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Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 10:53 am Post subject: Laser eye surgery
Grateful for any advice on the following.
In addition to being blessed with RR MS two years ago (age 39) I was blessed at age 15 with short-sightedness and astigmatism. This got worse in my 20's and levelled out in my 30s. In my mid 30s I got sick and tired of contact lenses and glasses and enquired about laser eye surgery. I was told by an eye surgeon who performed this procedure, that the procedure was getting safer and more accurate as technology developed and to come back in a couple of years for the op. Unfortunately, MS intervened (although I have not to date had any eye symptoms - eg ON). I am assuming laser eye surgery is out of the question, but wondered if anyone had gone through with the procedure after MS had been diagnosed?
Joined: May 04, 2006 Posts: 3405 Location: Mid-Michigan
Posted: Tue Jun 13, 2006 2:54 pm Post subject:
My wife had it done.......before she knew she had MS.
The first visit is usually a free consultation in which they look at your eyes and get a little of your medical history and let you know if you are a candidate.
Offhand I wasn't able to think of a reason why MS patients wouldn't be able to have Lasik surgery done but after reading the following (from the USFDA website), I guess it is a little questionable.
Although my wife loves not having to deal with contacts anymore, she's complained about dry eyes since the surgery.
Bob
When is LASIK not for me?
You are probably NOT a good candidate for refractive surgery if:
* You are not a risk taker. Certain complications are unavoidable in a percentage of patients, and there are no long-term data available for current procedures.
* It will jeopardize your career. Some jobs prohibit certain refractive procedures. Be sure to check with your employer/professional society/military service before undergoing any procedure.
* Cost is an issue. Most medical insurance will not pay for refractive surgery. Although the cost is coming down, it is still significant.
* You required a change in your contact lens or glasses prescription in the past year. This is called refractive instability. Patients who are:
* In their early 20s or younger,
* Whose hormones are fluctuating due to disease such as diabetes,
* Who are pregnant or breastfeeding, or
* Who are taking medications that may cause fluctuations in vision,
are more likely to have refractive instability and should discuss the possible additional risks with their doctor.
* You have a disease or are on medications that may affect wound healing. Certain conditions, such as autoimmune diseases (e.g., lupus, rheumatoid arthritis), immunodeficiency states (e.g., HIV) and diabetes, and some medications (e.g., retinoic acid and steroids) may prevent proper healing after a refractive procedure.
* You actively participate in contact sports. You participate in boxing, wrestling, martial arts or other activities in which blows to the face and eyes are a normal occurrence.
* You are not an adult. Currently, no lasers are approved for LASIK on persons under the age of 18.
Precautions
The safety and effectiveness of refractive procedures has not been determined in patients with some diseases. Discuss with your doctor if you have a history of any of the following:
* Herpes simplex or Herpes zoster (shingles) involving the eye area.
* Glaucoma, glaucoma suspect, or ocular hypertension.
* Eye diseases, such as uveitis/iritis (inflammations of the eye)
* Eye injuries or previous eye surgeries.
* Keratoconus
Other Risk Factors
Your doctor should screen you for the following conditions or indicators of risk:
* Blepharitis. Inflammation of the eyelids with crusting of the eyelashes, that may increase the risk of infection or inflammation of the cornea after LASIK.
* Large pupils. Make sure this evaluation is done in a dark room. Younger patients and patients on certain medications may be prone to having large pupils under dim lighting conditions. This can cause symptoms such as glare, halos, starbursts, and ghost images (double vision) after surgery. In some patients these symptoms may be debilitating. For example, a patient may no longer be able to drive a car at night or in certain weather conditions, such as fog.
* Thin Corneas. The cornea is the thin clear covering of the eye that is over the iris, the colored part of the eye. Most refractive procedures change the eye’s focusing power by reshaping the cornea (for example, by removing tissue). Performing a refractive procedure on a cornea that is too thin may result in blinding complications.
* Previous refractive surgery (e.g., RK, PRK, LASIK). Additional refractive surgery may not be recommended. The decision to have additional refractive surgery must be made in consultation with your doctor after careful consideration of your unique situation.
* Dry Eyes. LASIK surgery tends to aggravate this condition. _________________ Wife diagnosed with MS in Feb. 2006 and is a participant in the Tovaxin IIb clinical trial.
I had Lasik before I new I had MS. I was near-sighted before the surgery and had perfect vision after, this lasted for 5 years. I was diagnosed with MS in Nov 06, but felt my vision getting slightly worse before then. Now I need a prescription for distance, but only really need it for night vision or the movies. Compared to how I was before the surgery I am still doing well, but it isn't as good as before. The MS Specialists say I do not have optic neuritis, but the optometrist says I do need correction. I have an appointment with an Neuro-ophthalmologist at the end of July, I'll let you know if he has any insight....
My 38 year old son had lasik surgery for his eyes a few months ago. He does not have MS.
The surgery lasted about 5 minutes per eye. He is ecstatic about the clarity of his vision now. He had terrible short sidedness and astigmatism and now has 20/10 in both eyes.
I cannot imagine how MS would keep you from getting this done. My son had it done by an ophthalmologist who is a professor of eye surgery at the local university. If you go to a highly qualified person, you should have no problems and good eyesight afterwards.
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 3:31 am Post subject: Re: Laser eye surgery
I've had glasses for about the last 20 years. I typically need a new prescription for new lenses about every 5 years or so. I do not expect this cycle to change much, at least not for the better. Thus, if I were to get Lasik eye surgery, I think it would be fully reasonable to expect that I would need glasses once again in another 5 years or so. It's simply not worth it for me.
Joined: Jun 18, 2004 Posts: 1472 Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 5:03 am Post subject:
I wouldn't want anything non reversible done to my eyes, especially after reading Minai's post. Its different if you have bad cataracts and need the clouded lens removing, but laser eye treatment just seems like a vanity thing and as NHE says, you would no doubt need it doing again after a while.
Sarah _________________ An Itinerary in Light and Shadow
Completed Stratton/Wheldon antibiotic regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still slowly improving with no exacerbation since starting. EDSS was 7, now 2 or often less.
Joined: Apr 06, 2007 Posts: 80 Location: North Carolina
Posted: Sat May 26, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: Eyes
Here's the free advise of your resident optometrist. (I couldn't resist) Lasik surgery improves the quality of life for many. Choose your surgeon wisely and make sure your expectations are well communicated. MS is not a contraindication for lasik surgery. Here's a question I get asked often-- Dr. Smilingface, have you had it done? The answer is no. I'm not a good candidate because my cornea's are too thin, my pupils are too large and my eyes are too dry. But for the right patient, I am happy to be able to offer it as an alternative to contact lenses and glasses.
I had lazik eye surgery 5 months before I was dx. I do not have Optic Neuritis. I too was a long-time contact lens wearer and got to a point where they started driving me crazy. According to one of the drs., they wouldn't have done the surgery if they would have known I had MS. In fact, I don't think they will do the surgery for anyone with an AI disease....slow to heal I think.
Anyway, it is so wonderful to not have to wear contacts anymore! Altho I need non-prescription glasses to read sometimes. The surgery was 2 1/2 years ago and all is okay.
Thanks. My neuro didn't think it should be an issue - I received my first dose of Campath six months ago. I'll wait until after my second dose for things to settle down and reconsider. I've worn glasses for 27 years and contacts for 20. It really isn't a vanity thing - I'd just like to read my clock in the morning which is 3ft away! One of my relapses affected my right hand and it was like trying to put the lens in with a sausage!
I think it was cruel of Anecdote to suggest laser eye surgery is vanity. This is a woman who has had breast augmentation and got two tattoos removed!
Joined: Jun 18, 2004 Posts: 1472 Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posted: Mon May 28, 2007 8:33 am Post subject:
There, I said you were confusing me with someone else! I won't repeat who again now for fear of a libel charge. _________________ An Itinerary in Light and Shadow
Completed Stratton/Wheldon antibiotic regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still slowly improving with no exacerbation since starting. EDSS was 7, now 2 or often less.
anecdote, don't bother with Ian and his peculiarities.
Being an accountant and looking at numbers 5 days a week has forced him into living much of his life in fantasy land to avoid becoming too boring.
Anything strange that he posts is usually while under the potion of his fantasies. Ignore his madness as he does post many scientific and interesting data most of the time.
Joined: Jun 18, 2004 Posts: 1472 Location: Bedfordshire UK
Posted: Tue May 29, 2007 1:25 am Post subject:
gwa, luckily, I take all his fantasy stuff with a pinch of salt: I know accountants only too well! I suspect he probably wears red socks as well...........Sarah _________________ An Itinerary in Light and Shadow
Completed Stratton/Wheldon antibiotic regime for aggressive secondary progressive MS in June 2007, after four years. Still slowly improving with no exacerbation since starting. EDSS was 7, now 2 or often less.
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