| Would you go in for elective surgery if you were | | | | the eye that would severely compromise healing |
| in poor general health? Probably not. Most people | | | | from LASIK. Diabetes often results in damaged |
| would realize that they could not expect the best | | | | blood vessels, and diabetic retinopathy is a direct |
| results if they were sick or run down at the time | | | | result of damaged blood vessels. To heal from |
| they had surgery. They would do whatever they | | | | any surgery, the body needs excellent circulation. |
| could to regain their health and stamina before | | | | The damaged vasculature present with diabetic |
| having optional surgery. Well, the same is true for | | | | retinopathy would certainly put your eyes at risk |
| eye surgery, including LASIK. Your current eye | | | | for poor healing. |
| health will affect your LASIK eligibility because it | | | | Macular degenerations, corneal scarring or |
| will affect your ability to heal and, consequently, | | | | abnormally shaped corneas can also disqualify you |
| your surgical outcome. | | | | for LASIK. |
| General Health | | | | Treatable Eye Disorders |
| Your general health will affect your LASIK eligibility | | | | Infectious diseases that affect eyes include acute |
| because systemic diseases like diabetes, | | | | bacterial, viral or fungal infections that are curable. |
| autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, and even | | | | Once an infectious disease is cured, and no |
| allergies can impede healing, This can mean the | | | | evidence of it remains, it may no longer be a |
| difference between a successful LASIK surgery | | | | cause for LASIK ineligibility. |
| and a failed one–not a risk you want to take. | | | | Dry eye must be treated satisfactorily before Dr. |
| Pregnancy, while a natural and healthy state, | | | | Golden will consider you eligible for LASIK. |
| places huge demands on your physical resources. | | | | LASIK treats refractive disorders. Cataracts and |
| Your body will nurture the baby first, so it | | | | keratoconus are two of many disorders that are |
| requires you to delay LASIK until you have | | | | not refractive disorders and are treated with |
| delivered the baby and stopped breast-feeding. | | | | other methods. Likewise, glaucoma, with increased |
| Eye-Specific Health | | | | pressure within the eye is not treatable with |
| Eye-specific health determines LASIK eligibility. Eye | | | | LASIK. |
| health is a bit less obvious because it can include | | | | Presbyopia does not result from distortions in the |
| both chronic eye disorders and acute infectious | | | | cornea's shape, as with myopia or hyperopia, but |
| disease. | | | | results from a loss of lens flexibility and focusing |
| Chronic infections like herpes simplex that can | | | | ability that comes with aging. Presbyopia, |
| alternate between dormant periods and outbreaks | | | | however, does alter refraction and can be treated |
| create a serious concern. LASIK surgery could be | | | | indirectly by correcting the refractive error |
| just enough "trauma" to trigger a herpes | | | | created by the lost of focus at the lens. |
| outbreak and a major complication. Herpes | | | | Treatment for presbyopia includes options such as |
| simplex of the eye is a contraindication for LASIK. | | | | a lens exchange or monovision created with CK |
| Diabetic retinopathy is another chronic disease of | | | | or LASIK. |