Philadelphia Lasik Surgery Complication lawyer

Many people undergo LASIK eye surgery in the United States every year. LASIK is credited with fixing near- and far-sightedness, especially in older folks. It is also known to cause complications. When a LASIK procedure goes awry, the surgeon may be held liable for any damages you sustain.

LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis. The surgery takes about ten minutes. To perform the LASIK procedure, a physician makes a corneal flap with an instrument called a microkeratome. The flap is then pulled back, and an excimer laser is used to reshape the central portion of the stroma, which repairs the patient’s vision. After fixing the stroma, the flap is replaced. LASIK is the most common operation to cure refractive sight issues. The benefits of LASIK are quick recovery, predictably good results and a reduction in pain. The patient is usually able to stop using glasses to correct their vision.

Some common complications include dry eye, infection, reduced night vision, a weakening of the cornea and slow healing time for the flap.

Dry Eye

When the doctor is creating the flap, there is a high likelihood that the corneal nerves and blood vessels can be injured. This can cause the eyes to stop producing tears. Many patients complain of dry eyes after a LASIK procedure.

Infection

Infections are possible with LASIK surgery, as with any other operation. However, the rate of infection is quite low. It only happens in 0.4 percent of all people who undergo the procedure. The tissues beneath the flap occasionally become infected, but this is not common. Infections need to be treated immediately to avoid damage to the cornea.

Reduced Night Vision

Another complication of LASIK surgery is a loss of sensitivity toward contrasting light. Those who have had LASIK surgery have difficulty seeing in low light conditions. They can also have visual distortions and see halos around bright objects. Driving at night is especially difficult.

Weakening of the Cornea

The cornea is weakened when the flap is cut into it and the stroma is reshaped. This part of the surgery alters the collagen bands that hold the corneas shape and make it strong. Sometimes, the cornea becomes progressively thinner, requiring more medical attention.

Slow Flap Healing

On occasion, the flap created by the surgeon will not completely heal. It can also become misaligned, or it can even slip away from the rest of the cornea. Patients must carefully follow their physician’s after-care instructions so the flap heals quickly and totally.

Other Complications of LASIK

Subconjuntival hemorrhaging is a common early post-operative complication experienced by ten percent of those who have the procedure performed on them. Sometimes, accumulated blood turns a part of the white portion of the eye red.

Contact an Experienced Philadelphia Medical Malpractice Lawyer

Your eyesight is too important to risk. If you have experienced any of these complications from a LASIK procedure, you need to contact one of the experienced Philadelphia medical malpractice attorneys at Rosenbaum & Associates. We’ll discuss your case for free. Then we’ll get to work protecting your legal rights if you were the victim of medical negligence by your physician.