People who need glasses or contact lenses are familiar with the hassle associated with wearing them day in and day out. Many people, fed up with losing or breaking their glasses, or frustrated by their contact lenses, decide to opt for laser surgery. Others dream about it but are put off by the nature of the process or concerns that they do not meet the requirements necessary for a successful procedure. Although the success rate of these types of surgery have increased in recent years (and indeed are increasing all the time) there are still some candidates who are more ideally suited to the surgery than others.
Treatment Options
A candidate’s suitability is dependent on the type of laser surgery necessary. Lasik surgery is the most popular option and can treat conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia and astigmatism. Because it alters the refractive properties of the cornea, Lasik surgery improves eyesight. Lasek surgery is very similar to Lasik surgery, the difference lies in the area from where the surgeon cuts the corneal flap. Lasek surgery is useful for patients who have exceptionally thin or flat corneas and can be used to treat myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. PRK (or photo-refractive keratectomy) is a process whereby the outer layer cells of the surface of the cornea are removed and grow back as a part of the healing process. PRK is used in patients where Lasik or Lasek surgeries are impractical. It can treat a full range of conditions, including myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and astigmatism.
Disqualifying Conditions
Suitability for laser eye surgery is decided on an individual basis. Although the London Vision Clinic does consider patients with all prescriptions, there are still candidates who may be unsuitable for the treatment, for a variety of reasons. Conditions that disqualify candidates include uncontrolled Diabetes, uncontrolled Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or a Herpes infection in the eye within 12 months of the procedure. Kerotoconus makes laser surgery inadvisable because of the corneal thinning nature of both the surgery and the condition, and Iritus (a condition that causes the inflammation of the iris) flare-ups within 12 hours preceding the surgery also disqualifies candidates.
Although there is no upper limit on the age at which a candidate is considered suitable, older patients do occasionally experience a longer healing period than younger candidates, while connective tissue disorders (such as rheumatoid arthritis) may complicate the healing process and increase the likelihood of post operative complications. The ideal candidate for laser surgery should not be pregnant or breastfeeding for four weeks preceding the laser surgery. This is because increased hormonal activity can affect vision, making assessment difficult, while the drugs used in consultation may pass to the baby.
Although the absence of these conditions does not automatically qualify candidates for laser surgery, it does increase the likelihood that candidates will be eligible. The London Vision Clinic screens every patient for suitability and based on a process of consultation and testing will recommend the best alternatives for patients to improve their vision and rid themselves of the inconvenience of glasses or contact lenses.
