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Diabetes alone does not automatically
exclude a patient from conventional or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, LASEK, Epi-Lasik, or other refractive surgery, but there are two important considerations.
Less Predictability
Patients with type I diabetes,
those requiring insulin to control their blood sugar, and type II
diabetes both have a higher probability of requiring enhancement
surgery because corneal ablation is somewhat less predictable than in patients without
diabetes.
Vision Disorders
People with Type I diabetes
and patients with diabetes for many years, are at an increased risk
for developing diabetic retinopathy. Poor control of the blood glucose,
pregnancy, uncontrolled hypertension and smoking all aggravate diabetic
retinopathy.
Diabetic retinopathy is
diagnosed through a complete eye exam by an eye specialist. It is
recommended that diabetic patients receive a dilated eye exam at
least once a year. If diabetic retinopathy is discovered, the frequency
of exams will be increased.
Basically there are two
methods to treat diabetic retinopathy – medical (preventive) and
surgery. The medical approach is having the diabetic patient take
the initiative in monitoring blood sugar levels in addition to controlling
their diabetes by eating right. This will significantly reduce the
chances of developing diabetic retinopathy or at least slow the
progression of the disease. Laser surgery is another way to treat
the diseased eye. The laser light can focus onto the retina selectively
treating the desired area without damaging surrounding tissue.
If you have diabetic retinopathy, you should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist
who specializes in retina disease prior to refractive surgery.
Blindness Risk
Diabetes is the most common
cause of blindness in working age adults. It is a disease that affects
the body’s ability to utilize sugar. As a consequence, high levels
of sugar build up in the blood and tissues causing damage to the
body’s organs. One of the most commonly affected organs is the eye;
this is known as diabetic retinopathy.
Diabetes damages the blood
vessels that nourish the retina, it causes the retina vessels to
sprout tiny leaks or microaneurysms that makes the surrounding retina
swell and not work properly. Central vision can become blurred.
However, once the diabetes is under control, vision usually returns
to normal. Sometimes blurred vision can be the first symptom of
diabetes and may lead to the initial diagnosis of the disease.
Increased Intraocular Pressure (IOP)
During Lasik, Bladeless
Lasik, and Epi-Lasik, a microkeratome is affixed to the eye with suction. This suction
dramatically increases the IOP temporarily. This increase in IOP
can affect the blood vessels in the eye that may be compromised
due to diabetes. For this reason, these techniques probably should
be avoided. Investigate instead PRK, LASEK, Intacs, P-IOL, or RLE.
Looking For Best Lasik Surgeon?
If you are ready to choose a doctor to be evaluated for conventional
or custom wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, or any refractive surgery procedure, we recommend you consider a doctor who has been evaluated and certified by the USAEyes nonprofit organization.
Locate a USAEyes Evaluated & Certified Lasik Doctor.
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