Not everyone is a good candidate forLASIK eye surgery, also known as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction. Several conditions may disqualify you from the procedure, such as having an autoimmune disorder that causes dry eyes or having degenerative eye disease. Other chronic conditions like diabetes can affect LASIK results as well.This article describes the top 10 reasons why LASIK eye surgery may not be right for you.
Not everyone is a good candidate forLASIK eye surgery, also known as laser eye surgery or laser vision correction. Several conditions may disqualify you from the procedure, such as having an autoimmune disorder that causes dry eyes or having degenerative eye disease. Other chronic conditions like diabetes can affect LASIK results as well.
This article describes the top 10 reasons why LASIK eye surgery may not be right for you.
1
You Are Younger Than 18 Years Old
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Because LASIK surgery is permanent, you need to wait until your eyes are completely grown before submitting them to irreversible changes. For this reason alone, LASIK is not recommended for anyone under 18.
2
You Have Dry Eye Syndrome
This is not to say that a person with dry eyes cannot have LASIK. Yourophthalmologistwill examine you to help make the decision. Certain procedures, such as punctal occlusion, can be performed to unblock tear ducts and make LASIK surgery safer.
3You Are Pregnant or NursingHaving LASIK surgery duringpregnancyis generally discouraged. Hormone fluctuations and fluid retention can cause short-term vision changes that tend to resolve once breastfeeding has ceased.It is not uncommon for a person with pregnancy to becomenearsightedor develop short-termastigmatism. Hormone changes during breastfeeding can also lead to dry eyes that can delay healing.While pregnancy is not a contraindication for laser eye surgery, most ophthalmologists recommend delaying the procedure until after you have finished breastfeeding (or until you’ve at least had your first period after giving birth).
3
You Are Pregnant or NursingHaving LASIK surgery duringpregnancyis generally discouraged. Hormone fluctuations and fluid retention can cause short-term vision changes that tend to resolve once breastfeeding has ceased.It is not uncommon for a person with pregnancy to becomenearsightedor develop short-termastigmatism. Hormone changes during breastfeeding can also lead to dry eyes that can delay healing.While pregnancy is not a contraindication for laser eye surgery, most ophthalmologists recommend delaying the procedure until after you have finished breastfeeding (or until you’ve at least had your first period after giving birth).
You Are Pregnant or Nursing
Having LASIK surgery duringpregnancyis generally discouraged. Hormone fluctuations and fluid retention can cause short-term vision changes that tend to resolve once breastfeeding has ceased.
It is not uncommon for a person with pregnancy to becomenearsightedor develop short-termastigmatism. Hormone changes during breastfeeding can also lead to dry eyes that can delay healing.
While pregnancy is not a contraindication for laser eye surgery, most ophthalmologists recommend delaying the procedure until after you have finished breastfeeding (or until you’ve at least had your first period after giving birth).
4
You Are Taking Certain Drugs
Certain prescription drugs can cause changes in the eyes that can lead to complications from LASIK surgery.
Other drugs like latanoprost, cyclosporine, bimatoprost, moxifloxacin, travoprost, brimonidine, and olopatadine can lead to dry eyes which can affect healing and lead tocorneal scarring.
The risk needs to be assessed on an individual basis. It is important that your ophthalmologist knows about all the medications you take so that an informed choice can be made.
5You Have an Autoimmune DiseasePeople with certainautoimmune diseasesare not good candidates for LASIK surgery.These are conditions in which the immune system attacks its own cells and tissues.Autoimmune diseases likelupusandSjögren’sdiseaseare associated with vision changes as the immune system directly attacks tissues and nerves of the eyes. People withpsoriasisandrheumatoid arthritiscan also develop eye problems as a result of autoimmuneinflammation.On the flip side,biologic drugslike Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) used to treat autoimmune diseases can impair the immune system and may interfere with healing after LASIK surgery.
5
You Have an Autoimmune DiseasePeople with certainautoimmune diseasesare not good candidates for LASIK surgery.These are conditions in which the immune system attacks its own cells and tissues.Autoimmune diseases likelupusandSjögren’sdiseaseare associated with vision changes as the immune system directly attacks tissues and nerves of the eyes. People withpsoriasisandrheumatoid arthritiscan also develop eye problems as a result of autoimmuneinflammation.On the flip side,biologic drugslike Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) used to treat autoimmune diseases can impair the immune system and may interfere with healing after LASIK surgery.
You Have an Autoimmune Disease
People with certainautoimmune diseasesare not good candidates for LASIK surgery.These are conditions in which the immune system attacks its own cells and tissues.
Autoimmune diseases likelupusandSjögren’sdiseaseare associated with vision changes as the immune system directly attacks tissues and nerves of the eyes. People withpsoriasisandrheumatoid arthritiscan also develop eye problems as a result of autoimmuneinflammation.
On the flip side,biologic drugslike Enbrel (etanercept) and Humira (adalimumab) used to treat autoimmune diseases can impair the immune system and may interfere with healing after LASIK surgery.
6You Have DiabetesHavingdiabetesis a relative contraindication for LASIK surgery, meaning that it is generally not advised but may be performed in certain instances.Diabetes causes high blood sugar that damages blood vessels, including those of the eyes. Over time, this can causediabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can progress if blood sugar is not controlled.LASIK surgery may be considered if a person’s blood sugar has been consistently controlled and their vision is persistently stable. If not (or a person has diabetic retinopathy), LASIK surgery should not be pursued.
6
You Have DiabetesHavingdiabetesis a relative contraindication for LASIK surgery, meaning that it is generally not advised but may be performed in certain instances.Diabetes causes high blood sugar that damages blood vessels, including those of the eyes. Over time, this can causediabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can progress if blood sugar is not controlled.LASIK surgery may be considered if a person’s blood sugar has been consistently controlled and their vision is persistently stable. If not (or a person has diabetic retinopathy), LASIK surgery should not be pursued.
You Have Diabetes
Havingdiabetesis a relative contraindication for LASIK surgery, meaning that it is generally not advised but may be performed in certain instances.
Diabetes causes high blood sugar that damages blood vessels, including those of the eyes. Over time, this can causediabetic retinopathy, an eye disease that can progress if blood sugar is not controlled.
LASIK surgery may be considered if a person’s blood sugar has been consistently controlled and their vision is persistently stable. If not (or a person has diabetic retinopathy), LASIK surgery should not be pursued.
7Your Vision Is FluctuatingYou are not a good LASIK candidate if your contact lens or glasses prescription is fluctuating. Most ophthalmologists prefer that your prescription be stable for a minimum of one year before consideringlaser eye surgery.Prescriptions can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including dry eye syndrome, uncontrolled diabetes, and uncontrolledhigh blood pressure. Because LASIK is a permanent procedure, it makes sense that your prescription is stable before having it done.
7
Your Vision Is FluctuatingYou are not a good LASIK candidate if your contact lens or glasses prescription is fluctuating. Most ophthalmologists prefer that your prescription be stable for a minimum of one year before consideringlaser eye surgery.Prescriptions can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including dry eye syndrome, uncontrolled diabetes, and uncontrolledhigh blood pressure. Because LASIK is a permanent procedure, it makes sense that your prescription is stable before having it done.
Your Vision Is Fluctuating
You are not a good LASIK candidate if your contact lens or glasses prescription is fluctuating. Most ophthalmologists prefer that your prescription be stable for a minimum of one year before consideringlaser eye surgery.
Prescriptions can fluctuate for a variety of reasons, including dry eye syndrome, uncontrolled diabetes, and uncontrolledhigh blood pressure. Because LASIK is a permanent procedure, it makes sense that your prescription is stable before having it done.
8
Your Pupils Dilate Excessively in the Dark
During standard LASIK surgery, the area of the eye that will be lasered is usually around 6 millimeters in diameter. Ideally, the size of your pupil when dilated (narrowed) should be 6 mm or less. If it dilates to 7 mm or 8 mm, you will likely have unwanted glare, halos, or starbursts around lights at nighttime.
Newer lasers used for LASIK surgery can accommodate pupil dilation larger than 7 mm. But you need to be doubly sure of this before undergoing the procedure.
If considering LASIK surgery, don’t be afraid to ask:
9
You Have Severe Vision Problems
If you have serious eye or vision problems, LASIK surgery may not provide you with the results you hope for. In some cases, it may do more harm than good.
People with corneal thinning (keratoconus) are also not good candidates for LASIK surgery as it can compromise the integrity of already-unstable tissues.
People withblepharitis(eyelid inflammation) should also delay LASIK surgery until the underlying condition is resolved. If not, the condition can lead to eye infection or inflammation and permanent corneal scarring.
10You Have Unrealistic ExpectationsYou should not expect perfect vision following LASIK surgery. Many LASIK advertisements are misleading, promising an immediate “end” to glasses or contact lenses.While most people who undergo LASIK have excellent results, you should not expect perfect 20/20 vision. Every person heals differently, and there is a possibility you will need reading glasses or corrective lenses for at least some activities, especially atnight.If you decide to pursue LASIK, go in fully understanding the potential benefits and risks of the procedure.
10
You Have Unrealistic ExpectationsYou should not expect perfect vision following LASIK surgery. Many LASIK advertisements are misleading, promising an immediate “end” to glasses or contact lenses.While most people who undergo LASIK have excellent results, you should not expect perfect 20/20 vision. Every person heals differently, and there is a possibility you will need reading glasses or corrective lenses for at least some activities, especially atnight.If you decide to pursue LASIK, go in fully understanding the potential benefits and risks of the procedure.
You Have Unrealistic Expectations
You should not expect perfect vision following LASIK surgery. Many LASIK advertisements are misleading, promising an immediate “end” to glasses or contact lenses.
While most people who undergo LASIK have excellent results, you should not expect perfect 20/20 vision. Every person heals differently, and there is a possibility you will need reading glasses or corrective lenses for at least some activities, especially atnight.
If you decide to pursue LASIK, go in fully understanding the potential benefits and risks of the procedure.
10 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When is LASIK not for me?Bekerman I, Gottlieb P, Vaiman M.Variations in eyeball diameters of the healthy adults.J Ophthalmol.2014;2014:503645. doi:10.1155/2014/503645American Academy of Ophthalmology.Considerations for lacrimal occlusion in the moderate dry eye patient.Naderan M.Ocular changes during pregnancy.J Curr Ophthalmol. 2018;30(3):202-210. doi:10.1016/j.joco.2017.11.012Moshirfar M, Rosen DB, Helland MB, Ronquillo YC, Hoopes PC.Should I get LASIK if I’m breastfeeding?Ophthalmol Ther.2019 Sep;8(3):349–52. doi:10.1007/s40123-019-0195-5Sahay P, Bafna RK, Reddy JC, Vajpayee RB, Sharma N.Complications of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2021 Jul;69(7):1658–69. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1872_20Fraunfelder FT, Sciubba JJ, Mathers WD.The role of medications in causing dry eye.J Ophthalmol.2012;2012:285851. doi:10.1155/2012/285851AlKharashi M, Bower KS, Stark WJ, Daoud YJ.Refractive surgery in systemic and autoimmune disease.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol.2014 Jan-Mar;21(1):18–24. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.124082American Academy of Ophthalmology.LASIK in patients With diabetes mellitus.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surface ablation: photorefractive keratectomy, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and Epi-LASEK.
10 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When is LASIK not for me?Bekerman I, Gottlieb P, Vaiman M.Variations in eyeball diameters of the healthy adults.J Ophthalmol.2014;2014:503645. doi:10.1155/2014/503645American Academy of Ophthalmology.Considerations for lacrimal occlusion in the moderate dry eye patient.Naderan M.Ocular changes during pregnancy.J Curr Ophthalmol. 2018;30(3):202-210. doi:10.1016/j.joco.2017.11.012Moshirfar M, Rosen DB, Helland MB, Ronquillo YC, Hoopes PC.Should I get LASIK if I’m breastfeeding?Ophthalmol Ther.2019 Sep;8(3):349–52. doi:10.1007/s40123-019-0195-5Sahay P, Bafna RK, Reddy JC, Vajpayee RB, Sharma N.Complications of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2021 Jul;69(7):1658–69. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1872_20Fraunfelder FT, Sciubba JJ, Mathers WD.The role of medications in causing dry eye.J Ophthalmol.2012;2012:285851. doi:10.1155/2012/285851AlKharashi M, Bower KS, Stark WJ, Daoud YJ.Refractive surgery in systemic and autoimmune disease.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol.2014 Jan-Mar;21(1):18–24. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.124082American Academy of Ophthalmology.LASIK in patients With diabetes mellitus.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surface ablation: photorefractive keratectomy, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and Epi-LASEK.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When is LASIK not for me?Bekerman I, Gottlieb P, Vaiman M.Variations in eyeball diameters of the healthy adults.J Ophthalmol.2014;2014:503645. doi:10.1155/2014/503645American Academy of Ophthalmology.Considerations for lacrimal occlusion in the moderate dry eye patient.Naderan M.Ocular changes during pregnancy.J Curr Ophthalmol. 2018;30(3):202-210. doi:10.1016/j.joco.2017.11.012Moshirfar M, Rosen DB, Helland MB, Ronquillo YC, Hoopes PC.Should I get LASIK if I’m breastfeeding?Ophthalmol Ther.2019 Sep;8(3):349–52. doi:10.1007/s40123-019-0195-5Sahay P, Bafna RK, Reddy JC, Vajpayee RB, Sharma N.Complications of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2021 Jul;69(7):1658–69. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1872_20Fraunfelder FT, Sciubba JJ, Mathers WD.The role of medications in causing dry eye.J Ophthalmol.2012;2012:285851. doi:10.1155/2012/285851AlKharashi M, Bower KS, Stark WJ, Daoud YJ.Refractive surgery in systemic and autoimmune disease.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol.2014 Jan-Mar;21(1):18–24. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.124082American Academy of Ophthalmology.LASIK in patients With diabetes mellitus.American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surface ablation: photorefractive keratectomy, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and Epi-LASEK.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration.When is LASIK not for me?
Bekerman I, Gottlieb P, Vaiman M.Variations in eyeball diameters of the healthy adults.J Ophthalmol.2014;2014:503645. doi:10.1155/2014/503645
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Considerations for lacrimal occlusion in the moderate dry eye patient.
Naderan M.Ocular changes during pregnancy.J Curr Ophthalmol. 2018;30(3):202-210. doi:10.1016/j.joco.2017.11.012
Moshirfar M, Rosen DB, Helland MB, Ronquillo YC, Hoopes PC.Should I get LASIK if I’m breastfeeding?Ophthalmol Ther.2019 Sep;8(3):349–52. doi:10.1007/s40123-019-0195-5
Sahay P, Bafna RK, Reddy JC, Vajpayee RB, Sharma N.Complications of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis.Indian J Ophthalmol.2021 Jul;69(7):1658–69. doi:10.4103/ijo.IJO_1872_20
Fraunfelder FT, Sciubba JJ, Mathers WD.The role of medications in causing dry eye.J Ophthalmol.2012;2012:285851. doi:10.1155/2012/285851
AlKharashi M, Bower KS, Stark WJ, Daoud YJ.Refractive surgery in systemic and autoimmune disease.Middle East Afr J Ophthalmol.2014 Jan-Mar;21(1):18–24. doi:10.4103/0974-9233.124082
American Academy of Ophthalmology.LASIK in patients With diabetes mellitus.
American Academy of Ophthalmology.Surface ablation: photorefractive keratectomy, LASEK, Epi-LASIK, and Epi-LASEK.
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