I take Prescription Medication, can I have Laser Eye Surgery?
Nowadays the majority of people take some form of medicine, be it for pain control, or to keep your blood pressure down. Many medicines are safe to be taken alongside surgical procedures, however some can lead to problems during the recovery period. When you are recovering from laser eye surgery, you need to be as fit and well as possible. As your cornea has been cut in the operation, your immune system must be able to kill any bacteria that get into your eye to help prevent you from developing any infections. It is also essential that your cornea is able to heal well and not scar as this can prevent you from seeing well following surgery.
There are a number of drugs that can cause problems following laser eye surgery. So it is important that you inform your ophthalmologist of any drugs you are taking before the procedure. The main type of drug that can cause problems are steroids. These drugs can suppress your immune system, preventing your cornea from healing as well as it should. This can lead to infection and swelling in your eye which can adversely affect your vision. Another type of drug that can cause problems in laser eye surgery is one used in the treatment of acne. This is more common in younger patients and can cause excessive scarring to occur in the cornea. This can lead to very poor visual outcomes following treatment.
To prevent this from occurring it is essential that you inform your ophthalmologist of any drugs that you are taking in your initial consultation. There are a number of other drugs that have not been covered which the surgeon will be able to tell you about. If you take any of these drugs it is not a problem, as your ophthalmologist will be able to change them to safer drugs allowing you to get the best possible results from your laser eye surgery.
Read more about the unsuitability factors for laser eye surgery.
- Epi-LASIK- Laser Eye Surgery
- Intra-LASIK, Intralase or Bladeless LASIK
- Difference between different types of Laser Eye Surgery
- Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery
- Benefits of Wavefront Laser Eye Surgery
- Wavelight Technology Laser Eye Surgery
- Zyoptix Laser Eye Surgery
- Intra-Corneal Rings (Intacs)
- Laser Thermal Keratoplasty (LTK)
- Astigmatic Keratectomy (AK)
- Radial Keratotomy (RK)
- Conductive Keratoplasty (CK)
- Clear Lens Extraction or Refractive Lens Exchange (CLE/RLE)
- Cross Linking
- Laser Blended Vision
- Where to have Laser Eye Surgery
- Book an Appointment for Laser Eye Surgery
- How much does Laser Eye Surgery Cost?
- Is Laser Eye Surgery Cheaper Abroad?
- Types of Lasers & Eye Tracking Software
- Books about Laser Eye Surgery
- How the Eye Works
- Laser Eye Surgery A-Z
- Laser Eye Surgery Questions
LASER EYE SURGERY
- Find Laser Eye Surgery Clinics
- Laser Eye Surgery Guide
- Initial Eye Exam for Laser Eye Surgery
- Getting ready for Laser Eye Surgery
- On the day of Laser Eye Surgery
- What happens after Laser Eye Surgery?
- Recovery after Laser Eye Surgery
- Enhancement Laser Eye Surgery Procedure
- Long-term Effects of Laser Eye Surgery
- Risks involved in Laser Eye Surgery
- Side Effects of Laser Eye Surgery
- LASIK specific Complications & Risks
- Unsuitability for Laser Eye Surgery
- Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery
- Laser Eye Surgery for Myopia (short sight)
- Laser Eye Surgery for Hyperopia (long sight)
- Laser Eye Surgery for Astigmatism
- Laser Eye Surgery for Presbyopia
- Types of Laser Eye Surgery
- LASIK - Laser Eye Surgery
- LASEK - Laser Eye Surgery
- PRK - Laser Eye Surgery
- Alternatives to Laser Eye Surgery
