LASIK technology has made leaps and bounds in recent years, allowing laser eye surgeons to treat Boston patients with a wide range of different vision problems and needs. Regardless of these technological advances, there are certain conditions that cannot and should not be treated with LASIK. Read on as Dr. Ernest Kornmehl of Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates reveals vision conditions that LASIK will not correct.
Keratoconus
LASIK reshapes the cornea, or the clear covering of the eye, to improve its focusing power. One of the common misconceptions about LASIK is that it can treat another disorder of the cornea, known as keratoconus. Characterized by the thinning and bulging of the cornea, keratoconus is actually a contraindication for LASIK.
Performing LASIK on a cornea affected by keratoconus could risk inducing complications like corneal ectasia. The cornea may continue to weaken and bulge after surgery, leading to worsening vision.
Patients with keratoconus are better off exploring corneal collagen cross-linking, which aims to strengthen and stiffen the corneal fibers that gives the cornea its shape.
Presbyopia
Another condition that LASIK cannot correct is presbyopia, or the age-related loss of reading vision. In a person’s 40s or 50s, their lens can lose elasticity and no longer flex forward to focus on near objects.
A Fluctuating Prescription
LASIK is unlikely to adequately correct a fluctuating vision prescription. The changes made during LASIK are permanent, and a patient’s prescription should be stable for at least one year at the time of the consultation.
Boston laser vision correction candidates who experience refractive instability (i.e., a fluctuating prescription) due to age, hormonal changes or other factors, should postpone surgery until their prescription stabilizes.
Contact Kornmehl Laser Eye Associates
Dr. Kornmehl’s goal is to provide top-quality, personalized care no matter what visual impairment affects your eyesight. During an in-personal examination, he can evaluate your specific condition and recommend the approach that is most likely to restore clarity to your vision — whether that entails LASIK, treatment for keratoconus or something else.
To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kornmehl, please call 1-877-870-2010 or send us an email today.