|
| |
CONTRAINDICATIONS TO Surface
Laser (LASEK and epi-LASIK)
Adapted from the Guidelines of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (UK)
1997
ABSOLUTE CONTRAINDICATIONS
 |
Monocularity or severe amblyopia ("lazy eye") |
|
Severe dry eye disease (minor dry eyes are not a
contraindication) |
|
Severe local infective or allergic conditions: |
|
Blepharitis |
|
Previous Herpes Simplex or Zoster keratitis |
|
Allergic eye disease severe enough to require regular
treatment |
|
Cataract |
|
Corneal abnormalities: |
|
Absent or decreased sensation |
|
Unstable Keratoconus |
|
Irregular astigmatism (with present lasers) |
|
Corneal vascularisation |
|
Systemic Conditions: |
|
Collagen diseases - Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic Lupus |
|
Cytotoxic or steroid drugs |
|
Pregnancy |
|
RELATIVE CONTRAINDICATIONS |
|
Glaucoma (cf. Ophthalmology 104, 355-359, March
1997) |
|
Diabetes Mellitus |
|
Unstable refraction |
|
Low myopes approaching presbyopia |
|
Inappropriate motivation or unreasonable expectation |
|
PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS |
|
Perfectionist or obsessive personality: |
|
Unrealistic expectations: |
|
Bigger the prescription the bigger the spread of results. |
|
Large astigmatism is less predictable than large pure sphere |
|
