cataract

LASIK and Cataract: Everything To Know

Before you jump to LASIK when your vision begins to fail, consider that you may have developed a cataract. If you’ve never heard of it before, it’s a medical condition that causes your vision to become blurry. The lens in your eyes become opaque. There are many symptoms to look for, and thankfully, there are ways to fix the condition.  If you have a cataract that affects your vision you should have that treated instead of LASIK. 

What Are Some Symptoms?

No one person will have the same symptoms. For instance, it’s common for glare at night to bother you when you’re driving, but you may find that’s not the case for you. There’s also the cloudiness discussed earlier, which is the easiest way to know if you have the condition. 

How Do I Test It?

There isn’t one foolproof way to test everyone’s eyes for the condition since everyone’s vision is slightly different. First, it’s very important you go to your local eye doctor to test your condition. It’s not recommended to diagnose yourself, as you may have a specific variation of the condition. Once you’re at the appointment, there are a few ways they’ll check you. There’s the typical eye exam, where they’ll have you read letters off of a board. They can also use a special microscope to take a closer look at the different parts of your eye, such as your cornea, iris, and lens. Finally, there’s the retinal eye exam, which uses drops in your eyes to expand the pupils and lets your doctor get a closer look at the retina. 

What Are The Different Types?

Most people may not know this, but there are three main variations of cataracts you should be aware of. The first is subcapsular, which happens at the back of the lens. It’s most common in people with diabetes or steroid uses. The second is nuclear, which forms within the nucleus of the lens, otherwise known as the central zone. This type happens with aging, and usually, there’s no real way to prevent it. Finally, there is cortical, which is the type usually associated with cataracts. It creates a white film over the eyes and it can make its way to the center. If left untreated, it can begin to exhibit symptoms similar to the other types. 

What’s LASIK, And Can I Get It?

LASIK eye surgery is one of the most common ways of correcting vision. While it won’t fix your cataract, it can help you in the long run. However, if your vision is bad because of the cataract, it’s highly recommended you get a different surgery to fix the condition. You want to have the best vision possible after LASIK, but a condition like that can make it harder to correct your vision. That’s why you should prioritize having your condition fixed first before going to LASIK to achieve the perfect vision. Less than 1% of people who undergo LASIK procedures experience complications, but to avoid being part of the 1%, get your eyes checked. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, make sure you see your eye doctor for a checkup before getting any surgery done. It’s important to know if your eyes are healthy enough to undergo LASIK eye surgery, as well as any other eye surgery you may come across. 

No Comments

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.