Am I a good candidate for Laser Vision Correction or LASIK?
I have amblyopia and my consultant in ophthalmology said that I can have a LASIK treatment to correct it.
What should I consider before undergoing LASIK treatment
Risk-taking: One requirement before LASIK treatment is conditioning yourself to undergo the procedure. There are unavoidable complications in a percentage of patients, and there are no long-term data available for current procedures.
Costs: This procedure is costly. One has to have adequate monetary funds for the procedure itself, the preoperative and postoperative medications. Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery, so cost could be an issue.
Sports and Activity: People who actively participate in contact sports like boxing, wrestling, martial arts or other activities in which blows to the face and eyes are a normal occurrence are not good candidates for the treatment. In my case, I was a member of a Karate-do club but since I entered medical school, I had to stop.
What are other preoperative considerations for LASIK?
1. 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 such as steroids that cause fluctuations in vision, are more likely to have refractive instability and probably should not have a refractive procedure.
2. Patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis or who are on medications that may affect wound healing are not good candidates.
What are the Contraindications?
1. Pregnancy or within 9 months post-partum
2. Significant Eye Disease such as cataract, glaucoma, eye diseases, such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye) and blepharitis (inflammation of the eyelids with crusting of the eyelashes), eye injuries or previous eye surgeriesm and keratoconus.
3. Systemic disease likely to affect wound healing such as insulin-dependent diabetes or severe atopic disease.
4. History of herpes simplex or herpes zoster especially if it involves the eye area.
5. Uncontrolled vascular disease or autoimmune disease.
6. Inability to cooperate during the procedure
