SACRAMENTO, Calif., May 26, 2006-- A new study published in the
April issue of the medical journal Ophthalmology indicates
that patients with systemic diseases that are traditionally listed
as relative or absolute contraindications may have Lasik safely
and with predictable results.
The study evaluated the Lasik outcomes of 141 consecutive patents
with autoimmune connective-tissue disorders, psoriasis, intestinal
inflammatory diseases, diabetes mellitus, and history of keloid
formation. Twenty-nine patients were receiving systemic immunosuppressive
therapy. The outcomes of patients with systemic diseases were compared
to a control group of 181 similar patients without the conditions.
Mild anatomic complications were observed in the case and control
groups with similar percentages, and there were no statistical differences
between groups. The only significant functional finding was a worse
refractive outcome in the collagen vascular diseases group compared
with controls. There were no other statistical differences detected
in the other systemic disease groups.
The outcomes indicate that LASIK can be performed effectively
and safely in selected patients with stable and controlled systemic
diseases. The absolute exclusion of certain systemic contraindications
should be reconsidered on a case-by-case basis.
