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| Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra may not directly affect Lasik,
but their side effects can be similar |
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The use of the class of drugs called
phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) inhibitors including sildenafil (Viagra),
vardenafil (Levitra)
and tadalafil (Cialis)
for erectile dysfunction should not be a direct contraindication
for most cornea-based refractive surgery techniques, including conventional or wavefront Lasik, Bladeless Lasik, PRK, LASEK, and Epi-Lasik, nor should it be a direct problem for lens-based P-IOL, and RLE, however these medications can be a serious indirect problem.
Some of the side effects of erectile dysfunction medications
are similar to side effects of refractive surgery. If something
goes wrong after surgery and the patient is using an erectile dysfunction
medication, it may be difficult to determine if the cause is the
surgery or the medication.
Some of the common and less common side effects of this class
of medicine are headache, nasal congestion, abnormal vision including
blurred vision, seeing shades of colors differently than before,
or sensitivity to light, dizziness, bleeding of the eye, decreased
or double vision, redness, burning, or swelling of the eye, and
anxiety. Needless to say, someone who has just had surgery
doesn't want any of these potential problems. Additionally,
these types of medications may interfere or be a contraindication
for other medications that could become necessary after refractive
surgery.
It appears that it would be best to refrain from use of erectile
dysfunction medications for at least three days before surgery and
until the eye is healed and stabilized. Of course, this is
an issue that needs to be discussed with your physician and refractive
surgeon.
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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