Most health insurance plans do not cover RK surgery. There are no guarantees as to how well patients will see after the surgery. In most cases, RK provides useful vision. With or without RK, reading glasses may be needed for people over 40. RK does not improve sight for reading and close work.
Some side effects are permanent.
Infection and vision loss are potential risks, although very rare. Other risks include corneal ulcer, cataract formation, fluctuating vision, increased sensitivity to light, and loss of useful vision caused by irregular healing of the cornea. RK surgery does not protect against developing eye problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, retinal degeneration, or detachment. The long-term results of RK are still unknown. Be sure follow-up visits are included in the fee, as well as more surgery if your eyes require further correction.