While LASIK and cataract surgery share a goal of restoring your vision, they do it in different ways. Cataract surgery helps you reclaim your vision after losing it to cataracts.
LASIK cannot restore your vision if you have cataracts. It can correct refractive errors such as myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism.
But cataract surgery does not only remove cataracts in your eyes. During the procedure, your surgeon removes the lens of the eye.
The lens is then replaced with a device called an IOL or an intraocular lens. Premium IOLs have the power to correct refractive errors that you had before the surgery. This means that if you invest in a premium IOL, you may not need glasses or contacts anymore!
If the premium IOLs are not enough, it is still possible to get LASIK after cataract surgery. Keep reading to learn more about LASIK candidacy requirements!
LASIK Candidacy Requirements
Age
If you have cataracts, then it’s likely you already meet these criteria. It’s important to realize that cataracts do not only affect older people. LASIK is only approved for patients 18 years or older. There is no age limit to LASIK, so you can enjoy the benefits even if you are on the older side!
Healthy Eyes
Your eyes will need to be in top condition before you can undergo a procedure like LASIK. This means that if you’ve recently had cataract surgery, you will need to wait until your eyes have healed.
General Health
Certain disorders and diseases can affect your ability to heal. If you’ve had cataract surgery, you need to disclose your full medical history. This does include if you’ve had any procedure like cataract surgery recently.
Stable Vision
Your eyesight must remain within the same prescription for at least a year. If you’ve had cataract surgery, this means you will need to take some time to get adjusted to your new IOLs.
These are only a few of the factors that are taken into consideration when it comes to LASIK candidacy. This is something that we will discuss in full with you at your LASIK consultation.
What Happens During LASIK
If you still need vision restored after cataract surgery, and you’re a LASIK candidate, a surgery date will be set. Once you’ve done everything necessary to prepare, it’s time for LASIK!
Unlike cataract surgery, LASIK does not affect the lens of the eye at all. Rather, it reshapes the cornea, which handles significantly more focusing power.
Surgeons can do this by using two different lasers. One is to cut a flap in the top layer of the cornea. The second laser removes a tiny amount of tissue from the cornea’s middle layer.
Computer software guides the lasers with inhuman precision. Like cataract surgery, recovering from LASIK is almost always uncomplicated. It can take several months before your eyes have completely healed after LASIK.
Had cataract surgery but wondering if you would be right for LASIK? Schedule a free LASIK consultation at New York Eye Specialists in New York City today!
