Can Lasik trigger cataracts ?
I had Lasik done in April 2004 and was very pleased with the
results, 20/15 left eye and 20/20 right eye. No complications.Both
were adjusted for distance, I wear cheaters for reading.
18 months later a cataract developed in my right eye and I will
have surgery April 2006. I am 57 years old. My left eye also has a
cataract developing.
The timing is too coincidental to ignore and I feel am too young for
cataracts. No history of eye injuries and I'm in perfect health.
Is there any data on this ?

There are a few individual case studies that report cataract formation in relatively young patients shortly after Lasik, however no study has found a direct connection between Lasik and cataracts.

It may be that there is an unusual combination unique to a tiny few wherein the Lasik process promotes cataracts, but there is no science to affirm such an assumption. Based on the current data, cataracts shortly after Lasik is only a coincidence.

Glenn Hagele
CRSQA
http://www.USAEyes.org

I am not a doctor.

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There is disagreement whether lasik promotes cateracts or not. 57 isnt too young, I know a 47 year old who got it a year and a half after lasik. He says he should have gotten clear lens extraction IOLs instead of lasik then he would never have to worry about cateracts.