Can Diabetics Have LASIK?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just over 11.5% of the U.S. population is diabetic. A vast majority of these cases—between 90 and 95%—are type 2 diabetes, which often develops later in life.
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can have a substantial impact on the health of your body that progressively worsens with time. For the eyes, these include heightened risks for:
- Diabetic Retinopathy. This condition occurs when high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the retina. Up to 51% of diabetics develop diabetic retinopathy.
- Glaucoma. This condition occurs when increased pressure within the eyes damages the optic nerve. Adults with diabetes are twice as likely to develop glaucoma.
- Cataracts. This condition is marked by a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. Diabetics are up to five times more likely to develop cataracts.
- Diabetic Macular Edema (DME). Often associated with diabetic retinopathy, DME is marked by swelling in the retina. An estimated 20% of people with type 1 diabetes and 25% of people with type 2 diabetes develop DME.
Diabetics also struggle with slower healing. Even without a pre-existing vision problem, delayed healing can impact LASIK candidacy for people with diabetes.
Does this mean that diabetics cannot have LASIK? That depends. People with diabetes must meet the same candidacy requirements when undergoing LASIK, making it vital that diabetic patients select a LASIK surgeon who factors diabetes into account.
Learn if Diabetes Might Impact Your LASIK Candidacy
At 20/20 Institute, we are cautious in our candidacy criteria. During your FREE LASIK evaluation, we will carefully review your medical history, discuss your vision goals, and help you determine if LASIK is the right solution for you.
Call 20/20 Institute at 303-202-0669 to schedule your FREE LASIK consultation today. We have offices in Colorado Springs, the DTC, LoDo, and Westminster. We welcome diabetic patients from all areas of Colorado.
Diabetes and LASIK
Can people with diabetes get LASIK? Yes. However, there are considerations that must be made to ensure everyone who undergoes the procedure is a good candidate.
In the early years of laser vision correction, diabetics were uniformly told that they should not have LASIK, in part due to the limited amount of data about diabetes and LASIK. Now that more than 30 years have passed since laser vision correction was first introduced into the U.S., LASIK has been successfully performed on many people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes who meet criteria including:
- Well-Controlled Blood Sugar Levels. Consistently stable blood sugar levels are crucial for LASIK candidacy. Uncontrolled blood sugar allows for too many risks.
- Absence of Diabetic Eye Diseases. Diabetic retinopathy, DME, and other diabetic eye diseases pose risks to vision. These must be absent or well-managed to improve LASIK candidacy for diabetics.
- Overall Eye Health. In addition to diabetic eye conditions, the best candidates for LASIK have healthy corneas and are free of issues like cataracts, eye infections, and dry eye syndrome.
- Stable Diabetes Management. Long-term stable management of diabetes—both type 1 and 2—can increase the likelihood of successful LASIK outcomes.
Before proceeding with LASIK, it is important to undergo a comprehensive eye examination. It is also important to discuss your intentions with your physician. If your blood sugar might be a complicating factor, your doctor can assist with treatment and management options that may help improve your candidacy for LASIK.
Are There Other Preexisting Conditions That Impact LASIK Candidacy?
Aside from diabetes, several conditions might impact LASIK candidacy. These include:
- Autoimmune diseases and disorders
- Severe dry eye syndrome
- Chronic illness (HIV, hepatitis)
- Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Certain medications may also impact your candidacy for LASIK. Immunosuppressants, steroids, and anything that may delay wound healing.
Can Diabetics Be Good LASIK Candidates?
Diabetes should not, as a lone factor, dictate your ability to have LASIK. On a case-by-case basis, diabetic patients with stable blood sugar may still be good candidates for LASIK, provided there are no other contraindications present.
The best way to learn if you are a good candidate for LASIK is through a candidacy evaluation with an experienced LASIK surgeon. This should include a review of your medical history, your historical visual health, and other factors that can impact your candidacy. Some LASIK providers make you come into the office for this consultation, even if you’re not likely to be a good candidate. At 20/20 Institute, we do things better. Your initial consultation is not only free, it’s over the phone, eliminating drive time and all the inconveniences that can follow having to make an in-office appearance.
Of course, not everything can be determined over the phone. If we learn you are a good candidate during your initial consultation, we will schedule an in-office visit to take a look at your eyes in person to evaluate your candidacy further. We go above and beyond standard candidacy screening, utilizing advanced tests and measurements that very few LASIK providers in Colorado offer. We are very serious about LASIK candidacy and take every precaution and care to help ensure that we only recommend LASIK when it is the appropriate procedure.
Our conservative LASIK candidacy requirements play a direct role in our remarkable laser vision correction results. A staggering 99.67% of our LASIK patients have achieved 20/20 vision or better.* We look forward to meeting with you, evaluating your candidacy, and helping you determine if LASIK is the best solution for your needs.
Diabetes and ICL
Similar to LASIK, diabetics may be good candidates for a LASIK alternative like ICLs. ICLs (implantable collamer lenses) are surgically implanted just behind the iris. They improve the way light refracts on the retina, allowing for clearer vision. As with diabetes and LASIK, the condition can impact candidacy for ICLs. However, also as with diabetes and LASIK, this must be determined on a case-by-case basis by a qualified vision correction specialist.
The doctors and team at 20/20 Institute take a patient-first approach to vision correction. From the moment we talk on the phone through your final follow-up visit, you will be our top priority. We will provide you with straightforward advice and no-nonsense answers to your questions while maintaining the exceptional customer care mentioned in so many of our reviews. We care deeply about your lasting happiness and are here to help you learn if LASIK could be a contributing factor.
Contact 20/20 Institute for a FREE LASIK Evaluation
If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I still get LASIK if I have diabetes?” wonder no more. Contact 20/20 Institute online or call us today to schedule a FREE LASIK evaluation. We maintain four convenient locations—Westminster, Denver, Englewood, and Colorado Springs—and welcome patients from all areas of Colorado.