Laser Eye Surgery for Older Patients: Scientists Weigh the Risks and Benefits

For millennia, humans have been forced to deal with the scourge of vision problems and weak eyesight. Although eyeglasses and, more recently, contact lenses have long aided people with poor vision, these devices do nothing to treat the underlying problem.

However, technological advances have now made it possible for people with ailing vision to restore or at least significantly improve their eyesight. Over the last several decades,  LASIK and other types of laser eye surgery have grown enormously popular, with over one million patients undergoing the procedure in the United States alone. The incidence of complications is relatively low, although the newness of the procedure has rendered the long-term effects of laser eye surgery somewhat difficult to determine.

The popularity of LASIK, laser eye surgery has created demand for the procedure among all segments of the population, including older men and women. As waning vision is a frequent part of the aging process, a growing number of elderly patients are now beginning to seek out laser eye surgery. However, scientific studies testing the safety and effectiveness of laser eye surgery for older men and women have shown mixed results.

This week, we?ll take a look at a few of the recent studies that have assessed the advantages and disadvantages of laser eye surgery for older men and women.

University of Chicago Scientists Assess the Suitability of LASIK for Older Patients

Acknowledging the recent increase in the number of elderly men and women who are interested in having LASIK or other forms of laser eye surgery performed, a group of researchers at the University of Chicago undertook a meta-analysis of older patients who had undergone the procedures. They assessed the rate of complications, unique challenges for older patients, and the short- and long-term safety and efficacy of the procedures.

Based on their analysis of the results, the overall safety and effectiveness of LASIK and laser eye surgery for older patients was comparable to the rates seen in other age groups. The only specific challenge facing elderly patients is the loss of elasticity in the lens that is a normal part of the aging process. To overcome this problem, a growing number of older patients are opting for a technique that is called ?monovision,? in which one eye is corrected for close-up vision and the other is corrected for distance vision.

On the issue of safety and complications, the scientists found that older patients were at slightly higher risk for post-surgery problems, but that overall, the incidence of these issues were not statistically greater than they were in the general population. Based on these findings, the scientists concluded that laser eye surgery is suitable for most elderly patients, as long as they have been prescreened for risk factors and age-related problems.

Vision Care May Help Alleviate Depression in Nursing Home Residents

Depression is a common problem among the elderly, as the prospect of aging, the impending approach of the end of life, and the increasing frequency of health problems begin to take their toll. Mild to severe depression is even more common among elderly men and women who live in residential treatment centers.

A recent study conducted by scientists at the University of Alabama in Birmingham found that treating the eyesight and vision problems of elderly nursing home residents can help reduce the incidence and severity of depressive symptoms. Although the primary focus of the study was on the use of eyeglasses, the researchers also considered the possibility that laser eye surgery could be used in the same manner. They urged nursing home administrators and medical personnel to focus on alleviating common, easy-to-treat health problems such as a loss of visual acuity to help ease the symptoms of depression in elderly patients.

Laser Eye Surgery Techniques Could be Adapted for Use in Glaucoma Treatment

Glaucoma is a very common problem among elderly men and women, and current methods of treating the disorder often are not optimally effective. Researchers at Tel Aviv University have pioneered a new technique that combines the basic principles of laser eye surgery with standard glaucoma treatment.

The result of this new approach is a glaucoma treatment procedure that is safer, faster, and more effective, according to the research team. Although the study is still in its preliminary phases, the scientists report that early human trials have been successfully completed, and that the new technique could be made available to patients in the United States by the end of 2008.

If you?re thinking about undergoing laser eye surgery, talk to a qualified practitioner to determine whether this procedure is right for you. Please check back each week for more late-breaking health and science news!