Can I undergo laser vision correction while suffering from diabetes?
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (a chronic disease in which cells of the immune system attack cells of the pancreas) is classified as an autoimmune disease, and is therefore among the relative contraindications when considering the possibility of undergoing laser vision correction.
As we know more and more about the mechanisms of onset and how to put autoimmune diseases into remission, they are increasingly moving from the list of absolute contraindications to relative contraindications.
In each case, however, the ophthalmic surgeon must not only conduct a very precise qualifying examination, but also consult with the patient’s doctor in charge of the autoimmune disease. It may be possible to perform laser vision correction surgery while type 1 diabetes is stabilized or in remission.
If doctors fail to create such a “wicket in time” that would give laser vision correction a chance, we have to look for another method of treatment.
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease with two underlying causes: impaired insulin secretion, which is influenced by various genetic factors, and insulin resistance (insulin resistance), which can be caused by both genetic factors and obesity.
It is the most common type of diabetes. Undiagnosed, untreated or poorly treated, it can lead to numerous complications that become contraindications for laser vision correction, such as diabetic lesions on the fundus, cataracts and secondary glaucoma, or, leading to retinal degeneration, diabetic retinopathy.
In practice, it is the case that advanced diabetes disqualifies from laser vision correction surgery. Although diabetes often prevents laser vision correction, other laser eye treatments are recommended for complications such as diabetic retinopathy. Of course, all of the listed eye conditions associated with diabetes require medical intervention and proper treatment!
If there are no clear contraindications to laser vision correction in a diabetic due to his underlying disease and/or the complications it implies, the ophthalmologist performs a detailed qualifying examination. These are performed on both eyes, even when only one eye is to be treated ultimately.
