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  • Would LASIK complicate monitoring and detection of glaucoma?


    Question:

    I have a higher than normal optic disc C/D ratio (a measurement of the optic disc in the back of the eye that helps ophthalmologists assess glaucoma risks and development). Would having LASIK or SMILE (refractive surgery to reduce dependence on glasses) possibly make it difficult for an ophthalmologist to detect glaucoma in my eyes in the future?


    Answer:

    If you do not have glaucoma at this time, there really should be no increased risk to the surgery itself. There are established methods for calculating eye pressure after LASIK surgery. However, glaucoma today is mostly diagnosed with visual field testing and imaging of the nerve fiber layer of the back of the eye which are unchanged by these refractive surgery procedures.


    Answered By:

    Eye Exams Glaucoma LASIK and Laser Surgery