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Disqualified from LASIK? Never Say 'Never'!
It's a familiar maxim in medicine:
Never say 'Never'
Never say 'Always'
The message is 'Don't be too rigid', always allow some room for exceptions. It sounds like the advice is now applicable to modern laser refractive surgery (LASIK).
When LASIK was first introduced its use was restricted to folks with modest refractive errors and otherwise healthy eyes. The precautions were understandable since anything that interfered with corneal healing could adversely affect the surgical result. A newly published research study challenges that conservative approach.
275 LASIK procedures were performed on patients who were being actively treated for all kinds of systemic medical problems: diabetes, arthritis, lupus, even Sjogren's Syndrome (severe dry eye). Many were taking strong immunosuppressive drugs. They compared results from this group with 358 LASIK surgeries performed on healthy adults.
Guess what? Both groups had similar success rates and comparable (rare) complication rates. As expected, a subgroup with connective tissue diseases had less accurate refractive corrections. The cornea is pure connective tissue! Nevertheless, according to this one case-control study, LASIK is not necessarily more dangerous in adults with underlying medical problems.
Were you previously denied LASIK? Perhaps your eye surgeon may have a change of heart after reading this article.
REFERENCE: LASIK Outcomes in Patients with Underlying Systemic Contraindications. Ophthalmology 2006; 113:1118-1124.
Related Topics: Fish Oil May Help Save Your Eyes, FDA Okays Macular Degeneration Drug
Technorati Tags: lasik
Never say 'Never'
Never say 'Always'
The message is 'Don't be too rigid', always allow some room for exceptions. It sounds like the advice is now applicable to modern laser refractive surgery (LASIK).
When LASIK was first introduced its use was restricted to folks with modest refractive errors and otherwise healthy eyes. The precautions were understandable since anything that interfered with corneal healing could adversely affect the surgical result. A newly published research study challenges that conservative approach.
275 LASIK procedures were performed on patients who were being actively treated for all kinds of systemic medical problems: diabetes, arthritis, lupus, even Sjogren's Syndrome (severe dry eye). Many were taking strong immunosuppressive drugs. They compared results from this group with 358 LASIK surgeries performed on healthy adults.
Guess what? Both groups had similar success rates and comparable (rare) complication rates. As expected, a subgroup with connective tissue diseases had less accurate refractive corrections. The cornea is pure connective tissue! Nevertheless, according to this one case-control study, LASIK is not necessarily more dangerous in adults with underlying medical problems.
Were you previously denied LASIK? Perhaps your eye surgeon may have a change of heart after reading this article.
REFERENCE: LASIK Outcomes in Patients with Underlying Systemic Contraindications. Ophthalmology 2006; 113:1118-1124.
Related Topics: Fish Oil May Help Save Your Eyes, FDA Okays Macular Degeneration Drug
Technorati Tags: lasik
