Who should not have laser cataract surgery?
Asked by: Dr. Hope Schumm III | Last update: November 15, 2025Score: 4.2/5 (63 votes)
What disqualifies you from cataract surgery?
Are in poor health or have a serious medical condition. Have advanced macular degeneration. Have a detached retina. Have a medical condition of the eyes, such as an infection.
How bad can your eyes be to get laser eye surgery?
For short-sightedness (myopia) the safe limit is usually around -8 to -10 dioptres. For hypermetropia, the safe limit is usually around +4 to +6 dioptres. Your surgeon will assess you and tell you whether your eye prescription falls within the safe treatment range for you.
What makes you not a candidate for laser eye surgery?
You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
Who is unsuitable for laser eye surgery?
Those who may not be candidates include: Individuals under 18 years of age. People with unstable prescriptions. Those with certain eye diseases like glaucoma or keratoconus.
Should I Get Laser Cataract Surgery? | Laser-Assisted Versus Manual (Traditional) Technique!
Who is not a good candidate for laser cataract surgery?
- Not everyone is a good candidate for laser eye surgery. ...
- Those who are younger than 18 years old. ...
- Those who are pregnant or nursing. ...
- Those who are taking certain prescription drugs. ...
- Those whose vision is not stable. ...
- Those who are not in good general health.
When should you not get laser eye surgery?
If your pupils are large, especially in dim light, LASIK may not be appropriate. Surgery may result in debilitating symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts and ghost images. Glaucoma. The surgical procedure can raise your eye pressure, which can make glaucoma worse.
Why is laser eye surgery not recommended?
Patients with autoimmune diseases are not good candidates for laser eye surgery. Many autoimmune conditions cause dry eye syndrome. A dry eye may not heal well and has a higher risk of post-surgery infection. Other conditions such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma or cataracts often affect results.
Is laser cataract surgery worth the cost?
We found there were no (zero) benefits over phacoemulsification/IOL surgery either in terms of visual outcome or complications. It was more uncomfortable for the patients. The use of the laser did not replace or improve any part of the procedure -it just added another expensive and time-consuming step.
Is it better to be nearsighted or farsighted after cataract surgery?
If your daily lifestyle includes activities such as driving or watching TV, then farsightedness after surgery might be a great fit. You'll have clear distance vision for the things you do most, and close-up tasks can be easily tackled with a well-chosen pair of reading glasses.
Can your eyes get bad again after laser eye surgery?
While laser eye surgery corrects refractive errors, it does not prevent the formation of cataracts. Presbyopia: Even after laser eye surgery, the natural ageing process can still lead to presbyopia. This might mean needing reading glasses for close-up tasks.
Who is not suitable for lens replacement surgery?
Who is not suitable for lens replacement surgery? Lens replacement can correct issues with vision such as short-sightedness (myopia), long- sightedness (hyperopia), presbyopia, cataracts and astigmatism. If you are not affected by any of these conditions, lens replacement surgery is probably not suitable for you.
Can I get laser eye surgery if I have astigmatism?
Can I have laser eye surgery if I have astigmatism? Laser eye surgery is ideal for patients with astigmatism. While treating this condition can be slightly more complicated, our technology allows us to treat astigmatic corneas very effectively and our advanced lasers can treat up to six dioptres of astigmatism.
What is the biggest complaint after cataract surgery?
1. Mild discomfort and itching after cataract surgery. Mild discomfort and itching are among the most common and immediately noticeable problems after cataract surgery, because it is natural for the eye to feel slightly irritated while it heals.
How much bed rest is required after cataract surgery?
How long is bed rest after cataract surgery? You won't need bed rest following surgery. However, we do advise taking it easy for the first three weeks after your procedure.
How much is cataract surgery out of pocket with insurance?
As a general example, a standard cataract surgery in a clinic or surgery center may cost about $3,500. A patient with Medicare insurance coverage will be responsible for $700 (a 20% copay). The total out-of-pocket cost will also include the deductible amount, which depends on the patient's specific insurance plan.
Who is not suitable for laser cataract surgery?
The surgery may not be ideal if you have an autoimmune disease that causes dry eye. Other conditions that can disqualify a patient are diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, cataracts, and glaucoma. To be a good candidate for laser vision correction, you must be an adult over 18 years old.
What is the newest method of cataract surgery?
LAL uses a photosensitive material that adjusts lens power when it is exposed to UV light. This revolutionary lens technology requires two to four light treatments, each lasting about 90 seconds and spaced three days apart.
How much does Medicare pay for laser cataract surgery?
Common FAQs: Medicare and Cataract Surgery
Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of the surgery and post-surgical corrective lenses. A Medigap plan will cover the remaining 20% cost you are responsible for paying. If you have Medicare Advantage, there may be a deductible, along with a copayment.
Can your eyes be too bad for laser eye surgery?
Having a Prior Eye Condition
One important factor is your cornea structure. If your cornea is too thin, LASIK won't do you much good because there isn't enough corneal tissue to work with. It is important for eyes to be healthy, free of diseases, injuries, and infections.
What age should you not get laser eye surgery?
Most eye specialists consider 60 to be the general cut-off age for LASIK. This is when many people begin to develop cataracts. Getting LASIK at this point may mean you might not enjoy improved vision for very long.
What percentage of laser eye surgery goes wrong?
Can Laser Eye Surgery Go Wrong? The chances of experiencing complications from laser eye surgery, including various minor ones, has been documented to be less than one per cent. Most laser eye surgery complications actually arise when the patients treated are not good candidates for the procedure.
Can your vision go bad again after laser eye surgery?
LASIK eye surgery near you corrects any vision problems you have at the time of your procedure, but any vision problems you already have may continue to progress. Luckily, these progressions are usually minor and occur very slowly over several years.
Is there an age limit for cataract surgery?
The truth is there is no age limit for cataract surgery. Even better, this procedure is very quick and very safe.
Is 60 too old for laser eye surgery?
Modern laser systems are safe and effective
Provided the eye surface health is good, there is no age limit on when laser vision correction can be performed successfully, and we often use it to fine-tune the results of RLE.