Medications
and LASIK Surgery
It
is no secret that some medications can create or even increase
your risks, causing major problems. This is true even with LASIK
surgery. Medications can reduce your LASIK efficacy. Dry eye is
a common problem caused from certain medications. Other medications
cause other sorts of vision problems. Your licensed ophthalmologist
should know about the medicines that you are taking prior to surgery.
This includes your prescriptions, recreational and over-the-counter
meds. Some of the medications that could cause you problems include:
Acne Medication
Antihistamines
Beta Blockers
Diuretics
Sedatives
Muscle Relaxers
HRT -Hormone
Replacement Therapy
Viagra
Marijuana
About Acne Medicine
The side effects are what you need to consider. Although acne
medicines treat acne conditions, it can cause dry eyes. You should
avoid using accutane or acne meds up to six months before you
go to surgery and after your LASIK surgery. Dry eye can affect
your eyes and cause complications.
About Antihistamines
Antihistamines help to control medical conditions, such as allergies.
The medication however causes dry eye for some people. If you
take prescribed antihistamines, speak with your qualified ophthalmologist
before you go to surgery. You may be required to stop using the
medicines until your aftercare is over. Your doctor can recommend
some other allergic solutions to help cutback risks before and
after surgery.
About Beta Blockers
Heart problems, anxiety, glaucoma, migraines, and so on are just
some of the conditions doctors will use beta blockers to treat.
The medication causes dry eye for some people. Speak with your
doctor before surgery to find out if you should discontinue the
medications for a short while until after your recovery cycle
is over from LASIK surgery. Before you stop taking any medications,
speak with your medical doctor who prescribed the medicines because
stopping medicines abruptly can lead to some serious complications.
You may need to consider safer options other than LASIK to correct
your eye problems.
About Diuretics
Dry eye can develop from taking Diuretics. These are water pills
to remove water buildup within the body.
About Sedatives
Sedatives are developed to help control muscles by encouraging
them to relax. Sedatives have been known to cause the eyes to
open partially during a person’s sleep. Moisture evaporates,
which can cause dry eye thus increasing your risks of negative
LASIK results.
About Muscle Relaxers
Like sedatives, muscle relaxers relax tension and can cause dry
eye.
About HRT- Hormone Replacement Therapy
Dry eye is common for those who take HRT. Studies have revealed
that women taking HRT do not always experience vision improvements.
About Viagra
While Viagra is not known to be a problem for LASIK patients,
problems can develop. The side effects, such as decreasing vision,
light sensitivity, double vision, blurry, and other problems can
develop from Viagra. Selling, redness, bleeding, and burning are
other side effects caused for some people who have taking Viagra.
Because it is not determined in most instances the cause however,
doctors prefer that you leave Viagra alone a short while before
your surgery, and until you have completely recovered.
About Marijuana
People diagnosed with Glaucoma may be prescribed marijuana to
treat pain, or to lower pressure. Avoid this prescription before
and after LASIK for a short while or as recommended by your doctor.
The side effects can lead to undercorrection of the eyes, which
may involve a repeated surgery to correct the problem.
Caffeine, alcohol and other harmful substances should be avoided
as well. Products which contain alcohol, such as lotions, creams,
aftershaves, cologne, all can cause problems. Speak with your
ophthalmologist in depth about risks, benefits, and what you need
to avoid having a successful surgery.
