Laser eye surgery is still relatively new and little is known about its long-term impacts. While laser surgery can improve vision quality and decrease dependence on glasses or contacts lenses, more research needs to be conducted into its long-term impacts and effects.
However, surgery should not be conducted if you have any of the following medical conditions or take medications which hinder healing of your eyes:
Age
LASIK surgery can be an excellent solution for many individuals seeking to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses and contact lenses. The procedure reshapes the cornea in order to focus light rays onto the retina more directly, correcting refractive errors that cause vision disorders such as myopia (nearsightedness), farsightedness (hyperopia), and astigmatism.
Laser eye surgery may not be right for everyone; depending on your age and lifestyle factors there could be potential drawbacks that would reduce its success. Therefore, it’s essential that a consultation is conducted with an experienced refractive surgeon in order to ascertain that you qualify as a suitable candidate for laser eye surgery.
Refractive surgery procedures such as LASIK involve altering the shape of the cornea. With LASIK, an ophthalmologist creates a hinged flap from the upper layers of cornea to expose it for photoablation and then removes its epithelium layer – afterwards the flap can be repositioned and its epithelium will regenerate naturally during healing process.
A more advanced variant of laser eye surgery, known as SMILE laser eye surgery, employs a beam of femtosecond laser light to form an internal lenticule by making a small incision at the edge of cornea and inserting a microflap under it. After pulling out through this incision, the internal lenticule can then be pulled out through it, with subsequent flap repositioning as a result.
Preexisting dry eyes can also impede the success of laser eye surgery. This condition affects many people as they age, particularly after performing eye surgeries like Lasik. Your optometrist will conduct a test known as Schirmer’s tear test during your consultation to identify any potential issues that might impede its success.
As we age, our vision changes and adults begin to lose the ability to focus on close objects – known as presbyopia. While LASIK can provide some relief, it doesn’t completely reverse its effects and you should expect some form of corrective lenses afterwards.
Eye Conditions
Laser eye surgery involves using a beam of light to destroy diseased or unwanted tissue and to reshape your cornea to correct your vision. It may reduce or even eliminate your need for glasses or contact lenses and is commonly used to treat conditions like astigmatism, moderate-severe hyperopia and myopia.
Your ophthalmologist is best qualified to assess whether laser eye surgery would be right for you; for instance, if you suffer from keratoconus (which causes the cornea to thin and bulge), laser surgery could exacerbate symptoms, as the laser could further damage corneal tissues. Also not advised in cases of herpes simplex eye infection since laser treatments might reactivate virus in corneal tissues and lead to further inflammation and vision changes.
Other medical conditions that might disqualify you from having laser eye surgery include dry eyes, glaucoma and autoimmune diseases. These conditions may make healing from surgery difficult or increase risk for complications or worsen existing ones; an ophthalmologist may suggest treatments like punctal occlusion or the use of lubricating eye drops as ways of improving quality of life and helping the eyes recover afterward.
Under 18s should avoid laser eye surgery as hormones in this age range can drastically change your prescription and vision. Laser eye surgery should also not be pursued during pregnancy or breastfeeding as its effects could be temporarily altered by hormonal fluctuations. Finally, isotretinoin and amiodarone medication may render laser surgery unsafe. These medications can cause dry eyes and have been linked with visual disturbances post surgery, including coloured rings around lights or blurred vision. Furthermore, they interfere with how laser eye surgery changes corneal tissues; so these conditions must first be addressed prior to having laser eye surgery.
Medical Conditions
Some individuals who suffer from medical conditions that hamper the body’s ability to heal properly may not be suitable candidates for laser eye surgery, including conditions like keloids and autoimmune diseases that impede on natural wound healing, leading to abnormal scarring on cornea and suboptimal vision post-operation. Furthermore, having had herpes eye infection (keratitis) prior to surgery could reactivate virus activity and increase chances of future infections.
Other medical conditions that could preclude you from laser eye surgery include diabetes, uncontrolled rheumatic conditions and unstable vision. Furthermore, medications like steroids and anticoagulants could hinder healing after the procedure has taken place.
Laser eye surgery can restore clear vision without glasses or contact lenses, correcting refractive errors such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia) and astigmatism. Laser surgery is generally an easy, quick, painless procedure performed under local anaesthetic.
Before having laser eye surgery, you will require a comprehensive eye exam by an optometrist in order to ensure that your prescription has not changed, and that you are an ideal candidate for the process.
Your ophthalmologist will use the results from your eye exam to map the surface of your cornea and then use a “cool” laser to reshape it, by vaporising small amounts of corneal tissue to help direct light towards your retina more accurately.
Candidates for laser eye surgery (LASIK) who possess stable refractive errors and healthy eyes. People in their 20s with myopia or hyperopia lower than 8 and 20 dioptres tend to make ideal candidates; however, even if this procedure isn’t suitable, contact lenses still provide benefits in providing clearer vision.
Most patients who undergo laser eye surgery find themselves completely free from glasses or contact lenses within several years after the procedure, though some may experience temporary visual disturbances and dry eyes; these typically fade with time.
Prescription
LASIK surgery should not be performed if you are taking medications that interfere with healing such as corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory drugs, nor for individuals engaging in contact sports such as boxing, wrestling and martial arts that frequently result in eye blows. Herpes eye infection (keratitis) could impede with this process as laser light could reactivate it and further damage your cornea – your ophthalmologist will need an extensive medical history record prior to initiating laser eye surgery as this information will aid in treatment process.
Laser eye surgery should not be performed if you suffer from dry eye syndrome as this could compromise its success and interfere with healing of your cornea after LASIK. People with this condition are more prone to having issues with the flap that is created during LASIK than those without. People living with autoimmune conditions such as Lupus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, or Collagen Vascular Disease could also have their healing compromised and require other solutions like Intacs Surgery using plastic rings that reshape their curvature of cornea to reduce astigmatism.
Your eye health and quality of vision are the main deciding factors in whether LASIK is appropriate for you. Your ophthalmologist will discuss your expectations and lifestyle to make sure this solution fits with them best; if you rely on glasses or contacts daily for activities, such as driving or reading, there may be risk of disappointment with its results.
Before having LASIK you will be asked to clean out your eyelashes of debris and residue in preparation for surgery. Furthermore, transport should also be arranged as you’ll receive medications which make driving unsafe; makeup or creams on your eyes before these appointments could increase the chance of infection.
