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PrintSo, what makes someone with diabetes at least a “reasonable” candidate? Excellent blood glucose control lowers (but never eliminates) the risk. So do a shorter period of time living with diabetes, the absence of any diabetes complications, meticulous pre-operative evaluation, a highly skilled surgeon experienced with diabetes, patient knowledge, and patient willingness to manage and tolerate complications of a laser refractive procedure if and when they occur.
All ophthalmic laser procedures are associated with some degree of risk, including risk of scar tissue formation, poor healing, pain, infection, inadequate patient response to treatment, and even loss of vision. In general, these risks are quite low. For therapeutic laser procedures, such as for severe diabetic retinopathy that threatens vision, these risks are balanced by the clearly established medical benefits of treatment, such as reduced risk of blindness. For refractive laser procedures, the risk of treatment must be balanced purely against the convenience of not having to wear glasses or contact lenses, so these risks should be as low as possible and thoroughly considered on a case by case basis in the patient’s best interest.
Because diabetes raises these risks, patients and doctors alike must be even more diligent. This is not to say that people with diabetes cannot successfully undergo procedures like LASIK, because many people with diabetes already have had successful laser vision treatment. It is to say, however, that the potential benefits must be clearly and explicitly weighed against the potential risks on an individual basis. Is laser eye surgery safe for people with diabetes? “It depends” – it depends on the reason for the surgery and the ratio of benefit to risk, on the pre-operative health of the cornea, on the quality of blood glucose control, on the duration of diabetes and pre-existing complications and, ultimately, on the patient’s willingness to take risk.
For more information on diabetic eye disease, consult Dr. Chous’ book Diabetic Eye Disease: Lessons From a Diabetic Eye Doctor, Fairwood Press, Seattle, 2003.
Read more about Dr. Chous here.
Visit Dr. Chous' website here.
NOTE: The information is not intended to be a replacement or substitute for consultation with a qualified medical professional or for professional medical advice related to diabetes or another medical condition. Please contact your physician or medical professional with any questions and concerns about your medical condition.
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