Ophthalmologist & LASIK Surgeon Serving Chicago, Lombard & Naperville Areas Of Illinois
Posted: March 16, 2020
If you have nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism and have recently been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), you may be wondering if you can still undergo LASIK to correct your refractive vision errors. Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut answer to this question. While LASIK can be safely performed on individuals with certain types of AMD, it may not be effective for others. In order to determine whether you’re still a good LASIK candidate with AMD, you’ll need to visit our office for a consultation.
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration?
AMD occurs when the central part of your retina, called the macula, becomes damaged. It results in deterioration to the central part of your vision and in some instances, you may experience a blind spot. There are two types of AMD:
- Dry AMD – Waste products accumulate and deposit under the retina. As they grow in size, they stop the flow of nutrients to the retina and cause cells in the macula to die.
- Wet AMD – Tiny new blood vessels form underneath and inside the retina. Eventually these blood vessels will leak, resulting in vision loss.
Many People with AMD Aren’t Good LASIK Candidates
In some instances, you may be able to get LASIK if you have dry AMD. However, LASIK may not always be the best vision correction solution for dry AMD patients. It often may not be the optimal way to preserve your eye health. During your consultation, our ophthalmologists will evaluate your eyes to determine whether another option would more effectively achieve your vision correction goals.
If you have wet AMD, you won’t be able to get LASIK. In these situations, our ophthalmologists will discuss other options with you.
Contact our Chicago Ophthalmologists
Please contact Foulkes Vision using the form on this page or call 630-724-1400 today to schedule a free LASIK consultation. We serve patients in Chicago, Lombard and the surrounding areas of Illinois.