Careful screening can help avoid the risk of double vision following corrective laser eye surgery.

Laser-assisted in situ refractive surgery (LASIK) is increasingly popular for correcting a wide range of visual problems. The procedure can be highly successful, but has also been linked with a number of complications, such as surgery, scarring and double vision.

Researchers in Melbourne, Australia, reviewed the records of 28 people who'd been affected by double vision after LASIK. This showed that the problem could be traced to one of five different causes - technical issues with the surgery or the patient's previous medical history. The study suggests that this complication is largely preventable if the practitioner takes a general history from the patient, does and eye exam including distance and focus tests and, if in doubt, carries out more advanced eye tests. If you are considering LASIK, you should expect nothing less!

Source

Archives of Ophthalmology 11th March 2003