Lasik Possible Post Cataract Surgery?

Depending on the amount of post-operative refractive error after the wrong implant was implanted, you may be a candidate for LASIK. If the implant that was implant is too far off, you many require a lens exchange procedure. Good luck

The goal of standard cataract surgery is to improve one's best corrected vision.  Many patients will still need to wear glasses for both close and distance after the surgery because of a residual refractive error.  If you would like to see better without glasses, LASIK would be an excellent option, providing you are a good candidate for the procedure.  If you did not recieve a premium lens such as a ReSTOR (multifocal IOL), reading glasses would still be required.

There is a certain variability in results after cataract surgery due to measurements of the eye before surgery as well as the range of powers of implants.  LASIK and other laser vision correcting procedures can be performed after cataract surgery. Sometimes, an IOL implant is also exchanged.  The best procedure will depend upon the examination of your eye and how far away from 20/20 your vision is.

Many people who have cataract surgery have some residual correction and this can be improved with either relaxing incisions or with laser surgery.  LASIK with a blade free approach can be done safely in most patients as long as the cataract incision is well healed.  The VisuMax laser is particularly good for this application in that it raises the eye pressure the least of any method for creating the corneal flap.  If your vision is correctable with glasses to 20/20 then LASIK should help, but if there is some other problem reducing your vision then LASIK will not be of much value.  Your eyecare professional can help guide you in this decision.  Most often this will not be covered by either Medicare or health insurance.

Cataract surgery has essentially become a refractive surgery procedure. What I mean by that is if a post cataract patient in 2010 still needs to wear eyeglasses after cataract surgery, then the patient feels the surgery was a failure. This was not the case 10 years ago. The good news, though, is that either LASIK or PRK can be performed to take away whatever remaining prescription there is after cataract surgery. I usually recommend waiting 3 months after surgery, then one can proceed with a laser vision correction procedure. It is becoming quite commonplace and is as safe as primary LASIK or PRK.