Is Laser Eye Surgery Good for All Types of Vision Problems?
Laser eye surgery is an increasingly popular method for correcting vision problems, but it is not suitable for all types of vision problems. As with any medical procedure, it is important to talk laser eye surgery over with your doctor, so that you can evaluate your individual case and suitability for laser procedures like LASIK, PPK, or PRK. It is also important to differentiate between laser eye surgery for vision correction, and the use of lasers in optical surgery to treat various opthalmologic problems. For the purpose of this article, “laser eye surgery” refers to treatments used in vision correction.
Some vision problems cannot be corrected with laser eye surgery. These include glaucoma, cataracts, flashes, and floaters in your vision. There are other treatment options for these conditions, but procedures like LASIK are usually specifically contraindicated with people who have these vision problems, because laser eye surgery can actually make the condition harder to treat.
Laser eye surgery is also not recommended for people who have refractive instability, which is a fancy way of saying that the eyes of the patient are still changing. If you have required a new prescription in the last year, laser eye surgery may not be recommended. Typically, people under 30 are also encouraged to wait, to see if their eyes change significantly, because laser eye surgery gets harder if it needs to be repeated later in life.
Previous eye surgeries can also be a contraindication for laser eye surgery, as are dry eyes and enlarged pupils. People with enlarged pupils can experience severe vision problems as a result of laser eye surgery. The physical structure of the eye is also an issue; if the cornea is too thin or too steep, vision correction with lasers may not be appropriate. Lazy eye can sometimes be treated with laser eye surgery, depending on the patient, but it is good to be aware that perfect correction may not be attainable.
As a general rule, astigmatism, nearsightedness, and farsightedness can all be treated very effectively with laser eye surgery, but perfect results are not a guarantee. It is important to discuss the risks of the surgery with your physician, and to ask for an honest discussion of possible outcomes. For people who rely heavily on their vision, like pilots, it may be advisable to stick to glasses and contacts for vision correction, as complications do happen.
Written by S.E. Smith
