LASIK After Cataract Removal: Eligibility & What to Expect

LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) is a surgical technique designed to improve deficient vision through reshaping of the section of the eye called the cornea. Typically, doctors can perform LASIK surgery on individuals who have undergone cataract surgery.

The Facts

• The term cataract refers to a clouding of the lens, the structure behind the iris that allows the eye to focus properly, according to USA Eyes. In most cases, they occur as a natural byproduct of the aging process.

Cataracts and LASIK

• In addition to removing and replacing a clouded lens, doctors may use cataract surgery to repair nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (hyperopia), USA Eyes reports. After cataract surgery, patients with visual distortion (astigmatism) may also undergo LASIK surgery or related procedures.

Disqualifying Factors

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not list prior cataract surgery as a disqualification for LASIK surgery. Potentially disqualifying factors do include dry eyes, thin corneas, large pupils, eyelid inflammation (blepharitis) and previous performance of LASIK or similar surgeries.

Considerations

• Some individuals with cataracts may avoid LASIK surgery altogether and gain improvements in their vision through cataract surgery, USA Eyes notes.

Additional Considerations

• Doctors can also perform cataract surgery after LASIK surgery, but they may have difficulty deciding on the proper strength for a replacement lens, USA Eyes reports.