LASIK Candidacy – Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic condition where the body either cannot produce insulin or cannot produce enough of it. Insulin is one of the body’s hormones that controls blood sugar levels and keeps them from becoming too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). It is produced by the pancreas, which is just below the stomach and helps with digestion.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type One – present at birth and also called juvenile diabetes; the body entirely lacks insulin
Type Two – acquired later in life and also called adult-onset diabetes; some insulin is present but it does not function well

There is no cure for diabetes but it can be managed. Type One diabetes is managed with insulin injections and Type Two is managed through diet, exercise, perhaps a medication that lowers blood sugar, and insulin supplements.

Diabetic Complications

Well-controlled diabetes keeps blood sugar levels steady. Many people have poorly-controlled diabetes and are more susceptible to complications such as

Acute, such as ketoacidosis (low blood pH level) and diabetic coma;
Chronic, such as heart disease, long-term renal failure, and nerve damage.

Another chronic complication is retinal damage which can cause blindness. It is known as diabetic retinopathy.

LASIK Risks for Diabetics

If you are a diabetic but have no retinopathy, you could be an acceptable LASIK candidate. Many diabetics have had LASIK but they are more likely to suffer complications after surgery. Studies have suggested that 47 percent of diabetics have complications, compared to only seven percent of non-diabetics.

Fluctuations in blood sugar levels can cause vision changes such as blurriness. If that happens after you have new glasses or contact lenses, the glasses or contacts can be changed. But LASIK vision correction is permanent.

Because corneal abnormalities are fairly common among diabetics, healing after LASIK could be slow and less-than-perfect. There could be increased light sensitivity and irregularities in the corneal surface.

If you have any diabetic retinopathy to start with, LASIK could make it more severe.

Diabetes does not automatically rule a person out for LASIK but it does call for a very thorough screening examination. If the retina is found to have fragile blood vessels, if early cataracts are found in the lens, or if your LASIK surgeon finds any other eye damage, then the risks will probably outweigh the benefits.

If you have well-controlled diabetes and would like to learn more about the possibility of qualifying for LASIK vision correction, please contact a qualified and experienced LASIK surgeon in your area.