LASIK / FAQs

LASIK will not stop the eyes from any naturally occurring changes that they are programmed to develop. Therefore, we want to wait until the eyes stop changing, as they often do, in the teenage years and which can sometimes continue into the twenties. Sometimes people in other age groups will experience a change in their vision, which LASIK cannot stop. Also, LASIK will not stop the loss of near vision (presbyopia) that occurs in midlife for which people use reading glasses.

Andrew Caster, MD
www.CasterVision.com

It can probably be adjusted either way: for better distance, or better reading vision. It is your choice.

Andrew Caster, MD
www.CasterVision.com

I like to wait three months before reaching any decisions. The eye is changing as it heals, and it really teakes at least three months before things are usually reasonably stable.

Andrew Caster, MD
www.CasterVision.com

t sounds as if you may have keratoconus. This is a condition in which the tissue of the cornea is weaker than it should be. Thre is no surgery for this condition, unless it becomes severe, and laser vision correction in most cases is not performed.

Andrew Caster, MD FACS
www.CasterVision.com

Patients with Fuchs dystrophy should probably not have the surgery, because the results tend to be slightly unpredictable. Also, people with Fuchs dystrophy who had LASIK can have some additional problems with the Fuchs in the future. But LASIK does not affect the health or degeneration of the endothelium. So other minor irregularities with the endothelium are probably not a risk.

Andrew Caster, MD
www.CasterVision.com

It really depends on a lot of other factors. With the thinner corneas that you have, unless your prescription is low, I would lean towards PRK.

Andrew Caster, MD

Your brother should have a re-evaluation to see what his eye status is.

Andrew Caster, MD

The bladeless technique is better for people with corneas that would be left too thin after LASIK with a flap. This depends on your precise measurements.
Andrew Caster, MD
Andrew Caster, MD

Keloid formation originally was felt to be a problem for LASIK, but now, as the result of a lot of research, the general opinion is that it is not a problem. On your second question, many centers treat blepharitis prior to performing LASIK.

Andrew Caster, MD

Having monovision with LASIK is similar to having monovision with contacts. If you are 56 years old and have your distance vision corrected in both eyes, then you will need reading glasses.

Andrew Caster, MD

At 20 feet, a person with 20/60 vision can see the size 60 letters, which are three times as tall as the letters in 20/20 vision, which is considered perfect.

Andrew Caster, MD

Although it is probably nothing serious, I would go and see your LASIK doctor immediately, to make sure that it is not something serious that needs immediate treatment.

Andrew Caster, MD

People who had the earlier form of refractive surgery, radial keratotomy (RK), have had problems on Mount Everest. I am not aware of any problems from LASIK in this regard. Snowboarding and skydiving are not a problem (at least as far as your eyes are concerned!).

Andrew Caster, MD

You need to wait until your eyes stop changing, which is usually 18 or older.

Andrew Caster, MD FACS