Other chronic conditions like diabetes can affect LASIK results as well.
This article describes the top 10 reasons why LASIK eye surgery may not be right for you.
You Are Younger Than 18 Years Old
A person’s eye can change physically throughout their life.
Sean Locke/Photographer’s Choice/Getty Images
For this reason alone, LASIK is not recommended for anyone under 18.
A person with dry eyes has an increased risk for postoperative pain and a worsening of dry eye symptoms.
Having dry eyes can also delay healing by reducing the lubrication needed to stabilize the reshapedcornea.
This is not to say that a person with dry eyes cannot have LASIK.
Yourophthalmologistwill examine you to help make the decision.
You Are Pregnant or Nursing
Having LASIK surgery duringpregnancyis generally discouraged.
Hormone fluctuations and fluid retention can cause short-term vision changes that tend to resolve once breastfeeding has ceased.
It is not uncommon for a person with pregnancy to becomenearsightedor develop short-termastigmatism.
Hormone changes during breastfeeding can also lead to dry eyes that can delay healing.
The risk needs to be assessed on an individual basis.
Autoimmune diseases likelupusandSjogren’sdiseaseare associated with vision changes as the immune system directly attacks tissues and nerves of the eyes.
People withpsoriasisandrheumatoid arthritiscan also develop eye problems as a result of autoimmuneinflammation.
Diabetes causes high blood sugar that damages blood vessels, including those of the eyes.
If not (or a person has diabetic retinopathy), LASIK surgery should not be pursued.
Most ophthalmologists prefer that your prescription be stable for a minimum of one year before consideringlaser eye surgery.
Because LASIK is a permanent procedure, it makes sense that your prescription is stable before having it done.
Ideally, the size of your pupil when dilated (narrowed) should be 6 mm or less.
Newer lasers used for LASIK surgery can accommodate pupil dilation larger than 7 mm.
But you’re gonna wanna be doubly sure of this before undergoing the procedure.
In some cases, it may do more harm than good.
This is when yournegative vision scaleis less than 5.25.
People withblepharitis(eyelid inflammation) should also delay LASIK surgery until the underlying condition is resolved.
If not, the condition can lead to eye infection or inflammation and permanent corneal scarring.
If you decide to pursue LASIK, go in fully understanding the potential benefits and risks of the procedure.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When is LASIK not for me?
Naderan M.Ocular changes during pregnancy.J Curr Ophthalmol.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surface ablation: photorefractive keratectomy, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and Epi-LASEK.
