Lasik Eye Surgery - Decision List to find out if Lasik Eye Surgery is for you

Decision List to find out if Lasik Eye Surgery is for you

• I am a risk taker. Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of people, and there are no long-term data available for current procedures. So there is some - even if it's a very small percentage - risk.
• My career is not at risk. Some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. Be sure to check with your employer/professional society/military service before undergoing any procedure.
• Cost does not matter. Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery. Although the cost is coming down, it is still significant.
• I have had the same glasses or contact lenses for more than a year. If You required a change in your contact lens or glasses prescription in the past year. This is called refractive instability. People who are:
  • In their early 20s or younger,
  • Whose hormones are fluctuating due to disease such as diabetes,
  • Who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or
  • Who are taking medications that may cause fluctuations in vision,
  are more likely to have refractive instability and should discuss the possible additional risks with their doctor.
• I don't suffer from a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
• I am not active in a contact sport. You participate in boxing, wrestling, martial arts or other activities in which blows to the face and eyes are a normal occurrence.
• I am over 18 years old. Currently, no lasers are approved for LASIK on persons under the age of 18.

Precautions for people with certain conditions:

On the other hand, you might want to look at alternatives to correct your view, if you meet one or more of the following criteria:

The safety and effectiveness of refractive procedures has not been determined in people with certain diseases. Discuss with your doctor if you have a history of any of the following:

• Herpes simplex or Herpes zoster (shingles) involving the eye area.
• Glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or ocular hypertension.
• Eye diseases, such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)
• Eye injuries or previous eye surgeries.
• Keratoconus

Have yourself Checked for these Risk Factors:

Your doctor should screen you for the following conditions or indicators of risk:

• Blepharitis. Inflammation of the eyelids with crusting of the eyelashes, that may increase the risk of infection or inflammation of the cornea after LASIK.
• Large pupils. Make sure this evaluation is done in a dark room. Younger people and people on certain medications may be prone to having large pupils under dim lighting conditions. This can cause symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts, and ghost images (double vision) after surgery. In some people these symptoms may be debilitating. For example, a person may no longer be able to drive a car at night or in certain weather conditions, such as fog.
• Thin Corneas. The cornea is the thin clear covering of the eye that is over the iris, the colored part of the eye. Most refractive procedures change the eyes focusing power by reshaping the cornea (for example, by removing tissue). Performing a refractive procedure on a cornea that is too thin may result in blinding complications.
• Dry Eyes. LASIK surgery tends to aggravate this condition

If you have had previous refractive surgery (e.g., RK, PRK, Lasik), you should seriously consider if it's appropriate to have additional Lasik Eye Surgery again. Additional refractive surgery may not be recommended. The decision to have additional refractive surgery must be made in consultation with your doctor after careful consideration of your unique situation.

(This article is based on the information that can be found at the Official Governement Lasik Site).