What causes flap striae after LASIK?

Flap striae arise when the flap slips or wrinkles after LASIK surgery. This usually occurs as the result of uneven alignment of the flap edge with the epithelial ring.

Can flap striae heal on its own?

Striae never spontaneously resolve, and earlier treatment has a greater chance of success, because flap striae become more difficult to remove later in the postoperative course. 8 When we see flap striae in the immediate postoperative period, we treat visually symptomatic patients as soon as possible.

Is DLK curable?

In mild cases, DLK rarely affects vision and is easily treatable. Left untreated, it can cause permanent damage, including reduction in visual acuity, scarring and stromal melt.

How long does it take for flap to heal after LASIK?

While LASIK recovery time will vary from person to person, it may take up to three months for the LASIK flap to completely finish the healing process. That being said, the flap should be mostly healed and secure after one week and most normal activities can be resumed at that time.

How common is DLK?

DLK affects between 2-4% of patients undergoing LASIK surgery.

What is the LASIK procedure?

The LASIK procedure involves two steps; the creation of the corneal flap by a precision flap making instrument, and the reshaping of the cornea with an excimer laser. Essentially, the excimer laser is used to reshape the cornea by removing tissue from its middle layer.

What happens during a LASIK consultation?

The procedure provides the surgeon with details about your eye health that determines whether or not you qualify for LASIK vision correction. If you do qualify, the surgeon will use the measurements taken at the consultation to program the laser for your surgery.

What are the risks of LASIK surgery?

If you have dry eyes, LASIK surgery may make the condition worse. Large pupils. If your pupils are large, especially in dim light, LASIK may not be appropriate. Surgery may result in debilitating symptoms such as glare, halos, star bursts and ghost images. Glaucoma. The surgical procedure can raise your eye pressure, which can make glaucoma worse.

Why is LASIK so hard to measure?

Also, the LASIK procedure has been refined over time — the techniques and technology is continually changing. This makes it difficult to draw conclusions from the data that is reported. Keep in mind that even when postoperative follow-up is done and reported, vision is measured under optimal testing conditions.