Guest guest Posted November 28, 2003 Report Share Posted November 28, 2003 My cousins have both had procedures on their eyes to correct their eyesight and are encouraging me to do so. I wear glasses for distance, to read signs etc. I also have poor health. Does anyone have opinions or pertinent information on this procedure? Will my poor health make it more of a risk? Julie -- Health * Peace * Love * 4Ever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 29, 2003 Report Share Posted November 29, 2003 , jules ferris <JFerris@h...> wrote: > My cousins have both had procedures on their eyes to correct their > eyesight and are encouraging me to do so. I wear glasses for > distance, to read signs etc. I also have poor health. > Does anyone have opinions or pertinent information on this procedure? Will my poor health make it more of a risk? > Julie Hi Julie, I'm assuming you're inquiring about Lasik eye surgery? I have reason to believe this is a very risky procedure. A close friend totally lost her eyesight after undergoing Lasik surgery and spent the rest of her life as an invalid eventually dying of cancer. Although the cancer was not from the surgery itself, I have always believed that it set off a cascade of events directly leading up to the onslaught of cancer. We must always keep in mind that the 'side effects' and the surgical mistakes from this procedure are irreversible. There was a segment on sixty minutes regarding this some months ago, then we never heard any more regarding it, so I'm assuming it was hushed up by the powers that be. The old saying, " If it's not broke, don't fix it " may be applicable here. The following statement from Dr.Weil is thought provoking. " While LASIK can be an effective treatment for nearsightedness (myopia), it offers no protection from changes to the eyes that occur with age (presbyopia). Sooner or later, almost everyone will need reading glasses. " God Bless, JoAnn www.drweil.com Today's Question I heard about a new type of corrective eye surgery. Is it safe? -- Ray Today's Answer (Published 02/25/2000) I'm assuming that your question refers to LASIK surgery (Laser In Situ Keratomileusis), the latest wrinkle in surgery to correct nearsightedness (myopia). LASIK uses a laser to sculpt the cornea -- a microscopically thin flap of cornea is peeled back (but kept attached) while the laser removes tissue from the center of the cornea. The flap is then laid back over the shaped area. Although LASIK is performed throughout the United States -- and ophthalmologists are permitted to offer the procedure to their patients -- you should know that clinical trials to predict long-term effects and safety are still ongoing. The training each ophthalmologist receives can vary, so if you're considering LASIK, be sure to find a doctor experienced in performing the procedure. (To locate a surgeon, you may want to check out the Council for Refractive Surgery Quality Assurance's Web site) Actually, the procedure is quite simple; the real skill comes in evaluating patients and deciding who should undergo it. Note: You should also be aware that some of the advertising claims for LASIK are very misleading. The notion that you'll be able to throw away your glasses after the surgery should be taken with a big grain of salt. While LASIK can be an effective treatment for nearsightedness (myopia), it offers no protection from changes to the eyes that occur with age (presbyopia). Sooner or later, almost everyone will need reading glasses. As with any type of surgery, no matter how minor, LASIK is not risk- free. It can result in over- and undercorrection of vision, an irregular astigmatism, and some people can no longer wear contact lenses. Others see a glare, or a halo, around lights, which can interfere with night driving. The most serious risks are corneal scarring, infection, and loss of vision. Poor candidates for LASIK include people who are slow healers and those who have glaucoma, diabetes, uncontrolled vascular disease, autoimmune diseases, and those with eye conditions affecting the cornea or retina. Pregnant women are also discouraged from having the surgery because the refraction of the eye can change during pregnancy. One final negative: The treatment isn't considered medically necessary, so your health insurance probably won't cover LASIK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.