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Can Diabetics go for LASIK Eye Surgery?
If I have diabetes, am I a safe candidate for LASIK?
The answer is…. maybe.
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:
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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:
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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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