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Can Diabetics go for LASIK Eye
Surgery?
 If
I'm a diabetic can I go for LASIK procedure? There is no definite
answer as statistic shown that 47% of people with
diabetes had complications after the LASIK procedure as compared to
only 7% among people without diabetes. This alarming statistic
highlights the needs for extra caution to be exercised when dealing
with LASIK surgery in people with diabetes.
LASIK stands for Laser-Assisted In Situ
Keratomileusis, a surgical
procedure to reshape the cornea with excimer laser to correct vision problems such as
nearsightedness or farsightedness. People with diabetes can have
LASIK surgery but should proceed with care because they might face
the following problems:
-
Visual alterations due to changes in
blood glucose control - It's been long recognized that major
changes in glucose levels can cause short-term changes in vision.
As a result, people with diabetes may experience blurry vision
with their newly fitted contact lenses or spectacles if their
blood glucose is out of control. That problem can be corrected by
getting a new pair of lenses or glasses, but not with the
permanent changes following LASIK surgery. Thus, good blood
glucose control is important before and after LASIK.
-
Slower healing of the cornea after
surgery - Abnormalities in the cornea are common in diabetes, and
they may lead to slow or imperfect healing after LASIK surgery,
delayed epithelial healing, persistent epithelial defects,
neurotrophic changes and persistent erosions after LASIK that may
last a long time.
-
Worsening of retinopathy - LASIK may
further damage the retina in people with diabetic retinopathy.
At one point in the LASIK procedure,
suction is applied to the eye. This suction causes increased
pressure in the eye, and can potentially be harmful in some people
with diabetes. So, for a diabetics to be qualified for LASIK eye
surgery:
-
First, the patient must have his/her
diabetes under good control. Fluctuating blood glucose levels
might cause shifts in diabetics vision after LASIK and lead to an
improper visual correction being performed.
-
Second, this patient must not has
preexisting diabetic ocular complications (such as an unhealthy
ocular surface, cataracts, retinopathy of any sort, fragile
retinal vasculature or neovascularization) secondary to the
diabetes.
Prior to performing any LASIK procedure,
those qualified individual will need to go through an extremely
thorough extra screening to ensure that they can have successful
refractive surgery. A detailed retinal exam, close examination with
a slit lamp, tear film and epithelial tests can lowered the high
complication rate in individuals with diabetes who undergo LASIK.
If you have diabetes and interested in
LASIK eye surgery, talk to your doctor, and consult an experienced,
highly qualified LASIK surgeon. Make sure the surgeon is aware of
your problem, and discuss your safety concerns. LASIK procedure has
benefited millions of people worldwide including those with
diabetes. Visit
LASIK Laser Eye Surgery for more information.
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