Reducing Infection after LASIK
LASIK is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures in the history of medicine. Its outstanding rate of success and patient satisfaction distinguish it among vision restoration procedures, and technology is only getting better. Over the past few years, wavefront systems have been developed that allow eye surgeons to customize surgery to each individual eye with remarkable precision. As a result, the risks associated with LASIK surgery - risks that were already rare - have become even less likely.
This is not to say, however, that LASIK is a risk-free procedure. All surgeries carry some degree of risk, and LASIK is no exception. In fact, every surgical procedure in medicine poses at least a tiny risk of infection. At the Deen-Gross Eye Centers in Merrillville, LASIK is performed according to the most stringent standards of safety. We take every precaution to ensure that all risks, including the risk of infection, are kept to an absolute minimum. Our state-of-the-art facilities provide a pristine environment in which our skilled eye surgeons can perform LASIK and other procedures to the fullest of their exceptional abilities.
Nevertheless, there is no way to reduce the risk of infection to zero. For this reason, we carefully explain this and the other risks associated with LASIK to patients during their initial consultations at one of our three office locations. We believe that the best patients are those who are able to make confident, informed decisions regarding their care because they have been provided with all of the education they need to do so.
How Common Is Post-LASIK Infection?
Post-LASIK infection is very rare, and always has been. Patients are less likely to develop infection after LASIK than they are after undergoing any other form of refractive surgery, including PRK and LASEK - both of which have very low rates of infection, themselves.
When eye infections do occur after LASIK, they are usually temporary and can be easily treated with antibiotic or anti-inflammatory medications. Of paramount importance to the treatment of post-LASIK infections is early detection. This is why it is important to attend all post-LASIK check-up appointments and contact our vision center at the first sign of any complication.
It Is Vital That You Follow All Post-op Instructions
While you are in one of our vision centers, you can depend on us to protect your eyes and your overall health by following the strictest of safety and sterilization protocols. We carefully screen all potential LASIK candidates to ensure that they do not have eye conditions or other conditions that would interfere with their proper, quick healing or predispose them to infection. We will never approve a patient for LASIK unless we are entirely convinced that he or she can safely undergo the procedure.
Once you leave our practice, however, you shoulder much of the responsibility for your healing. We will provide you with detailed instructions as to what you can do to promote proper healing and what you should avoid in order to prevent infection. For example, you will be advised to avoid getting makeup, smoke, dust, lotions, and other foreign substances in or near your eyes. You will also be asked not to get water directly in your eyes or rub your eyes. How closely you follow these instructions will influence how quickly your eyes heal from surgery.
Learn More about How to Reduce the Risk of Infections after LASIK
To learn more about how to reduce the risk of infection after LASIK, or to schedule your initial consultation at one of our three convenient locations, please contact Deen-Gross Eye Centers today.
