Recent Studies Assess Risks and Benefits of Laser Eye Surgery

Even a few short decades ago, the notion that many vision problems could be permanently corrected with a short outpatient procedure would have been rejected as too far-fetched and futuristic. Today, significant advances in medical technology have made this once-outlandish proposition a reality for millions of people.

The procedure known as Laser-Assisted in situ Keratomileusis -- LASIK, for short -- has revolutionized vision treatment. To date, over one million patients have undergone LASIK surgery in the United States alone. Although the long-term efficacy of the procedure is still a controversial question -- many critics claim that repeated rounds of LASIK could be inevitable for patients with progressively worsening vision -- the popularity of laser eye surgery is unquestionable.

However, because LASIK is still a relatively recent development, some scientists have argued that we still don't know all there is to know about the safety and risks of laser eye surgery. This week, we'll take a look at some of the research results from recent studies that have weighed the risks and benefits of LASIK and other laser eye surgery procedures.

Study of Extremely Nearsighted Patients Proves Effectiveness of LASIK

Although several forms of laser eye surgery have been developed since the 1990s, LASIK is the procedure that is commonly used to treat patients with a severe level of myopia - the vision problem that is commonly referred to as nearsightedness.

An international research team that paired scientists at institutions in Spain and Turkey recently undertook a large-scale study of highly myopic patients who underwent the LASIK procedure. 98 patients whose severe myopia required the strongest form of LASIK treatment were assessed ten years after they had undergone the procedure.

According to the study's findings, even the strongest form of LASIK proved to be safe and effective for the vast majority of patients. Although 27% of the patients studied eventually had to submit to a second round of LASIK to correct further vision changes, only six patients experienced long-term complications. The researchers concluded that these results affirmed the long-term safety and effectiveness of even the strongest applications of LASIK technology.

LASIK Safe for Most Middle-Aged and Elderly Patient, Research Shows

The growing popularity of LASIK has increased demand for the procedure among patients in all age groups. However, the unique vision and health problems that face patients in the 40-69 age group requires special consideration before the procedure can be undertaken.

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago recently conducted a study that focused on assessing the risks and benefits of LASIK treatment for individuals in the 40-69 age group. The scientists analyzed the pre- and post-procedure health records of 424 patients who underwent treatment for nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

According to the findings, the general results of the treatment were positive amongst all patients in this age group. Although the corneas of older patients take longer to heal and the final outcome of corrected vision is not as uniformly positive as is typical in younger age groups, the general safety of the procedure was still confirmed.

The scientists urged that patients in the 40-69 age group should be briefed about their unique risks and challenges before undergoing the LASIK procedure. In particular, the researchers cautioned that older patients should be informed that the possibility of reclaiming perfect vision is unlikely, due to the inevitable vision changes that come with advancing age.

Bacterial Infections after LASIK Surgery a Growing Concern

The troubling trend of Staph infections have been in the news lately, as researchers trace the rise of a drug-resistant strain of the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. In a recent issue of the American Journal of Ophthalmology, a group of clinicians reported on the growing number of post-LASIK patients who are presenting with Staph infections of the surgical site.

The authors note that LASIK patients who work in or around the healthcare industry are at particular risk of contracting the infection. They cite the case of a male nurse whose LASIK-corrected vision was returned to pre-surgery levels of acuity as the result of a serious bout of drug-resistant Staph infection.

The authors recommend that LASIK patients be warned to report any sign of post-surgery infection or complications. They also suggest that health care workers who undergo LASIK treatment should be particularly vigilant for signs of Staph infection.

If you're considering LASIK surgery, your doctor will be able to help you determine if the procedure is right for you. He or she will be able to refer you to a reputable LASIK specialist in your area.