Can I Get Lasik If I Have Cataracts or After Cataract Surgery?

LASIK and cataract surgery are two different procedures. However, both will improve your vision. The two procedures correct two unidentical problems. Millions of Americans have refractive errors in their vision. They struggle with nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. These are the vision problems LASIK can correct. However, there is another group of Americans. They are usually 40 years and older and suffering from cataracts. These are the people who benefit from cataract surgery. Cataract surgery will correct all forms of refractive error and can bring back both distance and near for the older populations. 

What Is LASIK?

LASIK or laser in-situ keratomileusis is the most common corrective refractive vision surgery. It reshapes your cornea to allow light to focus on the retina. It is popular among people with nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.

Your eye doctor at SBEC uses a laser to make a thin flap on the cornea tissue withoutthe need for a blade. They fold the flap back as they reshape the front of the eye with a laser. The programming of the laser is to the measurements of your eye. After reshaping, your eye doctor folds the flap back on the front of your eye. They smoothen the edges so that the flap attaches on its own and heals in place.

What Is Cataract Surgery?

Cataracts are the clouding that appears on your clear, natural lens as you age. Although they are common in older people, they can also develop in younger people. They form in younger people with health issues like diabetes or a family history of cataracts.
 

Surgery is the only way to reverse cataracts. Your eye doctor removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial one. They make a small incision to remove the cataract-affected lens and replace it with a small plastic intraocular lens. The surgery requires no stitches, and recovery is within days.

LASIK After or Before Cataract Surgery

As presented in the above discussion, LASIK deals with refractive errors by reshaping the cornea. Cataract surgery deals with visual problems by replacing the clouded, natural lens. These are two different procedures. However, you may have cataracts and still have refractive errors. Therefore, you may need both surgeries and should discuss your options with your eye doctor.

LASIK After Cataract Surgery

You can get LASIK after cataract surgery. Many patients require glasses to see clearly after cataract surgery. However, some do not. Those who need to wear glasses or contacts after cataract surgery are good candidates for LASIK.

Resolving Cataracts and Refractive Errors at Once

Modern cataract surgery can also correct your nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. It does this using premium intraocular lenses that correct specific refractive errors. It reduces the need for glasses and eliminates the need for LASIK surgery.

For more information on getting LASIK when you have cataracts, call Santa Barbara in Santa Barbara or Goleta, California at (805) 967-9990 or (805) 451-8180 today to schedule an appointment.