For some, like Goldstein,
laser surgery has been the ultimate freedom from the everyday
hassles of contact lenses, and a second chance at having normal
eyesight. But can everyone expect such dramatic results?
"The answer is
no," says Rosenthal. "It's not a foolproof procedure
and people need to know that some can end up with worse eyesight
than before they went in."
Mary Ann Duke, M.D.,
a general ophthalmologist practicing in Potomac, Md., addsthat
there are other reasons why the expectations for laser surgery
vary from person to person.
"People who are
slow healers or who have ongoing medical conditions [such as
glaucoma
or diabetes]
are not good candidates for laser surgery," she says. "That's
why it's so important for patients to undergo a thorough examination
with their doctor."
Poor candidates for
this surgery also include those with uncontrolled vascular disease,
autoimmune disease, or people with certain eye diseases involving
the cornea or retina. Pregnant women should not have refractive
surgery of any kind because the refraction of the eye may change
during pregnancy.
