cataract surgery and lasik, Lisa - Los Alamos, NM, 4/03/2001 cataracts and LASIK, William B. Trattler, MD Miami, FL 4/03/2001, (#1) Thanks, Phil - Ballwin, MO, 10/19/2005, (#2) 2001, William B. Trattler, MD Miami, FL 10/22/2005, (#3)
"cataract surgery and lasik" Posted by Lisa - Los Alamos, NM on 10:26:17 4/03/2001
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Would lasik have an significant effect on the outcome of cataract surgery? Should this be a serious consideration for patients who have beginnings of cataract and want lasik?
If a patient has cataract surgery, the final results are similar to a patient with the same level of myopia who has LASIK. Both procedures alter the level of myopia and hyperopia, although cataract surgery is not always as good at removing astigmatism as LASIK.
So if a person has a mild to moderate cataract, they should be advised to wait a year or so for their cataract to worsen - with the thinking that there is no need for someone to undergo LASIK and then a year later have a second surgery. Plus for the patient they will save the extra money since the LASIK is not covered by insurance while cataract surgery is.
I hope this helps answer your question
Bill Trattler, MD
Miami, FL
2. "Thanks" Posted by Phil - Ballwin, MO on 19:16:33 10/19/2005
