the feeling that you have something in your eye. The artificial teardrops in your post-op kit will provide relief. On the day of surgery, you may experience an increased redness of the eye or an increased secretion of tears. This is quite normal and no cause for worry.

Severe pain or sudden decrease in vision should not occur.
If you experience these symptoms, please contact our medical hotline immediately and you will receive strict instructions from a physician.

The following complications may occure in less than 1% of LASIK patients:

Flap complications

Over- or undercorrection

Decentralized optical zone

Extremely rare complications

Flap complications
To ensure optimal treatment, we follow international guidelines that have been established for the LASIK procedure. They concern the thickness of the corneal flap (160 to 180 micrometer), the thickness of the remaining corneal tissue in the stromal bed (250 micrometer) and the size of the treatment area (6.0 to 6.5 millimeter).

In step one of LASIK surgery a small incision is made to create the corneal flap. In the unlikely event that the incision is irregular or incomplete, we will terminate the surgery, and the procedure can be repeated after 6 months. If, however, the tissue for the corneal flap is separated completely, laser ablation (step-two) can still take place. The area where the flap is made will have been marked prior to surgery and can therefore be placed back into its exact position without difficulty. You will then receive a therapeutic contact lens to prevent the flap from moving.

Over- or undercorrection
In some cases, an overcorrection or undercorrection amounting to approximately 10% - 20% of the desired result is possible. This is usually the result of individual variations in tissue property or in the healing process. In most cases, an enhancement procedure (follow-up surgery) can then be performed approximately 6 months after the initial surgery.

Decentralized optical zone
In rare cases, the treatment zone may become decentralized, which would also necessitate an enhancement procedure (follow-up surgery).

Epithelial ingrowth
During the initial recovery period, it is possible that cells of the epithelium (the outer layer of the cornea) could migrate between the corneal flap and the stromal bed, where they may start growing. In order to avoid any adverse effect on your vision, the flap will then be lifted, so that these cells can be removed.

Infection
In order to avoid an eye infection, you will receive antibiotic eye drops during and after the surgery. In case you experience any severe pain, or if an eye infection develops even in spite of all precautionary measures, please contact our medical hotline immediately and observe all instructions given by the physician. (You will receive the telephone number for the hotline with your post-op kit.)

Halos and Glare
After surgery, some patients have reported seeing a “halo” or glare around light sources. These effects are subject to the individual healing process and will disappear after a few weeks.

Re-LASIK
The chances of needing an enhancement procedure (follow-up surgery) to obtain the desired correction result is very low - the risk of the patient's vision being worse after surgery than it was before is statistically less than 1%.

The risk of becoming blind
after surgery is extremely low but, as with any medical procedure, we cannot provide a 100% guarantee. You can be assured that we will do everything we can to protect your health and safety. You can talk to any of our staff member about your concerns. Your surgeon will counsel you on all possible risks.