Hi:

I am scheduled for LASIK next week. My left lens strength is -9.50 and my right is -8.00. I have had awful eyesight all my life and am eager to have it improved.

However, I have some concerns: my doctor told me that I have the steepest corneas he's ever seen in someone who doesn't also have (I know this is wrong) Kerotitis disease (?) (The disease is apparently when the corneas have been stretched. He said cornea replacement surgery is usually recommended - forget LASIK).

Anyway, he performed two tests (or rather, his technician did) to determine what was happening with my eyes. One was a computer scan. From this he printed out color pictographs of my eye which led him to believe I might have this disease. His technician then performed another test. This utilized a square box with red diodes blinking on it (I couldn't make it out with pupils dilated and glasses off) and a cord attached to a thing that literally touched my corneas and tested their steepeness and thickness from the feedback.

Anyway, are there issues surrounding LASIK and steep corneas in terms of effectiveness and safety?

Also, my doctor is Kerri Assil of Santa Monica. Anyone red flags?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Dylan MacDonald

It sounds like your doctor performed 2 tests. the first was corneal topography, which looked at the curvature of the cornea. The second test was probably called pachymmetry, which measures the thickness of your cornea.
Patients with keratoconus are usually not good candidates for LASIK. Keratoconus can be diagnosed with the above 2 tests, as well as examination with a slit lamp (the microscope the doctor uses to look at your eyes).
Since i do not know what your topography results are, I can not tell if you have keratoconus. If you are unsure, you can always get a second opinion.

Best of luck, and let us know your results

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

It sounds like your doctor performed 2 tests. the first was corneal topography, which looked at the curvature of the cornea. The second test was probably called pachymmetry, which measures the thickness of your cornea.
Patients with keratoconus are usually not good candidates for LASIK. Keratoconus can be diagnosed with the above 2 tests, as well as examination with a slit lamp (the microscope the doctor uses to look at your eyes).
Since i do not know what your topography results are, I can not tell if you have keratoconus. If you are unsure, you can always get a second opinion.

Best of luck, and let us know your results

Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL

Dear Dylan

Kerri Assil is a very well regarded surgeon. the steepness of your corneas may make the creation of a flap more difficult. dr trattler explained the tests that were most likely perfomed. without knowing those results, it is impossible to say whether or not you have keratoconus.

make sure to ask dr. assil if he feels that you have this disorder. lasik does not work well for these patients.

good luck

debra tennen, md