Advances in medical technology allow us to do
things we only dreamed of just 10 years ago.
New procedures and devices save and improve the quality
of lives around the globe.
Among elective procedures that have made leaps and
bounds in the last decade, Laser-Assisted In Situ
Keratomileusis-or LASIK surgery--is among the most
commonly performed.
It is estimated that more than 600,000
LASIK surgeries are performed each year in the
US alone for the treatment of nearsightedness,
farsightedness and astigmatism.
Most LASIK patients report being satisfied with the
results of their surgery.
As with any surgery, however,
there are risks involved.
That's why it is important to be fully informed before
you decide to have LASIK surgery.
The FDA reviews clinical data from LASIK laser
manufacturers showed that the benefits outweigh the
risks when used properly, and on the right patients,
LASIK is not for everyone.
For it to be safe and effective,
eye doctors must carefully evaluate their patients to
determine if they are good candidates for the
procedure.
Factors that may prevent you from being a good candidate
for LASIK include...
Having changes in your contact lens or glasses
prescription in the past year;
Having a condition such as diabetes,
or taking medications that may affect wound healing,
such as corticosteroids like prednisone and,
Having a current or past history of eye disease,
such as glaucoma, herpes infection or inflammation
inside the eye, or a history of eye injury or previous
eye surgery.
Patients should make sure their eye doctor is aware of
any eye or medical conditions they have
because these may cause them to have a bad outcome.
In particular, doctors should check for dry eyes,
large pupils and thin corneas,
since these have led to serious complications.
Even if you are a good candidate,
LASIK can have complications.
These complications include dry eyes,
sensitivity to light, blurred vision,
and other visual symptoms, such as glare, halos,
starbursts, and double vision.
Such symptoms are commonly mild and temporary, but,
can become severe and permanent,
leading to loss of vision, interference with your usual
activities, and pain.
Your vision may not be fully corrected after the
procedure, and so you may require additional surgery
to get the desired outcome.
Also, the vision correction you get may not be lasting
and could worsen over time.
These are just some of the risks associated with LASIK.
After LASIK surgery, patients may still need to wear glasses
to perform certain tasks.
Also, LASIK can't reverse presbyopia, that's the
difficulty with near vision that comes with aging
so patients may need to wear glasses for close work
and reading, even if you didn't need them before
surgery.
Ask your doctor to provide you with your eye
measurements before the LASIK surgery.
You should keep them with your other important papers
in case you need cataract surgery in the future.
They will help your doctor calculate the lens implant
power.
You can find a sample form on the Internet by going to
geteyesmart.org and searching for "K Card".
Before discussing LASIK with your eye doctor,
review the information on FDA's website.
The information can help guide your discussion.
When talking to your eye doctor,
make sure to discuss the risks and benefits in your
case, and your alternatives to getting LASIK surgery.
Patients should talk to their eye doctor about what they
expect to gain from the surgery.
Before committing to surgery,
be sure to get the laser manufacturer's patient
information booklet (or labeling) for your LASIK
treatment from your eye doctor or FDA's website.
It provides more information on the risks and benefits,
and what to expect before, during,
and after the procedure.
Read the consent form carefully and ask questions
about anything you don't understand before signing
it.
Remember-LASIK is surgery.
Patients should get the facts before deciding if the procedure
is right for them.
For more information on LASIK,
go to www.fda.gov/lasik.