?Striae ? The wrinkles that occur in the corneal flap after Lasik surgery. Striae are usually a result of correction of myopia, but can occur during hyperopic correction as well. In some cases striae may not obstruct vision, and thus will not require correction. In other cases surgical correction is necessary to re-lift and smooth the flap.



?Buttonhole flap ? This is an uneven cut or tear, that result in partial cornea flap. When the microkeratome blade is placed incorrectly, or is not the right fit for the given eye, a partial and uneven cut can result. In some cases, the corneal flap may tear or rip when it is placed back over the eye. A buttonhole is formed and surgery is topped to replace the flap smoothly. If surgery is continued after buttonhole flap is created, scarring and astigmatism can increase causing more complication to the vision of the eye. Patients with extraordinarily steep corneas are at higher risk for the buttonhole flap complication.

?Free Flap ? It occurs when the flap is cut all way through leaving no connecting hinge. This is due to loss of suction at the time the microkeratome blade is passing across the eye. The tissue is detached from its original location. If the flap is detached, the Lasik surgeon will place the freed flap in the correct position after the cornea has been reshaped. In most serious cases, flap may suffer irreparable damages.

?DLK - Diffuse Lamellar Keratitis is an infrequent complication of Lasik eye surgery. It is a sterile inflammation underneath the flap, by a reaction to debris. It is also known as the ?Sands of the Sahara? because of the reason that under the microscope, the condition looks like waves of sand inside the cornea. DLK is indicated in stages 1 to 4 from debris outside the center of the eye to stromal melting and central tissue loss. It is usually treated with anti-inflammatory eye drops for several months, but in acute cases, additional surgery to lift the flap and irrigate the infected area may be necessary.

?Dry Eye ? Some Lasik surgeries can lead to occurrence of chronic dry eye. To remove this problem, your doctor may recommend treatments including artificial tear eye drops or punctual plugs that deter the draining of eye moisture.

?Infection ? Although it is very rare, but improper care may lead to serious problems. After surgery, a sterile operating room and post-operative care are essential in preventing infection. Still if any kind of infection persists, it is advisable to contact your ophthalmologist immediately.

?Central Islands - These are small areas of raised tissue that show up on the cornea when the laser used during surgery does not remove tissue uniformly. It is basically an under-treated area of the cornea. If it still persist, contact lenses may be advised to smooth out the cornea surface or a laser touchup if necessary.

It is best to consult your doctor if you are facing any complications after the surgery.

Proper eye care and regular eye check-up is always advisable.