LASIK laser eye surgery after cataract surgery

Do I need LASIK laser eye surgery after cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens (cataract) from the eye, and replacing it with an intraocular lens. Because these lenses can correct short or long sight, additional LASIK laser eye surgery isn’t usually required after cataract surgery.

At OCL Vision, we have advanced lens choices that correct a variety of vision problems. Our range of advanced lenses include premium Monofocal, enhanced premium Monofocal (allowing for astigmatism correction) and Multifocal (allowing for correction of near, intermediate and distance vision).

More about lens choice

intraocular lens prediction accuracy diagram

When would laser eye surgery be needed after cataract surgery?

Some patients continue to have residual short or long sight after cataract surgery. This can happen for a number of reasons including wrong lens insertion, however the commonest cause is the simple fact that the calculations for the lens that is implanted are based on theoretical predictive formulae that use normal population data.

Any normal population follows a bell curve distribution and hence there are always potential outliers within the prediction range. These outliers are uncommon but when applied to cataract surgery can mean that the predicted lens powers are less accurate, leaving the patient with long or short sight. In this case, laser eye surgery can correct the vision.

What can I do if I’m long or short-sighted after cataract surgery?

If a person has been left with some residual glasses prescription after cataract surgery there are a number of options to correct this. The simplest is to wear the appropriate pair of glasses! However, if you don’t want to wear glasses the options available are refractive lens exchange or an add-on lens, both of which involve further surgery inside the eye.

Laser eye surgery is another option to correct vision in this case, and may be the safest option in this situation. A study on this is shown below.

The Study

‘LASIK was found to be the most accurate technique for correcting residual refractive error after cataract surgery; however, lens-based procedures are preferred in cases with severe ametropia (refractive errors of the eye), corneal abnormalities or an unavailable excimer laser platform, according to a study.

Sixty-five eyes of 54 patients with unacceptable final refractive error results after phacoemulsification were included in the retrospective, multicenter study.

Eyes were categorised into three groups: 17 eyes had an IOL exchange, 20 eyes had a piggyback lens implanted, and 28 eyes had LASIK.

No differences were found in spherical equivalent, sphere or cylinder between the IOL exchange and piggyback lens groups.

Compared with the IOL exchange group, the LASIK group had a statistically significant reduction in refractive cylinder and spherical equivalent (P = .001 and P < .001, respectively). The LASIK group had a statistically significant reduction in refractive cylinder when compared with the piggyback lens group (P = .002).

The median efficacy values were statistically significant between the IOL exchange and LASIK groups (P = .004) and the piggyback lens and LASIK groups (P = .003).

Regarding predictability, 62.5% of eyes in the IOL exchange group, 85% of eyes in the piggyback lens group and 100% of eyes in the LASIK group were within ±1 D of final spherical equivalent. The differences were significant (P = .003).

Disclosure: The study authors have no relevant financial disclosures.’

Woman smiling after lasik eye surgery at Moorfields

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After the age of 18, surgery can be considered for patients under 21 if they have had a stable prescription for 2 years or more. ...

Am I suitable for laser eye surgery?

Most people with normal prescriptions can undergo laser eye surgery without a problem. But there are still some patients who may not be suitable for ...

What is Wavefront LASIK laser eye surgery?

...

Is there an age limit for laser eye surgery?

After the age of 18, surgery can be considered for patients under 21 if they have had a stable prescription for 2 years or more. ...

Am I suitable for laser eye surgery?

Most people with normal prescriptions can undergo laser eye surgery without a problem. But there are still some patients who may not be suitable for ...