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  • Q&A with Australian Health Practitioners

    Can someone with keratoconus still have LASIK surgery to correct vision?

    Related Topic
    Optic Atrophy
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    • 2 answers
    • Dom Willson
    • Dr Ross MacIntyre
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    Dom Willson

    Optometrist

    Dom Willson is the founder and co-owner of Custom Eyecare, established in 1999. Dom Willson has over 25 years experience as an optometrist. He has … View Profile

    No because in keratoconus the structure of the cornea is already thinned and weakened, and LASIK surgery creates further thinning which can cause further distortions & worsening of vision. No professional eye surgeon would attempt LASIK surgery when known or suspected keratoconus is present.

    The main options for vision correction for keratoconus are glasses (which only work when the keratoconus is mild), rigid (RGP) contact lenses (which work well for many people with keratoconus), or a corneal graft (when it's progressed so far that contact lenses no longer work). 

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    Dr Ross MacIntyre

    Ophthalmologist (Eye Specialist)

    Dr MacIntyre is a comprehensive ophthalmologist treating cataract, cornea, laser vision correction, macular degeneration, diabetes and glaucoma. He is specialist with fellowship training in diseases … View Profile

    Keratoconus is a condition where the cornea is in a weakened state.  LASIK surgery can further weaken the cornea and cause the cornea to become more ectatic.  The mainstay of treatment for keratoconus includes corneal cross-linking (CXL) to stabilise the disease and using spectacles, contact lenses, or intracorneal ring segments to improve vision.  There are some studies looking at combining CXL with topography guided PRK to improve vision.   

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