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 Who Should Have LASIK

And more importantly, who shouldn't...

Dayton, Ohio

     Nearly everyone considering LASIK or laser eye surgery has dreamed about being free of lenses to drive, work, play sports, swim, or just see the alarm clock in the morning.  The best candidates are between 21 and 60 years old with healthy eyes.  Athletes, police officers, and firefighters have occupations that benefit greatly by being free of lenses.  For most of the rest of us, LASIK is mainly a matter of convenience and lifestyle.  Recent advances in technology, technique and nearly 15 years of experience here in the United States makes it a better time than ever to have laser vision correction. 

     But laser eye surgery, LASIK & PRK, is not for everyone.  The most common reasons for not being a candidate include severe dry eyes, cataracts, very large pupils, thin corneas, and irregular corneas.  There may be other refractive surgery options other than laser eye surgery for some of these conditions.  The best way to determine if you are a candidate is to see a reputable laser eye surgeon for a complete eye exam.  Using this information your doctor can tell you more about your eyes and any potential reasons you should not have surgery.  A more complete list of the contraindications, warnings, and precautions to laser eye surgery is given below.

CONTRAINDICATIONS: Laser eye surgery is contraindicated in patients who: are pregnant or nursing; show signs of keratoconus; are taking the medications isotretinoin (Accutane®) or amiodarone hydrochloride (Cordarone®); or have an autoimmune disease, collagen vascular disease (Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Wegener’s, others), or an immunodeficiency disease.

WARNINGS: Laser eye surgery is not recommended in patients who have: insulin-dependent diabetes; severe allergies; a history of herpes simplex or herpes zoster keratitis; a history of infectious diseases (HIV, hepatitis, TB, others); severe dry eyes; cataracts or other significant eye disease; or who have a prescription that is continuing to change.

PRECAUTIONS: The safety and effectiveness of  Laser eye surgery have not been established: in patients with progressive myopia; ocular disease; corneal abnormality; previous corneal or intraocular surgery; trauma in the ablation zone; history of glaucoma; or history of keloid formation (excessive scarring); in patients who are taking the medication Sumatripin (Imitrex®); in patients under 21 years of age; in non-Caucasian patients for farsightedness w/wo astigmatism; in patients with implant lenses after cataract surgery; individuals suffering from significant depression or anxiety disorders; or in patients with exceptionally high prescriptions or low prescriptions.