Aging is a slow but unstoppable process. As a person grows older, there will be some noticeable changes: slower reflexes, developing wrinkles, or even the decline in the acuity of the senses. The decline usually starts at around forty years of age. One of the first senses to be affected is the eyesight, thus, more and more people are looking for ways to bring back the keen eyesight they had in their youth. LASIK eye surgery is one popular procedure, but many of the elderly doubt its effectiveness or suitability for a person of advanced age.
Expert laser eye surgeons and reputable ophthalmologists say the LASIK surgery is applicable to anyone and everyone above the age of 18, as long as they fit the necessary eligibility requirements. In other words, the elderly have as much right to expect success with LASIK surgery as individuals in their 20s or 30s. LASIK vision correction procedures can correct common vision problems like nearsightedness, farsightedness, and even astigmatism.
LASIK surgery is known to be a procedure that poses little or no risks at all. However, the elderly are well advised to take some necessary precautions recommended by their LASIK surgeon. Many senior citizens often have eye dryness, a condition that can often render any young person ineligible to have the surgery. In this case, perhaps the doctor will only recommend more frequent use of the eye drops prescribed to keep the eyes lubricated and to promote healing.
The overall safety of the procedure is the main reason why it is still safe for the elderly to undergo this operation. LASIK has produced few dissatisfied patients because its technology is naturally programmed to be accurate and precise. More modern LASIK techniques even remove the use of the blade from the procedure; nowadays, lasers do all the work. Intralase (LASIK technique that uses lasers to create the flap in the eye) reduces the risk of the blade damaging the cornea. The laser provides accurate, tiny, clean cuts. Because of this, the risks of infection or other complications are greatly reduced.
On the other hand, it would be unrealistic to expect that all LASIK surgeries go perfectly. Some complications that patients have reported are light sensitivity, increased instances of eye dryness, appearance of halos around bright lights, or fluctuating vision. However, this is common with only about 5% of all patients who had the surgery.
Well-informed seniors should keep in mind that there are still some conditions that make them poor candidates to have the surgery. The LASIK surgeon will perform a comprehensive medical history and interview them about their health. There have been some patients who were discouraged from having the procedure because it would only worsen their condition, or not do anything to help it. This is why it’s always recommended do some homework and work with a well-respected physician.
Popularity: 27% [?]
Leave a Reply