“Is Lasik surgery safe for the retina?”

A thorough retinal exam prior to lasik is always advised. There are some retinal contraindications to lasik.

LASIK is a procedure involving the very front window of your eye, the cornea. The retina is the tissue layering the very back wall of the eye. Although the risk is not zero, LASIK is very unlikely to affect the retina.

Your LASIK pre-op exam should include a dilated retina examination to ensure you have no particular risks. Sometimes, the LASIK surgeon will ask a retina specialist for "clearance" before scheduling the LASIK surgery.

Every surgery has a potential risk , but LASIK is a very safe and common procedure

The LASIK procedure is done on the cornea and should not affect the retina. But, there are reports of retinal problems occurring with any type of eye surgery, especially if you have higher amounts of nearsightedness. Thes problems can include retinal tears, detachments, macular changes, or hemorrhages I would discuss any concerns that you may have with an ophthalmologist who is a refractive surgeon to be certain that you are a candidate for LASIK. You will need a thorough eye exam including a refraction, a dilated eye exam, eye pressure check, axial length measurement, a corneal thickness measurement, and corneal topography. Once your ophthalmologist has this information, your surgical options can be presented to you. And be sure to ask any and all questions especially pros, cons, risks, and costs. Good luck and best wishes.


Retinal detachment is one of the most devastating sight-threatening complications after Laser-assisted in situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery which requires immediate management. The incidence of retinal detachment has been reported between 0.04% and 0.36% by previous studies.

A good website:
https://www.lvclasik.com/does-lasik-affect-your-retina/

LASIK surgery is safe for those with healthy retinas. Dilated eye exams are required before getting clearance to have LASIK to ensure the retinal has no holes, tears or other defects. People with pre-existing retinal conditions need to get retinal clearance from their retinal specialist prior to surgery.