Corneal ectasia
Progressive postoperative weakening and shape change of the cornea that can produce irregular astigmatism and loss of visual quality.
FDA recognition source ↗0.033% · 1 observation
0.033%10/30167 eyes
Recognised issues, evidence and gaps
Procedure issue evidence glossary
Choose a procedure, then see what has cohort evidence, what appears only in structured community reports, and what is recognised but missing from the current dataset.
Corneal laser
LASIK issue evidence
These groups describe the coverage of this database—not a ranking of severity or a personal risk estimate.
- Cohort evidence
- 4
- Community only
- 4
- Current gaps
- 5
Absence is never treated as a zero rate. Only imported cohort observations receive numeric summaries. Community counts indicate an issue-specific structured mention, not necessarily a new, severe or ongoing problem.
Observed in current cohorts
Source-linked study data. Each number stays attached to its cohort, denominator and follow-up period.
Dry eye and ocular-surface symptoms
New or worsened dryness, irritation or tear-film disturbance reported or measured after the procedure. Questionnaires, tests and thresholds are not interchangeable.
FDA recognition source ↗24 cohort observations7 community reports
66.0%Denominator not reported
73.0%Denominator not reported
65.0%Denominator not reported
0.80%Denominator not reported
6.53 sdenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 1 monthSource · Table 3
1.56 scoredenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 1 monthSource · Table 4
7.42 sdenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 3 monthsSource · Table 3
1.21 scoredenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 3 monthsSource · Table 4
8.19 sdenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 6 monthsSource · Table 3
0.49 scoredenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 6 monthsSource · Table 4
9.30 sdenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 12 monthsSource · Table 3
0.14 scoredenominator: 43 patients
Dry Eye Disease following Refractive Surgery: A 12-Month Follow-Up of SMILE versus FS-LASIK in High Myopia (2015)FS-LASIK high-myopia cohort · 12 monthsSource · Table 4
18.78 scoredenominator: 32 patients
4.70 sdenominator: 32 patients
10.00 mmdenominator: 32 patients
17.77 scoredenominator: 31 patients
3.77 sdenominator: 31 patients
10.90 mmdenominator: 31 patients
16.22 scoredenominator: 30 patients
4.43 sdenominator: 30 patients
13.73 mmdenominator: 30 patients
15.50 scoredenominator: 30 patients
4.97 sdenominator: 30 patients
13.17 mmdenominator: 30 patients
Dry eye symptoms (OSDI ≥13)
An issue-related result explicitly recorded by the source cohort using its own measurement method.
15.0%–38.0% · 3 observations
25.0%denominator: 3000 patients
38.0%denominator: 3000 patients
15.0%denominator: 3000 patients
Loss of best-corrected vision
A reduction in chart lines even with the best glasses or contact-lens correction available after surgery.
FDA recognition source ↗0% · 1 observation
0%0/330 eyes
FDA pivotal clinical study of INNOVEYES LASIK with WaveLight EX500 (2025)INNOVEYES LASIK · 3 monthsSource · 15
Structured community mentions only
An anecdotal layer kept separate from clinical evidence; these counts are not incidence estimates.
Glare and reduced night-vision quality
Scattered or uncomfortable brightness, ghosting or poorer visual quality in low light. Definitions and questionnaires vary.
FDA recognition source ↗1 community report · no cohort observation
No structured cohort observation is currently imported.
1 approved public-forum report contains an issue-specific structured mention. This is not an incidence estimate.
Browse LASIK community reports →Halos
Rings around lights, especially under dim or night-time conditions. Studies may use different questions and symptom thresholds.
FDA recognition source ↗1 community report · no cohort observation
No structured cohort observation is currently imported.
1 approved public-forum report contains an issue-specific structured mention. This is not an incidence estimate.
Browse LASIK community reports →Residual error, regression or additional correction
Under-correction, over-correction, regression or another refractive result that may leave a need for glasses, contact lenses or an additional procedure.
FDA recognition source ↗1 community report · no cohort observation
No structured cohort observation is currently imported.
1 approved public-forum report contains an issue-specific structured mention. This is not an incidence estimate.
Browse LASIK community reports →Starbursts
Rays or streaks around point light sources, usually assessed through a patient questionnaire rather than a single universal test.
FDA recognition source ↗1 community report · no cohort observation
No structured cohort observation is currently imported.
1 approved public-forum report contains an issue-specific structured mention. This is not an incidence estimate.
Browse LASIK community reports →Recognised issues without a current observation
Coverage gaps remain visible because missing data must not be mistaken for zero events.
Diffuse lamellar keratitis (DLK)
Sterile inflammation in the corneal interface after a lamellar procedure. Severity and treatment requirements vary.
FDA recognition source ↗No current cohort observation
Epithelial ingrowth or trapped epithelial cells
Surface epithelial cells located within a surgically created corneal interface; some cases are observed while others may require treatment.
FDA recognition source ↗No current cohort observation
Flap displacement or other flap complication
A LASIK-specific problem involving flap creation, position, migration or healing that may require repositioning or another intervention.
FDA recognition source ↗No current cohort observation
Flap striae or folds
Wrinkles or folds in the LASIK flap that can be visually insignificant or can disturb vision, depending on their location and severity.
FDA recognition source ↗No current cohort observation
Infectious keratitis / corneal infection
A postoperative infection of the cornea. It is distinct from endophthalmitis, which involves the inside of the eye.
FDA recognition source ↗No current cohort observation