Almost 200 million individuals worldwide have diabetes, making it a relatively widespread issue. It now has the status of a potential epidemic, affecting a growing number of people, and that too at a younger age, even in their late twenties and early thirties. Most myopic patients at this age also ask their Lasik eye doctors for a prescription-free life without glasses. A more significant percentage of the affected population continues to want laser vision correction or Lasik surgery as this issue spreads and affects a broader proportion of the community.
A growing corpus of research demonstrates that diabetic people can undergo LASIK treatment safely, especially for people with diabetes who have strict glucose control and no antecedent physical or visual complications from diabetes.
A young diabetic patient aged 36 visited an eye hospital for a pre-LASIK evaluation. Although having well-controlled diabetes, he had sadly never had an eye examination before. His slit lamp examination, corneal topography (maps), and corneal thickness (Pachymetry) were all routine. Before a retina surgeon discovered that he had advanced diabetic retinopathy alterations during his retina checkup before Lasik, it appeared that he might be a candidate. He received fluorescein angiography of the retina; laser treatment was necessary to control the diabetes damage to his retina. Any type of laser vision correction, such as LASIK, Femto LASIK, or Relex SMILE Lasik, was advised against him. Our firm belief is that everything else should come after safety.
On the other hand, one doctor, a 37-year-old general surgeon with diabetes, has had diabetes for the past five years. Her retina checkup was also regular, and her diabetes indicators were all under control. She was suggested to get a Relex SMILE Lasik to repair her glass number, and she did so effectively.
They certainly had some worries when assessing a diabetic patient for LASIK laser vision treatment. The following are the issues:
- Fluctuating prescription: The glass power of the eyes can fluctuate if blood sugar levels are not effectively controlled, which implies that we won’t be able to quantify someone’s glass power precisely. A precise reading is essential when planning a LASIK laser vision repair operation.
- Individuals with diabetes should typically be examined annually for diabetic abnormalities to the retina (the back of the eye) (retinopathy). LASIK laser vision correction surgery is not advised if a patient has any early or advanced alterations on the retina. The vision may worsen significantly, and the quality may decline due to diabetic retinopathy. In these situations, LASIK won’t produce the desired results.
- When elevated blood sugar levels compromise the tiny blood vessels in the eyes, diabetic retinopathy develops. The body responds by producing new blood vessels, which are brittle and prone to bleeding. If they bleed, the retina may get obscured, and, in the worst scenarios, blindness may follow.
- The retina is located in the rear of the eye, and LASIK only alters the cornea. Thus it cannot fix that issue. Your doctor must identify the root of your vision issues before proceeding with the LASIK.
- Slower healing: After any surgery or accident, a person with diabetes may recover more slowly. LASIK laser vision correction is done on the cornea, the eye’s surface. Routine corneal healing after LASIK is crucial, and it may take longer in people with diabetes. The risk of infection and other issues may arise due to the slower healing process. For the same reason, Relex SMILE Lasik has a quicker recovery and may be a superior alternative for people with diabetes with well-controlled blood sugar levels.
- In Relex Smile Lasik, only 3–4 mm are sliced, as opposed to 25–27 mm in LASIK or FemtoLASIK, which also form a flap. The healing period is shortened, and the danger of infection is decreased with SMILE Lasik’s smaller incision.
- Elevated blood sugar- Diabetes’ primary symptom is high blood sugar, which also prolongs LASIK recovery. That’s because having high blood sugar makes healing wounds more challenging. Because of this, many surgeons are hesitant to do surgery on people with high blood sugar levels, regardless of the technique. Several medical professionals advise Intralase, a more expensive, bladeless variation of LASIK that typically has a quicker recovery period, for LASIK candidates. Nonetheless, LASIK is still possible as long as you control your blood sugar levels.
This checklist we use anytime a diabetic patient is being considered for LASIK:
- Glass power has been constant and unchanging over the past two to three years.
- Typical pre-LASIK evaluations include checks for dry eyes, muscle balance, corneal topography, and thickness.
- Routine retinal examination; no signs of diabetic retinopathy were seen.
- Regular eye pressure and a healthy optic nerve
- A diabetologist verified strict glycemic control and well-controlled sugar levels.
- No present or previous diabetes-related health issues, such as heart disease, neuropathy, etc.
Conclusion
So, the doors are open to a person with diabetes who wants to have Lasik surgery to stop wearing glasses. Diabetes does not inherently rule a patient out of consideration for LASIK. It simply implies that more Pre-Lasik exams and screening procedures will be required to determine whether LASIK laser vision correction is an option for the patient. Many people with diabetes who don’t already have any issues and have stable blood sugar levels are found to be good candidates for LASIK.
LASIK is typically a fantastic option for treating nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism in patients with well-controlled diabetes. Before having LASIK, a trained eye care specialist can suggest the following actions for resolving diabetes-related issues.
