LASIK eye surgery is a popular procedure that can correct various vision problems, providing individuals with improved eyesight and reducing their dependence on glasses or contact lenses. This innovative surgical technique has revolutionized the field of ophthalmology, offering a safe and effective solution for those seeking clearer vision without glasses or contacts. Let’s explore conditions that LASIK can fix, as well as a few conditions LASIK cannot fix to help you understand both the uses and limitations of this procedure.
How Does LASIK Eye Surgery Work?
Before delving into the specific conditions that LASIK can treat, it’s helpful to understand how the procedure works and what LASIK is for. LASIK (laser in situ keratomileusis) involves using lasers to reshape the cornea (the clear front part of the eye) to correct refractive errors. Refractive errors occur when the shape of the cornea prevents light from properly focusing on the retina, leading to blurry vision.
During the LASIK procedure, our surgeons create a thin flap on the cornea using a low energy Z8 (Ziemer Ophthalmic) femtosecond laser. This flap is then lifted, allowing the surgeon to access the underlying corneal tissue. Next, the surgeon uses an excimer laser to precisely reshape the cornea by removing microscopic amounts of tissue. Once the cornea has been reshaped to the desired curvature, the flap is carefully repositioned, and the healing process begins. The entire procedure typically takes less than 30 minutes and is ideal for correcting most refractive errors. Our doctors have performed thousands of LASIK surgeries including some of the most complicated cases nationally with some of the highest success rates. Still, not every vision issue can be addressed by reshaping the cornea. So, what exactly can LASIK fix?
Common Vision Problems that LASIK Can Fix
LASIK eye surgery is renowned for its ability to correct refractive errors (your glasses prescription), which are the main causes of nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. These conditions affect millions of people worldwide and can significantly impact their daily lives. Fortunately, LASIK can provide a solution to these common vision problems.
Can LASIK Fix Astigmatism?
Astigmatism is a common condition that affects both nearsighted and farsighted individuals. It occurs when the cornea is a more oval shape, like a football, rather than circular, like a basketball. This causes light to refract unevenly and leads to blurry vision. Astigmatism can occur in combination with nearsightedness or farsightedness, making it a complex condition to correct.
LASIK can effectively treat regular astigmatism by precisely reshaping the cornea to a more symmetrical shape, eliminating the irregularities that cause distorted vision. By using advanced laser technology, CLEI’s team of LASIK surgeons can customize the treatment with topography guided LASIK, to address the specific corneal abnormalities responsible for astigmatism. This personalized approach ensures optimal results, leaving our patients with clearer vision and reduced reliance on corrective lenses.
That said, it is critical to have an evaluation of your astigmatism by a LASIK expert to ensure that your astigmatism is regular before moving forward with LASIK. For some cases of irregular astigmatism, such as keratoconus, LASIK is contraindicated. In those cases, other procedures such as CTAK, topography guided PRK, or the EVO ICL may be an option to correct your vision.
Can LASIK Fix Nearsightedness?
Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a common condition where distant objects appear blurry, while close-up objects remain clear. It affects millions of people worldwide. Happily, LASIK eye surgery offers an effective solution.
For nearsightedness, our surgeons reshape the cornea to correct the refractive error causing blurred distance vision. During LASIK, the surgeon effectively flattens the cornea, allowing light to focus correctly on the retina. This results in improved distance vision without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
The effectiveness of LASIK for nearsightedness is well-documented, with high patient satisfaction rates and significant improvements in visual acuity. However, it’s important to note that the success of the procedure can vary depending on the severity of nearsightedness and individual factors such as corneal thickness. It is best to consult with one of our board certified LASIK experts to determine if LASIK is the right solution for your specific case of nearsightedness. In some cases if your nearsighted prescription is too high or your cornea is too thin, other options such as PRK or the EVO ICL may be a better option to correct your vision.
Can LASIK Fix Farsightedness?
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a condition when the cornea is too flat or the eyeball is too short, causing light to focus behind the retina instead of directly on it. LASIK for farsightedness involves reshaping the cornea to steepen its central curvature, allowing light to focus correctly on the retina. As with nearsightedness, the success of LASIK for farsightedness depends on factors such as the amount of farsightedness and the thickness of the cornea.
Most people will first notice difficulty with near vision requiring reading glasses, but overtime most people will notice a deterioration of their distance vision as well. This is caused by the progressive loss of focusing power in the natural lens called presbyopia, which typically begins in your early 40s and progresses until your 60s. While LASIK can effectively treat mild to moderate cases of farsightedness, its effectiveness in severe cases may be limited.
In cases of severe farsightedness, the cornea may need to be steepened beyond its safe limits. In such cases, alternative procedures like refractive lens exchange may be recommended. It is crucial to consult with one of our experienced eye surgeons to determine the most appropriate treatment for your specific condition.
Can LASIK Fix Lazy Eye? Understanding the Limitations
Lazy eye, or amblyopia, is a condition that typically develops in childhood and affects the visual development of one eye. It occurs when the brain favors one eye over the other, leading to poor vision in the weaker eye. While LASIK can correct refractive errors, it cannot treat the lazy eye itself.
The treatment for a lazy eye usually involves addressing the underlying cause, such as a significant difference in prescription between the two eyes or a misalignment (strabismus) that affects the binocular vision. Corrective measures like glasses, eye patches, or vision therapy are commonly used to improve the vision in the lazy eye. The most effective treatment for a lazy eye is performed before the age of 10 years old.
LASIK can be considered as a treatment option for lazy eye only if the refractive error in the affected eye is significant and contributes to the overall visual impairment. In such cases, LASIK can help correct the refractive error, but additional treatments may still be required to address the underlying causes of lazy eye.
Conditions that LASIK Cannot Fix
While LASIK is a highly effective procedure for correcting several vision problems, there are certain conditions that it cannot fix. These include:
- Cataracts: Cataracts occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to blurry vision. LASIK cannot remove cataracts, but premium cataract surgery, where the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens, can restore clear vision.
- Glaucoma: When you have this condition, your eye does not drain fluid as well as it should, causing the eye pressure to continuously build up. This starts to cause damage to your optic nerve and is an issue that cannot be addressed with LASIK surgery. If you have glaucoma, treatment is necessary to preserve your vision, making regular eye exams and following treatment protocol crucial.
- Keratoconus: Keratoconus eye disease is caused by the weakening of the collagen tissue that makes up the cornea. The cornea thins and stretches as the collagen gets weaker, resulting in a loss of the cornea’s normal dome shape. Keratoconus can’t be treated with LASIK. Instead, corneal crosslinking (CXL), topography-guided PRK, or corneal tissue addition keratoplasty (CTAK) are a few of the treatment options we often recommend at the CLEI Center for Keratoconus.
- Diabetic retinopathy: Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the blood vessels in the retina, leading to vision loss. LASIK cannot treat diabetic retinopathy, but managing diabetes and seeking appropriate medical treatment can help prevent further vision deterioration.
Are You a Candidate for LASIK Eye Surgery?
As you can see, LASIK eye surgery is a safe and effective procedure for most individuals, but not everyone is a suitable candidate. To determine if LASIK is right for you, why not request a free consultation? Our experienced doctors will take all of the factors into consideration, including your specific vision concerns, age, overall health and eye health, as well as the stability of your eyeglass or contact lens prescription among other things. Even if you aren’t a candidate for LASIK, we may be able to recommend alternative treatments or procedures to improve your vision.
Conclusion
LASIK eye surgery has revolutionized the way we correct vision problems, providing millions of people with improved eyesight and reducing their reliance on corrective lenses. This innovative procedure can effectively treat nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism by reshaping the cornea to correct refractive errors. However, LASIK is not a one-size-fits-all solution and may not be suitable for everyone. It’s crucial to consult with a board certified CLEI eye surgeon to determine if LASIK is the right choice for your specific condition.Book a free consultation with CLEI to discuss your eligibility and explore the possibilities of achieving clearer vision through LASIK. Take the first step towards a life with improved eyesight and the freedom to enjoy the world without the hindrance of corrective lenses.
