Is LASER eye surgery practical for diabetics?

Question

I'm 22 years old and have type II diabetes. I want to get laser eye surgery but i'm afraid it'll lose its effects after some time because of what diabetes can do to my eyes. thoughts?

Answer 1

Get your terminology correct first. Frikkin' "LASERS" are used in many applications for the eye (and for sharks).

Argon lasers are commonly used for retinal photocoagulation, i.e., to stop the spread of proliferative or non-proliferative retinopathy in diabetics. An ophthalmologist shoots a "LASER" onto your retina to seal anuerysms or prevent vasculature prolification.

LASEK, LASIK, or PRK are methods that employ lasers to ablate and reshape the cornea allowing for visual correction. Most likely this is what you are inquiring about. Diabetics typically do not make good candidates for this type of surgery due to dynamic refractive fluctuations caused by the diabetes.

However, some opthalmologists will take your money anyways, so be wary. I would not recommend it, especially if you are hyperopic. A myope stands a better chance for correction due to the extra "meat" they usually have on their corneas.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

I had one eye done with Lasik laser eye surgery a few months ago - only one eye because of my age and prescription. It cost around £1,300, but I reckon it was worth it. No more losing and hunting for glasses, no more wiping the rain (or sweat) off, I can now do anything without needing glasses for distance work at all. I can ride a bike, play squash etc and now only have reading glasses and sunglasses. I can still read for short periods with no glasses, and am typing this without them, but I do need them for longer periods of reading etc. Very minor hassle, so I reckon it was money well spent. The various tests pre-op took quite some time, but the laser bit itself actually took only 25 seconds and was only very slightly uncomfortable, much less so than taking out a contact lens! My vision was substantially better the next day and has been great ever since. I had a follow up check after 24 hours, then one after a week and after a month. I have another after 6 months, but so far I've been very pleased.

Answer 4

Balance your insulin and food intake well and you'll have your eyes until old age.

My daughter was a Type I diabetic and when her kidneys starting failing her eyes starting failing also. She had nine eye surgeries and most were done with laser. A year and a half ago, she had a kidney and pancreas transplant and is no longer diabetic. She became a diabetic completely dependent upon insulin at age 11.
Her problems started at age 39.

Ask your Endocrinologist about laser eye surgery. He will have the statistics. Personally, if your eyes are fine, I wouldn't mess with them.

Answer 5

Diabets effects the retina and would not effect laser surgery for visual correction.

Answer 6

I second everything Dr. Evil said. Diabetics are often poor candidates for LASIK, and generally have worse results, complications, and outcomes.

Some doctors will still do it however, and there are exceptions to the rules.

If your blood sugars are normal, under tight control, and STABLE, and you have no problems healing, diabetic complications or any kind of eye disease, you are less at risk, but still in the high risk category.

Answer 7

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